Studying for an amateur radio license is highly accessible because the FCC’s question pools are entirely public. You can choose between free tools, structured paid courses, or traditional textbooks depending on your learning style.
Here are the primary resources available for the 2026 exam cycle:
1. Interactive Apps & Websites (Best for Drills)
These tools use “spaced repetition” to show you questions you struggle with more frequently.
- HamStudy.org (Free): Widely considered the gold standard. It offers “Study Mode” which explains the logic behind answers and provides realistic practice exams.
- Ham Radio Prep (Paid App/Web): A structured, media-rich course with videos and quizzes. It is very popular for those who want a guided experience rather than just memorization.
- HamTestOnline (Paid Web): A browser-based “intelligent” tutor that tracks your progress and guarantees a pass or your money back.
2. Traditional Study Guides (Best for Deep Learning)
If you want to understand the “why” behind the physics and regulations, these books are the best choice.
- ARRL License Manuals: The official textbooks from the National Association for Amateur Radio. They are comprehensive and include the full question pool in the back.
- Gordon West (WB6NOA) Guides: Known for being more conversational and “fun” than the ARRL manuals. “Gordo” highlights the correct answers in a way that makes them easy to remember.
- “No-Nonsense” Guides by Dan Romanchik (KB6NU): These are streamlined study secrets available as PDFs or paperbacks. They strip away the fluff and focus purely on what you need to know for the test.
3. Video Courses (Best for Visual Learners)
- Ham Radio Crash Course (YouTube): Josh Nass (KI6NAZ) has comprehensive playlists for the Technician, General, and Extra exams. These are free and very high-quality.
- Dave Casler (KE0OG) (YouTube): Dave provides chapter-by-chapter video companions to the ARRL License Manuals, making the textbook material much easier to digest.
4. Practice Exam Generators
Once you’ve studied, use these to gauge your readiness. You should consistently score 85% or higher before booking your exam.
- ARRL Exam Review: A free, web-based tool provided by the ARRL.
- QRZ.com: A classic in the ham world; their practice tests are free (requires a simple account) and very reliable.