Central Iowa Testing Opportunities
Exam Candidates are REQUIRED to register in the FCC CORES system and receive a Federal Registration Number (FRN) before exam day. Bring the FRN with you on exam day. The FCC CORES User Account and Registration page is https://apps.fcc.gov/cores
The FCC requires a $35 application fee for new, renewal, rule waiver, and modification applications that request a new vanity call sign. More information is available at https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee. This fee is in addition to session exam fees noted below.
Free Testing
Sponsored by Story County Amateur Radio Club
AMES
Testing sessions are held at the Danfoss room on the second floor of the Ames Public Library at 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA 50010 (map).
- Sunday, October 18, 2026 2pm at the Ames Library (pre-register)
- Sunday, January 24, 2027 2pm at the Ames Library (pre-register)
- Sunday, April 18, 2027 2pm at the Ames Library (pre-register)
- Sunday, July 18, 2027 2pm at the Ames Library (pre-register)
- Sunday, October 17, 2027 2pm at the Ames Library (pre-register)
Exam Fee: FREE
Pre-registration is REQUIRED
More info at http://www.w0yl.com/ve-team
Testing
by other VE teams
Please verify testing dates and locations with the VE team.
BOONE
2026 Dates: Feb 14, Apr 11, Jun 13, Aug 8, Oct 10, Dec 12
Time: 9:00 AM (check in at 8:30am)
Location: Boone Pioneer Center
Address: 1112 Story street, Boone, IA
Website: https://www.qsl.net/kb0tlm/
Talk-In: 146.850
Exam Fee: $15
Contact: Steve Huffman, N0NEU, 515-230-0459
Email: (his call sign)@arrl.net
Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the 3900 Club Hamboree
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Boone County Fair Grounds, Erb Center
Address: 1601 Industrial Park Road, Boone, IA 50036
MARSHALLTOWN
2025 Dates: Mar 2, May 11, Aug 10, Dec 7
Time: 10:00 AM (check-in at 9:30am) No walk-ins, Please call/email ahead to register
Location: Marshall County Emergency Management Office
Third Floor Emergency Operations Center
Address: 2369 Jessup Ave, Marshalltown, IA
Exam Fee: $15
Contact: Brian Krumm, N0MXK, 641-751-2492
Email: (his call sign)@arrl.net
West Des Moines
2026 Dates: Jan 18, Mar 15, May 17, Jul 19, Sep 20, Nov 15
Time: 1:00 PM (No walk-ins, Please email ahead to register)
Location: Johnstone Supply Company classroom
Address: 11000 Justin Drive, Urbandale, IA
Not Handicapped Accessible
Exam Fee: $15
Contact: Rick Allen, N0CFL
Email: (his call sign)@arrl.net
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the DMRAA Hamfest
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds, Elwell Family Food Center
Exam Fee: $15
Contact: Rick Allen, N0CFL
Email: (his call sign)@arrl.net
Perry
2027 Dates: Feb 27
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Winter RF Fest / Perry National Guard Armory
Address: 2930 Willis Ave., Perry, IA 50220
Indianola
2026 Dates: Sep 12
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Church (Indianola Hamfest)
Exam Fee: $15
Contact: Rick Allen, N0CFL
Email: (his call sign)@arrl.net
Further Info
Other Iowa testing opportunities can be found on the ARRL Exam Sessions for Iowa page and at the HamStudy website.