What does a new FCC fee schedule mean to me?

***UPDATE*** Please See Updated Note on Fee Schedule Here!

The new Amateur Radio license application fees will take effect on April 19, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission’s authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress. 

The $35 application fee, when it becomes effective on April 19, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application.

Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, will be exempt from fees.

*IMPORTANT*

VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not have to collect the $35 fee at exam sessions.  Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual, and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES – Login). 

When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10 calendar days from the date of the email to pay. After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link will be good for 30 days.

For more information and links please visit the ARRL article at https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee.