Becoming a VE

[AK9R]

The FCC requires that the VE's be at least General Class and the VEC must be an Extra Class.

I think you may be confusing some terminology.

First, here are the FCC rules for who can administer which amateur radio license exam:

§ 97.509 Administering VE requirements.

(a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be administered by a team of at least 3 VEs at an examination session coordinated by a VEC. The number of examinees at the session may be limited.​

(b) Each administering VE must:​

(1) Be accredited by the coordinating VEC;​

(2) Be at least 18 years of age;​

(3) Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below:​

(i) Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination;​

(ii) Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination;​

(iii) Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination.​

(4) Not be a person whose grant of an amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended.​

Second, the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) is the over-arching group that coordinates examination sessions. The FCC has many requirements for VECs, but I don't see any license class requirements mentioned in the rules. See §97.519, 97.521, and 97.525. I think when you said "VEC" above, you were referring to the VE Session Manager:

§ 97.513 VE session manager requirements.

(a) A VE session manager may be selected by the VE team for each examination session. The VE session manager must be accredited as a VE by the same VEC that coordinates the examination session. The VE session manager may serve concurrently as an administering VE.​

(b) The VE session manager may carry on liaison functions between the VE team and the coordinating VEC.​

(c) The VE session manager may organize activities at an examination session.​

 

[AJAT]

I wouldn't argue that answer key access would really be a probable "use case" to argue for the class "minimums" for being a VE.

It could be the FCC does not want the “perception” of someone having access to the actual test before it is administered to them giving them an advantage, even if it is just a perceived advantage. Just helps maintain the integrity of the test I guess.
Other than that I can not think of any other reason for the restriction.

 

[W5GX]

It could be the FCC does not want the “perception” of someone having access to the actual test before it is administered to them giving them an advantage, even if it is just a perceived advantage. Just helps maintain the integrity of the test I guess.
Other than that I can not think of any other reason for the restriction.

It could have been some carry over of some older practice, so you may have a point. Though, I think it's rather moot at this point. Those that made the rule are tight lipped.

Personally, I'm okay with the class requirements as a VE; I think it's a good incentive to be an extra class.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

Personally, I'm okay with the class requirements as a VE; I think it's a good incentive to be an extra class.

But then it could/does just lead to “paper” extras as I call them who just got it by cramming, don’t know anything actually about being an extra or even works as one who only got it because they want to be a VE.

I have no interest or ability to work in HF at the moment, yet I want to be a VE to help give back and also make it easier for others to get their licenses. My city currently doesn’t have a club or anyone who can test here. Anyone who wants to get their licenses has to travel out of town either on a early weekday evening once a month for one test or wait months for another group to do testing every three months.

 

[N4GIX]

My city currently doesn’t have a club or anyone who can test here. Anyone who wants to get their licenses has to travel out of town either on a early weekday evening once a month for one test or wait months for another group to do testing every three months.

There are many exams being given remotely these days. Unlike a normal in-person exam however, remote exams are individually proctored so you end up with no fewer than three people watching you take the exam.

One must have a computer, video camera, headphones, and reliable internet service of course.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

There are many exams being given remotely these days. Unlike a normal in-person exam however, remote exams are individually proctored so you end up with no fewer than three people watching you take the exam.

One must have a computer, video camera, headphones, and reliable internet service of course.

I know that but at the time I was taking my test, that wasn’t a thing and even still, those have their own difficulties. My dream would be to create a small cadre of VEs that are able to test anytime/anywhere, for those of us who have odd or difficult schedules.

 

[n3obl]

I know that but at the time I was taking my test, that wasn’t a thing and even still, those have their own difficulties. My dream would be to create a small cadre of VEs that are able to test anytime/anywhere, for those of us who have odd or difficult schedules.

Then your solution is to study for general.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

Then your solution is to study for general.

I am a general and hope to get my extra so I can be a VE (I know you can be one with just a general but it’s too restrictive for what I want to do), but my point is that it’s a lot of hoops to jump through just to help others on their journey.

 

[W5GX]

But then it could/does just lead to “paper” extras as I call them who just got it by cramming, don’t know anything actually about being an extra or even works as one who only got it because they want to be a VE.

I have no interest or ability to work in HF at the moment, yet I want to be a VE to help give back and also make it easier for others to get their licenses. My city currently doesn’t have a club or anyone who can test here. Anyone who wants to get their licenses has to travel out of town either on a early weekday evening once a month for one test or wait months for another group to do testing every three months.

There are paper extras. And until the FCC regs are revamped to address proficiency requirements, that will happen. I have no leaning either way at this moment. But those that registered as VEs also want to give back. It's good to see that.

I want to get on HF, but don't have the equipment yet. So until then, I like to volunteer as a VE.

 

[AK9R]

My dream would be to create a small cadre of VEs that are able to test anytime/anywhere...

Before the pandemic, we almost had that in central Indiana. There was a VE team leader who was accredited through the Laurel VEC who had recruited a group of 6-8 VEs who basically followed the team leader where ever he went. It wasn't unusual to get an email or text from him on a Thursday and be at a VE session with him somewhere on Saturday.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

Before the pandemic, we almost had that in central Indiana. There was a VE team leader who was accredited through the Laurel VEC who had recruited a group of 6-8 VEs who basically followed the team leader where ever he went. It wasn't unusual to get an email or text from him on a Thursday and be at a VE session with him somewhere on Saturday.

Thats what I’m hoping to create. It took me a long time to get licensed because the only local group that does it regularly, only does it on the one day a month I can’t do it and the other group only does it every 3 months and the spring testing session is the only one I can make due to work schedules.

 

[k6cpo]

But there are only so many test so all someone would have to do is memorize the answer pattern and they could ace the test without ever seeing the questions. Now this could be resolved with randomly generated test/key for each person, either in printer form or on a computer.

The system already works this way. When I was regularly administering in-person exams (pre-pandemic) the exams I had for a particular license level were ALL different and I usually had anywhere between 10 and 30 on hand. Now that I am printing exams using Exam Tools, the same thing is taking place. Of 27 exams on hand, I don't have one duplicate serial number.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

The system already works this way. When I was regularly administering in-person exams (pre-pandemic) the exams I had for a particular license level were ALL different and I usually had anywhere between 10 and 30 on hand. Now that I am printing exams using Exam Tools, the same thing is taking place. Of 27 exams on hand, I don't have one duplicate serial number.

Which VEC was this? I took my test with ARRL and I was told there were only 3 versions of the test.

 

[AK9R]

I took my test with ARRL and I was told there were only 3 versions of the test.

If the VE team you tested with pre-prints their exams, they may only print three versions to take to an exam session.

 

[N4GIX]

If the VE team you tested with pre-prints their exams, they may only print three versions to take to an exam session.

Only three are required to ensure no two people sitting near each other have the same questions on their exam. Of course "social distancing" should achieve the same purpose.

 

[AK9R]

It's conceivable that a different test could be printed on-site for every examinee using some sort of exam generator. As long as the VEs who do the grading have an appropriate answer key, each examinee could have a different test.

 

[k6cpo]

Which VEC was this? I took my test with ARRL and I was told there were only 3 versions of the test.

If the VE team you tested with pre-prints their exams, they may only print three versions to take to an exam session.

That may be the perogative of the particular VE team. Even though I'm an ARRL-certified VE, I've never done a session with them so I don't know how they operate. I've been a SANDARC VE since 2012 and more recently I'm also with GLAARG.

It's conceivable that a different test could be printed on-site for every examinee using some sort of exam generator. As long as the VEs who do the grading have an appropriate answer key, each examinee could have a different test.

The nice thing about the Exam Tools application is that it does everything that used to be done by hand; completing the 605, issuing the CSCE (by e-mail,) creating the exam, whether online or a paper copy (which can be graded by the computer camera) and even preparing the batch file for the VEC. There is absolutely no reason anything need be done manually, including mailing paperwork across the country by the USPS.

 

[W5GX]

The ARRL VEs use transparent templates with holes punched out to match the correct answers. There are around 40 different combinations - nine transparencies, each can be oriented four ways. That's a lot of keys to memorize. The tests are printed such that the correct answers always line up based on the answer key - likely chosen at random during test creation. That said, during my VE sessions, I've generally seen the VEC favor a small subset of the answer keys, for whatever reason. If you do get your hands on the keys, it's possible - but that seems to be more work than just studying the material you're being tested on.

But I guess there are always ways to cheat...

 

[thesavo]

I got Extra on Saturday. That VE team did not have any gels or transparencies for grading. They were using paper keys. I asked about that as I am currently a General VE with another team. The lead VE said theirs had worn out over time and when they requested replacements from the league The VEC rep told them that there was going to be a considerable delay. He also told me that grading with a gel wasn't much faster since they had little turnout. They seemed to be a field-stocked team.

 

[k6cpo]

It could be the FCC does not want the “perception” of someone having access to the actual test before it is administered to them giving them an advantage, even if it is just a perceived advantage. Just helps maintain the integrity of the test I guess.
Other than that I can not think of any other reason for the restriction.

Which is why a General Class VE cannot administer any exams except Technician...