Serve with us as a VE
This page was updated on Sunday, March 24th, 2024 and all information contained herein is accurate as of this date.
Last Frontier ARS Specific Requirements . . .
The Last Frontier Amateur Radio Society is accepting new applications to join our program under the following conditions:
a.) You must be a Permanent Resident or Citizen of the United States;
b.) You must be an Alaska resident to participate in remote testing, unless the Chairman has offered a letter of invitation to apply;
NOTE: If you're interested in getting a letter of invitation, please send an email to ve|[at]|lfars.net with reasons why you would be a great asset to our program. Include references and we will then consider your request, although a letter is not guaranteed.
c.) You must already be an accredited Volunteer Examiner with the ARRL VEC;
==> Not yet accredited with the ARRL VEC? You will need to complete their application and "Open Book Review". You can obtain their VE Manual by clicking HERE, supplemental documentation by clicking HERE, and grab their VE Application with Open Book Review by clicking HERE. (All three links will open a PDF document in separate tabs.)
d.) You must be an Alaska resident if you wish to serve as an in-person Volunteer Examiner;
e.) Participate in four remote exam sessions every 180 days to remain active on the roster, participate in two in-person exam sessions every 180 days to remain active, or take the VE examination every six months if you can't make enough sessions;
f.) Be flexible in your service, as our schedule changes periodically;
g.) Must have a reliable, high speed internet connection (minimum 25 Mbps down, 3 Mbps up - a speedtest will be required if you're on DSL or Satellite);
h.) Must have a reliable desktop or laptop PC/Mac and a good webcam for communications;
i.) Must be capable of using Zoom for video conferencing;
j.) Learn how to use our in-house exam platform as a part of your service, and
k.) You must agree to abide by Section V of the Last Frontier ARS bylaws. You can read them by clicking HERE (Section V starts at the bottom of page 9 and goes through the top of page 13.)
FCC requirements to serve as a Volunteer Examiner
To become an accredited Volunteer Examiner, you must meet some very basic requirements as prescribed in Part 97 of the Commission's Rules. They are as follows:
a.) Be accredited by the coordinating VEC;
b.) Be at least 18 years of age;
c.) Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below:
i.) Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination;
ii.) Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination;
iii.) Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination.
d.) Not be a person whose grant of an amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended.
Our Application Process
Step 1. Apply to serve as a Volunteer Examiner with us.
Below is a link that will load our Volunteer Examiner application. It is a Google form. It will open up in a separate tab. There are some items you must submit to us with your VE Program application. They are as follows:
a.) A signed Official Copy of your amateur radio license,
b.) Front side of your valid, government issued photo identification,
c.) A copy of your ARRL VE Certificate (not the badge), and
d.) Letter of Invitation to Apply from the Chairman (If you live outside Alaska).
ATTENTION! You will be prompted to upload the above mentioned items via our secure file upload while completing the application. Once the application is received, we will begin to process the application and schedule an interview.
Click HERE to apply for service in the Last Frontier Amateur Radio Society.
Step 2. Interview for suitability.
An interview with the VE Program Chairman will be scheduled within 10 days after receiving your VE application. This interview will be conducted via Zoom. You are asked to allocate at least 30 minutes of your time for this interview. During that interview, a decision is likely to be made about your application. Should a decision not be given after the interview is complete, you will receive a decision in writing within five days from the Chairman.
Step 3. Take the VE Examination.
If your application is approved by the Chairman, a link will be sent for you to take pass our 30 question, open book VE examination. The examination is composed of questions relating to our Volunteer Handbook as well as Part 97, Subpart F of the Commission's Rules. Here are links to download our VE Handbook and access a current working copy of Part 97, Subpart F:
Part 97, Subpart F - Qualifying Examination Systems (Link will take you to the ECFR website)
To pass the VE examination, you must score at least 80%. Should you not pass, the Chairman will review any questions missed and give you one additional opportunity to retest within ten days of completing your first attempt. Should you not pass your second attempt, you will need to wait 90 days before we can consider your application again.
Step 4. Formal on-boarding with our VE Program.
Applicants who successfully pass the open book VE examination will be fully on-boarded as a new examiner into our VE Program. As part of that process, we will set you up with login credentials to our exam platform called Wireless Exam Gen. You will be asked to setup your availability within Wireless Exam Gen by clicking on a link that reads "VE Availability" on the left navigation panel once you have logged into the platform.
Step 5. Initial VE training and orientation.
As a new VE in our program, the first four sessions you attend will be spent as an observer. You will be given training on our processes, procedures and the exam platform itself. Should the Lead VE who is administering any training give the Chairman a negative report on your progress, your training could extend beyond the four minimum sessions until we are certain everything will go smoothly. Once you have completed your VE training, you will be given the opportunity to serve as an administering and certifying VE for any session going forward.
Still have more questions?
Should the information on this page not answer your questions, please feel free to reach the VE Program directly by telephone between 9:00am and 1:00pm Alaska Time Monday through Friday at (907) 513-2441 or by email at ve|[at]|lfars.net.
Effective 02/23/2024, Last Frontier ARS is using the ARRL VEC for all license testing purposes.