RECoN Ham Radio Group

Renewing your Ham Radio License

Last updated: 7/2/2023

Preliminary comments:

• Ham Radio licenses expire after 10 years, after which there is a 2-year grace period during which you can still renew.  License renewals are allowed 90 days or less before a license will expire, and when the license has expired but is still within the two-year grace period. 
• You can renew on-line at the FCC site by completing the outlined renewal process and paying a $35 fee.  No exams are required.
• After the 2-year grace period you will not be able to renew, but will need to re-take the Technician exam to obtain a new license. Also, once the 2-year grace period expires you lose your call sign. At that point, if you want your old call sign back you can reapply for your old call sign under the vanity call sign program once you take the exam and receive your new call sign. (If you had higher license privileges, they can be restored without taking further exams if you present proof of your previous license to the examiner when you take the Technician exam.)
• Thus, it is highly advantageous to renew before the 2-year grace period expires!

Below are some links to information about renewing using the FCC website:

• http://www.arrl.org/call-sign-renewals-or-changes
  • This link to a page on the ARRL website (a National Ham Radio Association) gives a good overview of the renewal process.
  • You can also use this site to look up your current license status and details (including your FCC FRN number). To do so, enter your call sign in the “Call Sign / Name Search” box at the upper right. (The ARRL site won’t show “cancelled” licenses beyond the 2-year grace period. However you can look up full license details on the FCC website, as noted in info at the site below.)
• https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/knowledge-base/common-amateur-filing-tasks/common-amateur-filing-task-renewing
  • This is the FCCs Ham Radio Renewal Instruction page. Instructions for "Filing Electronically using the Universal Licensing System" are on the lower portion of this page. 
  • As noted, you’ll start the renewal process by clicking the link to the FCC “Universal Licensing System (ULS)”. 
  • On the ULS system page you'll likely need to first click “New User Registration” which allows you to set up a CORES account, unless you’ve recently set up an account in the new version of the CORES system.
  • Once you’ve set up and updated your CORES account you can proceed with the remaining renewal instructions for "Filing Electronically..." on the page linked above (see the link and first bullet in this section). 
• https://w0is.com/LicenseRenewal/FCCRenewalInstructions.htm
  • Referring to information at the two links above, you should be able to walk through the process to renew your license. However, if you want more guidance, this link goes to one person’s detailed notes on the process, with screenshots. (His walkthrough appears to be current, but I haven’t checked it out fully.)

Best of luck!

Lewis Newton, KK6BK