To perform an FCC ham license lookup, go to the FCC’s Universal Licensing System amateur search page at wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchAmateur.jsp. No login or account is needed. Enter a call sign, a 10-digit FCC Registration Number (FRN), or a licensee’s name, and the system returns the license record, including status, expiration date, license class, and mailing address.1Federal Communications Commission. Search FCC Databases
Three Ways to Search
The right search field depends on what you already know about the operator.
By Call Sign
Type the call sign into the call sign field and hit search. This is the fastest route and almost always returns one exact match. It’s what you use when you’ve made contact over the air and want to confirm who you were talking to.
By FRN
Every FCC licensee has a 10-digit FCC Registration Number that permanently identifies them across all FCC services.2eCFR. 47 CFR 1.8001 – FCC Registration Number (FRN) Entering an FRN pulls up every FCC authorization tied to that person or entity, not just the amateur license. Useful when someone holds multiple licenses.1Federal Communications Commission. Search FCC Databases
By Name
If you don’t have a call sign or FRN, search by the licensee’s name. Optional fields let you narrow by city or ZIP code. Name searches often return multiple hits, so you’ll need to pick the right person from the list based on location.1Federal Communications Commission. Search FCC Databases
What the License Record Shows
A successful search brings up a License Summary page. A few fields do most of the work.
Status
“Active” means the license is in good standing. “Expired” means it has passed its expiration date but may still be renewable during the grace period. “Terminated” means the FCC has formally ended the authorization, either through the automated termination process after a long lapse or through a separate enforcement action.3Federal Communications Commission. ULS Automated Termination Process Frequently Asked Questions
Grant and Expiration Dates
Amateur licenses are normally granted for 10 years.4eCFR. 47 CFR 97.25 – License Term If you just passed your exam, check the grant date. You cannot legally transmit until an active license grant appears in the ULS with your name on it.5eCFR. 47 CFR 97.5 – Station License Required
License Class
The FCC currently issues three classes, each with different operating privileges:6Federal Communications Commission. Operator Class
- Technician: full privileges above 50 MHz (up to 1,500 watts) plus limited HF access on four bands between 3 and 30 MHz.
- General: privileges across all 29 amateur bands, with substantially more HF access than Technician.
- Amateur Extra: everything General gets, plus additional HF frequency segments. The highest class.
Older records may still show Novice, Technician Plus, or Advanced. The FCC no longer issues new licenses in those classes, but existing holders who renew keep their grandfathered privileges.6Federal Communications Commission. Operator Class
Checking Whether a Vanity Call Sign Is Available
The same search is the tool for checking vanity call signs. Search the call sign you want. If no active license comes back, it may be available. If it’s assigned, pick another.7Federal Communications Commission. Amateur Call Sign Systems
Your operator class limits which call sign groups you can apply for. A Technician can request only groups C and D; the shorter call signs in groups A and B require a higher class. Vanity applications must specify each requested call sign exactly, and you can list up to 25 in order of preference. Vague requests get dismissed.7Federal Communications Commission. Amateur Call Sign Systems
Renewal and the Two-Year Grace Period
Looking yourself up to check the expiration date is one of the most common uses of the ULS. You can file for renewal starting 90 days before your license expires. The renewal fee is $35.8Federal Communications Commission. Personal Service and Amateur Application Fees
If you miss the expiration date, you have a two-year grace period to renew without retaking the exam. During that grace period you have no operating privileges. You cannot transmit again until the FCC actually grants the renewal.9eCFR. 47 CFR 97.21 – Application for a Modified or Renewed License Grant If the two-year window closes, the license is gone and you have to start over with a new exam.
What Others Can See When They Look You Up
Every license record includes the licensee’s name, mailing address, and email address, and federal rules require this information to be correct and current. If FCC correspondence to your listed email bounces, you risk suspension or revocation.10eCFR. 47 CFR 97.23 – Mailing and Email Addresses
Because the record is public, anyone who searches your call sign sees whatever address is on file. The FCC does not require a residential address, only a valid mailing address where you actually receive mail, so a P.O. Box or work address works. Update your address through the ULS directly. Changing it in CORES alone does not carry over to your license record.11Federal Communications Commission. Common Filing Tasks
Why the Lookup Is Public
Volunteer Examiner Coordinators use the ULS to confirm an applicant’s current license class before administering an upgrade exam.12Federal Communications Commission. Volunteer Examiner Coordinators Clubs use it to verify membership eligibility. Operators who hear a call sign on the air can confirm the person actually holds a valid license, which matters because operating a transmitter without an FCC license is prohibited by federal law and enforced with civil and criminal penalties.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 47 USC 301 – License for Radio Communication or Transmission of Energy