\r\n Volunteer Examiners - W5OBM Amateur Radio Club 
Olive Branch ARC

CLUB STORY

Volunteer Examiners

Two decades of public service, STEM outreach, and radio mentorship.

Testing • 6:00 PM • Fairhaven VFD
Walk-ins welcome with FCC FRN
Join the Club Upcoming Events

We welcome every operator, from brand-new Technicians to seasoned Extras.

Club Heritage
9
Active Volunteer Examiners
ARRL
VEC Partner
Monthly
Exam Sessions
  • ARRL affiliation & 501(c)(3) status
  • Volunteer Examiner team on-site
  • Community partnerships across DeSoto County
Monthly exams • 6:00 PM • Fairhaven VFD

Volunteer Examiner Excellence

Meet the ARRL-accredited team that welcomes every candidate, handles the paperwork, and keeps the Mid-South licensed. We treat each exam night like a mission-critical deployment.

Schedule an Exam Become a VE
9 active VEs
ARRL VEC partner
Walk-ins welcome with FRN

About the VEC System

The FCC created the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) system to provide initial licensing examinations for prospective new hams and upgrade examination opportunities for those already licensed. FCC-authorized VEC organizations oversee the work of their certified Volunteer Examiners (VEs) and serve as a liaison between exam applicants and the FCC.

VECs coordinate the efforts of Volunteer Examiners in preparing and administering amateur service operator license examinations. The coordinating VEC screens collected information, resolves all discrepancies, and forwards all required data to the FCC electronically.

Our Commitment: W5OBM is affiliated with the ARRL VEC program, the largest VEC organization in the US. Our VE team consists of General and Extra class license holders who volunteer their time to help grow the amateur radio community.

Learn More from FCC

Become a VE

Volunteer Examiners are US licensed Radio Amateurs holding a General Class license or higher who offer their time to administer FCC licensing exams through an FCC-authorized VEC organization.

Requirements:

  • General Class license or higher
  • Complete VE application process
  • Pass VE examination
  • Volunteer commitment to testing
Become a VE
VE Patch ARRL Logo

Our Volunteer Examiner Team

Experienced amateur radio operators dedicated to licensing new hams

First Name Last Name Call Sign License Class Email VEC Affiliations
ThomasButasKM4AEMGeneralPrivateARRL
MichaelEdwardsKI5BLKExtraPrivateARRL
JamesHarrisKF5TPTExtraPrivateARRL
DouglasKaveWA4CBExtraPrivateARRL
JamesStoryKH0DWExtraPrivateARRL
RobertStroudKD5BSExtraPrivateARRLLAUREL
JackThompsonN5UOVExtraPrivateARRL
EdThornsburgKF8PDExtraPrivateARRLLAUREL
WadeWingfieldKB5SSGExtraPrivateARRL

Our VE team is qualified to administer tests for all amateur radio license classes. Contact information is provided where members have opted to share it publicly.

ARRL VE Resource Hub

This page now carries a working summary of the major ARRL Volunteer Examiner resources so our local VE team, candidates, and prospective examiners can find the national guidance without leaving the club site.

Summaries below are original W5OBM notes based on public ARRL pages reviewed in May 2026. Follow the source links for the authoritative and most current ARRL wording.

Quick Access

Use these direct links to jump into the ARRL VE program areas most often referenced by our team.

VE Session Counts ARRL VE Home
Volunteer Examiners Home
ARRL VE overview, digital workflow updates, and national navigation hub.
VE Session Counts
Search accredited VEs by state or callsign and review participation counts.
Become an ARRL VE
Application path, manual links, and accreditation maintenance guidance.
Resources for VEs
Forms, ExamTools, remote sessions, post-session uploads, and FCC references.
Register an Exam Session
Publish sessions, submit updates, and route ARRL or non-ARRL teams to the right forms.
ARRL VEC Exam Fees
Current exam fees, youth fee guidance, and team reimbursement rules.

Become an ARRL VE

National ARRL guidance, forms, and reference links

ARRL breaks VE onboarding into a three-step path and keeps renewal, reinstatement, and contact updates on the same track through the VEC office.

What matters most
  • Review the VE Manual first, then read the current supplemental update before completing the application package.
  • Submit the signed VE application and open-book review to the ARRL VEC by email, fax, or mail.
  • Existing VEs use the same ARRL VEC channel for renewals, call sign changes, address changes, lost credentials, and accreditation checks.
Key links and sublinks
Become an ARRL VE
Main accreditation and renewal page.
VE Manual
Operating rules, procedures, and chapter references.
VE Manual Supplemental Information 2025
Current update that extends the published manual.
VE Application and Open-Book Review
Interactive application package for new VEs.
ARRL VEC Contact
Direct contact for applications, renewals, and accreditation questions.
Find an Exam Session
Locate nearby exam opportunities.

Resources for VEs

National ARRL guidance, forms, and reference links

ARRL keeps the VE operational toolkit in one place: forms, software, online session guidance, session closeout instructions, FCC references, and candidate prep links.

