Help Your Community:
Get an Amateur Radio License!
Great! You're thinking of becoming a licensed ham radio operator. It’s an immensely rewarding skill to have during emergencies and for local communications. It's not hard and we're here to support you all the way!
Our club offers basic licensing classes and also administers license exams. This page provides some basic information to get you started. We'll support you all the way to getting on the air! We also offer exams for General or Extra licenses. Reach out to us at education@sc4arc.org for more information.
The Technician’s license is the entry-level choice for most new hams. It confers basic VHF /UHF privileges such as using a handheld radio to communicate with other hams on our local repeater network, participating in our Monday night ARES net, and taking part in ARES activations providing communication support during emergencies. Choose one of the following options to get your license.
AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE CLASS
May 3rd & May 10th
Members from the Half Moon Bay and SC4 Amateur Radio clubs are hosting a free two-day Technician Licensing Class on May 3 and May 10, 2025 beginning at 10 AM at the HMB Fire Station (1191 Main St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019). Both classes will be on a Saturday and will adjourn by 5 PM.
Once licensed, amateur (“ham”) radio allows you to communicate over long distances without relying on the internet or the cell phone network. It’s great for emergencies, outdoor communications, fun and experimentation!
Please email licensing@hmbarc.org if you have questions or wish to register for the Technician Licensing class, or see www.hmbarc.org for more info.
May 24th 2025 Exam Session
We’re hosting an in-person FCC Licensing Exam on Saturday May 24th at the Half Moon Bay Fire Station (1191 Main St). All license class exams will be offered (Technician, General, Extra). It's not required that you attend the Licensing class, but you must register.
Here is the link to the registration.
Take a Class With SC4ARC
SC4ARC and HMBARC offer expert instruction through our two-day licensing classes, usually offered twice a year. The classes are followed by a license exam and a practical class to get you on the air.
Study At Your Own Pace
There are many online offerings that can help you prepare for the Technician License exam. For example, you can purchase Gordon West’s 2022-2026 Technician Class study manual and get an online app such as Hamstudy.org to study for the test or take practice exams.
Find a Ham Cram
In-person licensing classes are offered nearby as one day HAM CRAMs where participants take the test right after the class. Check out BAEARS for more information about their next scheduled HAM CRAM.