\r\n Volunteer Examiners - W5OBM Amateur Radio Club 
W5OBM

Volunteer Examiners

Meet our dedicated team of Volunteer Examiners who make amateur radio licensing accessible to our community. Our VE team consists of experienced Extra and General class operators committed to growing the amateur radio community.

We conduct regular testing sessions for Technician, General, and Extra class licenses, typically held before our monthly club meetings. Our team is ARRL-affiliated and follows established testing guidelines to ensure a professional testing experience.

Meet Our VEs Schedule Test

About the VEC System

The FCC created the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) system to provide initial licensing examinations for prospective new hams and upgrade examination opportunities for those already licensed. FCC-authorized VEC organizations oversee the work of their certified Volunteer Examiners (VEs) and serve as a liaison between exam applicants and the FCC.

VECs coordinate the efforts of Volunteer Examiners in preparing and administering amateur service operator license examinations. The coordinating VEC screens collected information, resolves all discrepancies, and forwards all required data to the FCC electronically.

Our Commitment: W5OBM is affiliated with the ARRL VEC program, the largest VEC organization in the US. Our VE team consists of General and Extra class license holders who volunteer their time to help grow the amateur radio community.

Learn More from FCC

Become a VE

Volunteer Examiners are US licensed Radio Amateurs holding a General Class license or higher who offer their time to administer FCC licensing exams through an FCC-authorized VEC organization.

Requirements:

  • General Class license or higher
  • Complete VE application process
  • Pass VE examination
  • Volunteer commitment to testing
Become a VE
VE Patch ARRL Logo

Our Volunteer Examiner Team

Experienced amateur radio operators dedicated to licensing new hams

First Name Last Name Call Sign License Class Email VEC Affiliations
ThomasButasKM4AEMGeneralPrivateARRL
MichaelEdwardsKI5BLKExtraPrivateARRL
DouglasKaveWA4CBExtraPrivateARRL
JamesStoryKH0DWExtraPrivateARRL
RobertStroudKD5BSExtraPrivateARRL LAUREL
RussellStrunkKF5HAJExtraPrivateARRL
JackThompsonN5UOVExtraPrivateARRL
EdThornsburgKF8PDExtraPrivateARRL LAUREL
WadeWingfieldKB5SSGExtraPrivateARRL

Our VE team is qualified to administer tests for all amateur radio license classes. Contact information is provided where members have opted to share it publicly.

License Testing Schedule

Ready to get your amateur radio license or upgrade? We're here to help!

Regular Testing

When: 6:00 PM, one hour before the business meeting begins

Day: Third Thursday (check the events calendar for holiday adjustments)

Location: Fairhaven Fire Department, 13701 Center Hill Rd, Olive Branch, MS 38654

Talk-In: 145.470 MHz (-0.600, PL 107.2) for curbside help

Testing Fees

Cost: $15 per test session

Payment: Cash or check accepted

Retests: Same session if time permits

Multiple Tests: Take multiple elements same day

What to Bring

Required: Photo ID

Required: Social Security Number

Upgrades: Copy of current license

Optional: Calculator (non-programmable)

Ready to Schedule Your Test?

Contact our VE team to schedule your amateur radio license test. We recommend advance notice to ensure adequate preparation.

Schedule Your Test Ask Questions
Tests typically take 1-2 hours • Results usually available within 24 hours • Retests available same session if time permits