10/03/2025
Original Story 10/1/2025
Updated 10/2/2025 (CORES is not available for new registrants)
Updated 10/3/2025 (Temporary testing procedures for examinees without FRNs)
A bulletin sent to members of ARRL The National Association for Amateur
Radio[1]¿ included information about the impact of the US Government shutdown
on licensing for the Amateur Radio Service.
The government shutdown began at 12:01 Eastern time on Wednesday, October 1,
2025, when Congress had not passed an appropriations bill or other plan to keep
the government funded for the new fiscal year (begins October 1).
The Federal Communications Commission, which issues Amateur Radio Service
licenses, issued a Public Notice[2] on Tuesday, September 30, indicating that
it would suspend most operations following a shutdown. "Aside from a few
emergency and auction filing systems, all other Commission electronic filing
systems will be unavailable to the public until normal agency operations
resume," said the FCC Notice.
ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator[3] (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM,
said the FCC systems appeared to go off-line around 1 PM Eastern time on
Wednesday, and are redirecting to the Public Notice. This means the FCC will
not be processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown,
which includes individual, club, and exam session (new and upgrade)
applications.
"But ARRL Volunteer Examiners should continue giving exam sessions," said
Somma. "Keep doing what you're doing. Keep serving new and upgrade candidates
for amateur radio licenses." Somma also urged that Volunteer Examiners continue
to promptly forward session results from their exams to the ARRL VEC.
"Please do not hold your session results. Send your sessions to us, and ARRL
VEC will continue to queue all applications as they are received. Once the
federal government reopens, ARRL VEC will promptly resume submitting
applications to the FCC for processing. So, keep sending sessions to the ARRL
VEC."
Although the FCC's shutdown notice indicated that CORES registration system
would remain available, New Registrations are currently not being accepted due
to the government shutdown. This means that new applicants cannot register for
an FRN. This has created a temporary barrier for individuals who wish to take
an amateur radio exam but do not yet have an FRN. Existing users can still log
in and access their accounts and applicants who already have an FRN can test
without issue.
Temporary Testing Procedure Without an FRN:
Given the current situation, ARRL VEC will temporarily allow testing without an
FRN (FCC Registration Number), with the understanding that:
1. The applicant would take the exam and receive a CSCE (Certificate of
Successful Completion of Examination).
2. Once CORES resumes issuing new registrations, the applicant would:
o Register for an FRN.
o Contact the coordinating VEC with their FRN.
o The VEC will submit their application to the FCC.
In the ExamTools system candidates without an FRN should:
1. Use '0000000000' (ten zeros), then select "I don't have an FRN".
2. Complete the session registration.
CSCEs will be issued to successful candidates.
For teams using paper exams:
Candidates without an FRN should leave the FRN field blank on all forms.
CSCEs will be issued to successful candidates.
This approach will preserve momentum for new licensees and avoid delays in
testing.
Note: Other VEC organizations may also offer similar alternative testing
methods. Please check with them directly for their specific procedures.
Please continue to check the ARRL website for updates as they become available.
The FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS[4]) databases are also currently
unavailable to the public. ULS and related systems (like the License Manager,
License Search, Application Search, etc.) are not accessible during the
shutdown. Users cannot file applications with the FCC, or access license data,
including address information.
To find an amateur radio exam session, please visit
www.arrl.org/find-an-exam[5]. For a list of VE Teams that offer Online Exam
Sessions, go to www.arrl.org/online-exam-session[6].
About the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC)
The ARRL VEC[7] program has a long standing tradition of serving the Amateur
Radio Service and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with integrity
and expertise. As the largest VEC in the nation, the ARRL VEC operates as a
knowledgeable information source for a wide-range of licensing services and
issues. The ARRL VEC supports nearly 30,000 ARRL-accredited Volunteer Examiners
(VEs) who support the amateur radio community by offering exam opportunities.
[1] https://www.arrl.org
[2] https://www.fcc.gov/document/impact-potential-lapse-funding-commission-opera
tions-0
[3] https://www.arrl.org/volunteer-examiners
[4] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/universal-licensing-system
[5] https://www.arrl.org/find-an-exam
[6] https://www.arrl.org/online-exam-session
[7] https://www.arrl.org/VEC
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