What matters most
  • Download or print exam-session forms, VE supplemental information, and membership handouts from the ARRL VEC forms section.
  • Use ExamTools for online or printed exams, including remote video-supervised sessions.
  • Upload completed session documents electronically; ARRL indicates weekday filings are often transmitted the same day and weekend sessions within one to two business days.
Key links and sublinks
Resources for VEs
Main VE operations hub.
ExamTools
Web-based platform for online and printed exams.
VEC Exam Booklets
Current booklet references and supply checks.
VE ENewsletter
Program updates and VE notices.
Find an In-Person Exam Session
Public locator for nearby sessions.
Find an Online Exam Session
ARRL directory for remote exam teams.
FCC Application Fee Guidance
ARRL explainer for FCC application fees and exemptions.
ARRL Exam Session Form
Interactive form for ARRL VEC teams.

VE Session Counts

National ARRL guidance, forms, and reference links

The VE Session Counts directory is ARRL's searchable recognition and accreditation lookup for currently accredited Volunteer Examiners.

What matters most
  • Search by callsign, location, or sort order to see accreditation date and total session participation.
  • Listings are grouped by state and callsign order, based on the official VE address on file with ARRL.
  • Only currently accredited ARRL VEs appear in the directory, so it doubles as a status check.
Key links and sublinks
VE Session Counts
Searchable participation and accreditation lookup.
Resources for VEs
Program forms, filing guidance, and related VE operations resources.

Register a VE Licensing Session

National ARRL guidance, forms, and reference links

ARRL uses a dedicated registration workflow so VE teams can publish exam sessions, update listings, and route ARRL or non-ARRL teams to the correct forms.

What matters most
  • ARRL VEC teams can register future sessions and order remaining supplies with the interactive session form.
  • ARRL notes a busy annual registration window from November through February, with posting delays of roughly five to seven business days.
  • ARRL is moving teams to a digital workflow, so printed booklet and supply distribution is being phased out in favor of ExamTools and electronic filing.
Key links and sublinks
Register an Amateur Radio License Exam Session
Main registration guidance and update process.
ARRL Exam Session Form
Interactive registration form for ARRL VEC teams.
Non-ARRL Exam Session Form
Submission path for non-ARRL VE teams.
Non-ARRL Exam Session Registration
Alternate registration information for non-ARRL coordinators.
Printer-Friendly Session Registration Form
Use when submitting by email, fax, or mail.
Exam Session Search
Public-facing session locator.

ARRL VEC Exam Fees

National ARRL guidance, forms, and reference links

ARRL publishes both candidate fees and VE team reimbursement rules in one page, which makes it a useful reference for local session planning.

What matters most
  • ARRL lists the 2026 VEC exam fee as $15.00, covering one attempt at each of the three exam elements in a single session.
  • Candidates under age 18 pay a reduced $5.00 ARRL session fee, and ARRL points to the Youth Licensing Grant Program for the FCC new-license reimbursement workflow.
  • VE teams may retain only the amount needed to offset justified, exam-related costs, up to the ARRL reimbursement cap, and should retain receipts for two years.
Key links and sublinks
ARRL VEC Exam Fees
Current session fees and reimbursement policy.
Youth Licensing Grant Program
Reduced youth fee and grant information.
VE Reimbursement Form
Form for teams requesting reimbursement through ARRL VEC.
FCC Application Fee Guidance
Which FCC actions are fee-bearing and which are exempt.
What to Bring to an Exam Session
Candidate preparation checklist.

Emergency Communications Field Examiners

National ARRL guidance, forms, and reference links

ARRL's Field Examiner track lets accredited VEs support Emergency Communications coursework and final examinations beyond standard license testing.

What matters most
  • Field Examiners are accredited VEs who help administer ARRL Emergency Communications course exams, currently including EC-001 completion testing.
  • Sessions must be registered so interested radio amateurs can find them, whether the exam is tied to a class or offered independently.
  • Field Examiners use ARRL-provided materials and exam guidelines, and accredited examiners can be found through the ARRL FE database.
Key links and sublinks
Emergency Communications Field Examiners
Main Field Examiner overview.
Register to be an Emergency Communications Field Examiner
FE application path.
Emergency Communications Field Examiner Requirements
Eligibility and role expectations.
FE Instructions and Materials
Guidelines, forms, and exam kit materials.
Register an EmComm Class Exam
Post a class-linked or stand-alone emergency communications exam session.
Find a Field Examiner
Online FE database.

License Testing Schedule

Ready to get your amateur radio license or upgrade? We're here to help!

Regular Testing

When: 6:00 PM, one hour before the business meeting begins

Day: Third Tuesday (check the events calendar for holiday adjustments)

Location: Fairhaven Fire Department, 13701 Center Hill Rd, Olive Branch, MS 38654

Talk-In: 147.255 MHz (-0.600, PL 79.7) for curbside help

Testing Fees

Cost: $15 per test session

Payment: Cash or check accepted

Retests: Same session if time permits

Multiple Tests: Take multiple elements same day

What to Bring

Required: Photo ID

Required: Social Security Number

Upgrades: Copy of current license

Optional: Calculator (non-programmable)

Ready to Schedule Your Test?

Contact our VE team to schedule your amateur radio license test. We recommend advance notice to ensure adequate preparation.

Tests typically take 1 hour • Response from FCC is usually available within 24-48 hours • Retests available same session if time permits