I have set up license exams for 2020 in Benton and Sherwood, Arkansas.
Of note, the Benton exams will END in May, as the test site (the UALR
Benton Center) is closing...and testing will move back to the UALR Main
Campus in Little Rock (at a date to be announced).

Testing will start at 10am Central Time, on the Saturdays noted below. Pre-Registration is REQUIRED no later than 48 hours (2 days) before the
exam session, or the session will be cancelled.

The dates are as follows:

Benton: March 14 and May 9

Sherwood: March 21, May 16, July 18, September 19, and November 21.

Little Rock: Dates And Location To Be Announced

For further details, please email me at wx4qz at arrl dot net.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2)

I have set up license exams for 2020 in Benton and Sherwood, Arkansas.
Of note, the Benton exams will END in May, as the test site (the UALR
Benton Center) is closing...and testing will move back to the UALR Main
Campus in Little Rock (at a date to be announced).

Testing will start at 10am Central Time, on the Saturdays noted below. Pre-Registration is REQUIRED no later than 48 hours (2 days) before the
exam session, or the session will be cancelled.

The dates are as follows:

Benton: March 14 and May 9

Sherwood: March 21, May 16, July 18, September 19, and November 21.

Little Rock: Dates And Location To Be Announced

The update from the previous message is that I will make a call for registration of examinees just over a week prior to the session.

For further details, please email me at wx4qz at arrl dot net.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2)

Due to the CoronaVirus (COVID-19), many amateur radio functions,
including hamfests, club meetings, and license exam sessions, have
been CANCELLED. Please check with the organizers or contact persons,
to be sure that the event is still on.

Concerning the exam sessions I do, the UALR Benton Center is now
CLOSED, so there's no more testing in Benton. Testing is to MOVE
to the UALR Main Campus in Little Rock, but with the campus CLOSED
until fall, I have no idea when testing will resume there...but it
might not be until September. In talking to some medical professionals
in Little Rock, they don't expect "some sense of normalcy" to return
to Arkansas until possibly August...but that's not guaranteed.

With the Central Arkansas Library System being CLOSED through
late April, and all activities SUSPENDED into May, I have CANCELLED
the exam session that was to be held at the Amy Sanders Library in
Sherwood on May 16. I still have the dates of July 18, September 19,
and November 21, on the calendar, but those may be CANCELLED due to
COVID-19.

Some VE Teams are offering "online" or "remote exams"...but, to me,
there is too much potential for fraud by examinees, never mind the
intensive logistics involved. While ARRL/VEC is looking into it, they
note "changes will not happen overnight", and "some VE Teams may NOT
have remote testing as an option. See the related message from ARRL/VEC
for more information.

In short, I personally am NOT planning on doing any remote or online
testing. When exams resume, I will do them IN PERSON, with at least
three (3) ARRL/VEC Amateur Extra Class Volunteer Examiners (VE's), to
check ID, and monitor for possible cheating.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2)

For ham radio operators in the United States and its territories,
the Amateur Extra Class Question Pool, and resulting exams, will
CHANGE on July 1, 2020.

Study guides, exams, etc. from the 2016 Extra Class Question Pool,
will NO LONGER BE VALID as of July 1, 2020 -- VE Teams should DESTROY
copies of the 2016 exam books, etc. on July 1, 2020...and only use
exam books dated July 1, 2020 or later.

If they give an outdated exam in error, the examinee MUST re-test
with the 2020 exam book, but be allowed to do it FREE OF CHARGE. VE
Teams should be vigilant in having the latest exam books on hand.
ARRL/VEC Field Stocked teams will be shipped new Extra Class exam
books in late June, 2020...and the ARRL/VEC Exam Maker software will
be updated around the same time.

Those wishing to take a license exam, be SURE that you are studying
the correct version of the exam you are planning to test for. Or, you
could be in for a rude awakening on exam day.

No Question Pool changes are planned in 2021. However, the cycle
begins with a new Technician pool in 2022, a new General pool in
2023, then a new Amateur Extra pool in 2024.

With COVID-19 restrictions, check with the VE Team Contact Person,
to be sure the session is still on, and for any special requirements,
such as masks and gloves, and whether it's a "low contact, in person
session" (including examinees taking testing from their cars)...or
"remote testing".

My team, the University Of Arkansas At Little Rock (UALR) Ham Radio
Club VE Team, is NOT equipped for "remote testing". As of now, we plan
to do a LOW CONTACT IN PERSON SESSION on Saturday, September 19, and
Saturday, November 21, at the Amy Sanders Library in Sherwood, Arkansas.
I am waiting final word from the library on any other special conditions
or requirements.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2)

For ham radio operators in the United States and its territories,
the Amateur Extra Class Question Pool, and resulting exams, CHANGED
on July 1, 2020.

Study guides, exams, etc. from the 2016 Extra Class Question Pool,
are NO LONGER VALID as of July 1, 2020 -- VE Teams should DESTROY
copies of the 2016 exam books, etc. on July 1, 2020...and only use
exam books dated July 1, 2020 or later.

If they give an outdated exam in error, the examinee MUST re-test
with the 2020 exam book, but be allowed to do it FREE OF CHARGE. VE
Teams should be vigilant in having the latest exam books on hand.
ARRL/VEC Field Stocked teams have been shipped new Extra Class exam
books in late June, 2020...and the ARRL/VEC Exam Maker software has
been updated...those VE Team Leaders with the software should follow
the instructions to update the exam elements.

Those wishing to take a license exam, be SURE that you are studying
the correct version of the exam you are planning to test for. Or, you
could be in for a rude awakening on exam day. Examinees having study
guides, etc. for the 2016 Amateur Extra Class Question Pool, should
throw these in the trash, as they are worthless. New study guides for
the 2020 Amateur Extra Class Question Pool are available from ARRL,
W5YI, and other sources.

No Question Pool changes are planned in 2021. However, the cycle
begins with a new Technician pool in 2022, a new General pool in
2023, then a new Amateur Extra pool in 2024.

With COVID-19 restrictions, check with the VE Team Contact Person,
to be sure the session is still on, and for any special requirements,
such as masks and gloves, and whether it's a "low contact, in person
session" (including examinees taking testing from their cars)...or
"remote testing".

My team, the University Of Arkansas At Little Rock (UALR) Ham Radio
Club VE Team, is NOT equipped for "remote testing". As of now, we plan
to do a LOW CONTACT IN PERSON SESSION on Saturday, September 19, and
Saturday, November 21, at the Amy Sanders Library in Sherwood, Arkansas.
I am waiting final word from the library on any other special conditions
or requirements. For now, those interested can download the file
LRCVDHAM.PDF from the Ham Radio Exams File Area. A PDF reader is
required to view/print it.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2)