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The FCC has delegated testing to fourteen groups of volunteer VE groups called Volunteer Exam Coordinators (VECs).
If you are a General or Amateur Extra license holder you can help us administer exams.
Generals can only grade Technician exams. Extras can grade all exams.
It is with great appreciation for the efforts and detail required using relatively tedious paper methods we now use exam.tools to provide a better experience for applicants and VEs.
More than 50% of all ARRL VEC applicants in 2024 were processed using exam.tools.
VEs using exam.tools may use their phone or tablet/laptop (preferred) to sign in and grade exams.
VEs are encouraged to use a password manager to type in their password several times as needed.
To Verify Your Callsign on exam.tools:
Login to the FCC license manager using your FRN and password.
https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp
Then download your "Official copy" watermarked license PDF.
Additional instructions: https://www.mdarc.org/regulations/license-copy-acquisition
At exam.tools aka examtools.org under "Assist with or Manage Exams" click the Sign In button. If you have a ham.study aka HamStudy.org account, you may skip registration and use the same login information for the two sites.
Upload your license PDF in your profile https://exam.tools/ve/me (FAQ). Be patient, this may take a day or so.
While you have it ready, if you want to upload the separate but related https://examtools.dev sandbox upload it again there.
After verification your profile will reflect your VE status with the ARRL and other VECs.
Sign In to verify your profile at https://exam.tools: under "Assist with or Manage Exams" click the button Sign In.
In the upper left click Profile or click the three line menu icon then Profile.
At the bottom under Call Sign it will say (Verified Call Sign).
Just under that you can click the icon across from Volunteer Examiner Credentials.
ARRL-VEC will say Team Lead or Volunteer Examiner.
Use the Discord chat server if there are any questions, problems or feature requests. Live exam results are reported in the #CRM channel.
Working with other teams grading real exams is the best way to learn. There are many edge cases.
mdarc.org (monthly) in Lafayette
kf6hte.org (monthly) in Martinez
beniciaarc.com (W5YI VEC) in Benicia
w6sf.org in Stockton
livermoreark.org (monthly) in Livermore
VEC Manuals, training videos, exam.tools in-person process and the examtools.dev sandbox are all helpful.
The examtools.dev server requires a second upload of your FCC license to verify your callsign.
The sandbox enables placeholder VEs and placeholder applicants. docs.exam.tools/docs/cve/cvesandboxdummies/
Feedback verifies that in-person electronic exams are a great experience for candidates and VEs.
Preparing exams in advance and grading the paper exams using GradeCam is our next team challenge.
Administering fully remote exams is more difficult and not something we plan to do.
Other VE teams already offer online exams frequently and do a great job.
arrl.org/volunteer-examiners have administered more exams than other VECs but other VECs have strengths as well.
ARRL Contact VEs (CVEs) are what exam.tools calls Team Leaders.
They can schedule testing sessions on the arrl.org website and exam.tools.
CVEs also collect and send the fees to the ARRL. Verifying your CVE status is presently a few extra email steps however automation is currently being tested to verify CVE status automatically in the future.
After a few sessions as a VE you may request to be a CVE by emailing vec@arrl.org.
The email is then forwarded as it instructs to verification@examtools.org. Be patient, this can take a day or so.
After verification your profile will reflect the Team Lead status
To keep our VE teams strong volunteers should help all experienced VEs that are willing to take turns as CVE.
Use https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp by FRN to check candidate results including callsign assignments.
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