vec-check

Volunteer examiner check list for amateur radio test sessions

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 VE's, 4 is better
• A Windows laptop with the Laurel VEC software installed
• Minimum 2 mobile devices with ZipGrade installed
  • Need to provide group code to activate and load answer sheets
• Printer - See Items in the Tub
• phone to contact Cory
• Stand to organize manila folders
• File back up location for Laurel critical files.
• SAT Certified calculater
• The Tub

Items in The Tub

• Test Folders, one for Element 2,3,4
• Answer Key Folders, need to be keyed to ZipGrade
• Blank sheets of paper for printing 605/CSCE
• 25ft extension cord with three head outlet
• Box of random pins (recommend couple red, rest blue/black)
• Stapler (to generate packet at end)
• Small box of paper clips to keep tests/forms/etc together
• Printer

Time Line

Commitment of 3 or more VE's schedule

Reserve a room for testing

• Lopez: Library Common Room
• SJ: Friday Harbor Commons building
  • Old FH Fire Station

Enter Testing Session in Laurel Site

• Required for testing session
  • automatically puts announcement on Laurel Site

Advertise X weeks before exam session

• Lopez Rocks
• The Islands' Weekly
• Laurel VEC session announcement - occurs when entering testing session
  • Optional: ARRL VEC announcement

Exam classes or not

IMPORTANT Testees should pre-register

• Need to fill-in & return a sign up form located here
  • Verify that they have filled in their email address.

Each testee should get an FRN number before session day

• Getting an FCC Registration Number (FRN) in the Universal Licensing System (ULS)
• Youtube FCC User Profile and FRN Registration for New Radio Operators (4:21)
• Alliviates SSN requirement
• Includes new testees without an Amateur license

Walk-ins should get an FRN number at session

• Need process for getting walk-ins FRN, how-to and laptop?

Day of Session

• VEs should show up half hour in advance
• Testees should be given paperwork to fill out as soon as they arrive
• VEs
  • One VE inputs data on the computer
  • Two VEs have ZipGrade on their mobile devices and are availabe for questions.

Testees need to:

• Sign in & show ID
• General & Extra testees need to bring a copy of their current license

Exam session Check list

• All initial paper work completed, hand out exams to testees

  • Testees need to put the correct exam number on their exam and element
  • VE should walk around & confirm correct exam number is on their exam
  • Tell everone else to PLEASE BE QUIET

• Testees that passed their exam need to have their CSCE

• Testees need to have signatures match what they printed

  • No smiley faces

• print the 605/CSCE and NOT 'close out' the testee until the 605 has been received and signature checked.

• If testee fails an exam, another exam may be given. (Max of three tries if getting closer to passing)

• On the 605, don't need candidate to initial top section, unless they are requesting callsign change

• If testee passes an exam be sure they get their CSCE

• Order of Events

  • Fill out form
  • Take test
  • Grade test
  • Enter results into Session Software
  • Check if wants to take next test, else continue
  • Print CSCE and 605
  • Have tester sign CSCE (they keep) and sign 605 (we keep)
  • Give 605 back to session lead, they check it off in software and file (staple) items in this order
    • 605
    • Answer sheet (pass first, then any fails)
    • Sign in sheet and/or copy of license

Day after exam (Or just after exam)

• Check results
• Send kenny/cory the .enc file (generated by FCC file upload tab in software)
  • Needs to be pushed to Cory within 48 hours of test
• Assemble packet
  • Summary sheet (from software)
  • signed in form of VE
  • packet of tester papers (605,Answer Sheet,SignInSheet/copy of license)

Other notes

• VEs auditing the session need to PLEASE BE QUIET