Radio Amateurs in the Shenandoah Valley sponsor VE Examinations, normally held on the first Saturday of the last month of each quarter.  The next exam will be held on March 5th, 2022. Note, you must have an FCC FRN number to take the test. Instructions for obtaining one can be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration-number-frn Exams begin at 9:00 am with registration, and are always graded and finished well before noon. The location is the Woodman building on John Wayland Highway in Dayton. The cost is $15.00 per session. You can take multiple examination elements for one payment of $15.00 on any scheduled exam date. Please note: If you are working toward a Tech class license, the current question pool expires at the end of June. There are only two more opportunities to test to the present pool, the March 5th session and the June 4th session. Candidates should bring several #2 pencils, two forms of identification, one of which MUST have a recent photograph of the candidate (driver’s license, passport, etc.).  FCC rules governing eligibility must be met. Candidates must also bring any certificate of successful completion of previous exam elements passed, for which they wish to claim credit. Candidates are permitted to bring simple calculators, but programmable calculators, smartphones, laptops, pads, and computer devices are not allowed. In addition, for upgrade exams, candidates must bring the original of their FCC license. Examinations are given at the Woodmen of the World building in Dayton, Virginia.  This building is on Highway 42 south of Harrisonburg. To reach the building from Harrisonburg, take Highway 42 South (S. High Street, becomes John Wayland Highway), exactly one mile south of the WalMart Supercenter.  The Woodmen building is on the right. To reach the building from Interstate 81, take Exit 240 (Bridgewater, Mount Crawford exit).  Go west on Hwy 257 three (3) miles into the town of Bridgewater.  Turn right at the traffic signal onto U.S. 42 and proceed 3.8 miles.  The building will be on your left.

So how do you study for the exam? Occasionally, local hams offer classes. But you can certainly study on your own. One simple app is https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.delasystems.hamradioexamtech

Another app, with a different layout, but the same elements is https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iversoft.ham.test.prep

If you don’t want to download an app, go to hamstudy.org. This is a comprehensive site that explains all the ins and outs of Ham Radio in general.