FCC Question Pool Review

Question T1C10

From subelement T1 - T1C

T1C10

Answer: C

How soon after passing the examination for your first amateur radio license may you transmit on the amateur radio bands?

AImmediately on receiving your Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE)

BAs soon as your operator/station license grant appears on the ARRL website

CAs soon as your operator/station license grant appears in the FCC’s license database

DAs soon as you receive your license in the mail from the FCC

Why is this correct?

You can transmit as soon as your license appears in the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS) database, not when you receive the CSCE, see it on ARRL's website, or get paper documentation. The FCC's database is the official record of your authorization. Options A, B, and D are all premature or reference unofficial sources - only the FCC database grants actual operating authority.

Memory tip

Remember the hierarchy: FCC database is the official source of truth, then other databases/websites sync from it, then paper follows. Always look for 'FCC database' as the trigger point for any licensing question about when privileges become active.

Think about it

Why do you think the FCC requires database entry rather than just passing the exam to authorize transmission?