Main Content

SINGLE ROOM INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO STOP FEEDBACK ON ZOOM (Phone):

1. Open the Zoom App.


2. Navigate through the screens:
• *The first screen is "Tap to Speak."
• *The second screen is "Current Speaker."
• *The third screen is "Multiview."


3. On the "Multiview" page, tap the bottom area of the screen.


4. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a menu that includes "Mute/Unmute," "Start/Stop Video," "Participants," "Chat," and more.


5. Scroll to the right end of this menu until you see "More" (three dots).


6. Tap on "More" and scroll to the bottom.


7. Select "Disconnect Audio."

iOS 26 or newer?


8. Swipe left to right until you see “Press to Speak” in a circle.


9. Click on the speaker at the top of the screen.


10. Select “Disconnect Audio.” All unbracketed text is read aloud verbatim to the candidate.

[All bracketed text is VE instruction only and is not read aloud.]

Welcome to PARC Radio. This exam session is being recorded, including audio, video, and screen activity.

Do you consent to being recorded for the duration of this exam session? Please answer yes or no.

[If no, terminate the session.]

I’m [your name], call sign [your call sign]. We have several volunteer examiners joining us today, along with others in the background. [Introduce VEs].

Before we get started, how did you find PARC Radio to take your exam today?

[Do NOT prompt]





Pre-Read

1. You are not allowed to wear hats or any electronic devices. We need to do a quick visual check, so please hold your arms up in front of the camera and show us both ears.
   
   [List of devices: Hats, head coverings, ear pieces, headphones, smart glasses, face coverings, watches, and smart rings]
   
   [If present, ask that they be removed]
   


2. We will need you to complete the test without any interruptions.


3. Please keep your attention on your computer screen at all times. Don’t let your eyes wander to other parts of the room and don’t leave your seat during the exam.


4. You are not allowed to read any questions or answers out loud and you cannot talk to yourself. Mouthing the words, even if no sound is coming out, IS talking to yourself.


5. You must remove any drinks, snacks, papers, or anything else that might distract you including vapes and tobacco products.


6. You cannot have any visitors or pets in the room, so will have you close and lock all doors during the room scan.


7. Since you cannot use scrap paper or manual calculators, please remove those items from the testing area. [Do not mention a calculator unless asked.]


8. You should only have the zoom app on your computer screen. All browsers, emails, notifications, and notes must not only be closed, they must be shut down and quit completely.



Conditional Read:

We are going to put you back in the waiting room while we prepare your exams and then bring you in one at a time to take your exam.



*STOP HERE FOR MULTI-CANDIDATE INSTRUCTIONS - BEGIN BELOW FOR INDIVIDUAL READING OF INSTRUCTIONS*




IDENTIFICATION

9. Please hold your driver’s license up to the camera on your computer screen close and steady.


10. Flip it around to the reverse side.


11. Put that in your back pocket or a drawer, out of view along with any other papers or documents.
[Please start recording now.]

12. We need you to verify that you have read the website instructions and agree to the following terms:


13. You will share your entire screen.


14. The exam session will be recorded and stored.


15. You have either removed or covered any sensitive or personal items, otherwise you have consented to the viewing and scanning of these items.


16. If the Exam Team suspects a possibility of cheating, they will terminate your exam, the exam fee will be forfeited, and you will be barred from taking any future online exams.


17. Please answer with a verbal yes or no.


18. You may see a blue Okay button near the top of your screen that acknowledges a recording is in progress. Clicking on it will close that dialogue box.
    
    [Do a visual check of their ears and arms for watches, earbuds, hearing aids and hats.]



ROOM SCAN

19. Pick up your cellphone, change to your rear camera, not your selfie camera. [Tap center of the app, tap camera icon in the top left corner.] Stand up behind your chair. Hold your phone horizontally, in landscape mode, and point your camera toward your computer.
    
    Show us the left side of the computer.
    Show us the right side of the computer.
    Show us the back of the computer.
    Show us the computer and desktop area.


20. You cannot have any visitors or pets in the room, so please close and lock all doors.


21. Hold your phone vertically in the center of your chest. While standing in the same spot, make a 360 degree turn in the same direction with your camera without stopping.


22. Please turn your phone back horizontal and set the phone where it views your monitor, keyboard, and hands.




SCREEN SHARE

23. On the laptop press the “SHARE SCREEN” button at the bottom of the screen. It is usually a green button.


24. Then press the “SHARE” button in the bottom center of that dialog box. It is usually a blue button. [Do not let them select a screen, they must share the entire desktop.]


• For a Mac computer:
  [Look across the dock for any dots under the applications. The only apps that may have a dot under them are the finder, Calculator, and Zoom apps.]
  
  Look at the top left corner of your screen for the apple, click on the apple. Now click on force quit which is about the fifth item down.
  
  Hold your command key and click all items other than finder, calculator, and zoom. Then click force quit.
  
  In the menu bar (bar across the top) on your Mac, click Control Center
  
  In Control Center, click the Do Not Disturb icon or Focus, then click Do Not Disturb for One Hour
  
  The Do Not Disturb icon appears in the menu bar to indicate Do Not Disturb is on. To close Control Center, click anywhere on the desktop.
  
  Right click in the center of the screen and select “Use Stacks”. If version does not support, click “View” on Menu Bar and then Select “Use Stacks.”


• If using a PC:
  [Look across the task bar for any bars or lines under the applications. The only apps that may have a line under them are the Calculator and Zoom apps.]
  
  Go to the bottom right-hand corner of the screen and look to the right of the me and date. You are looking for a text balloon, it may or may not have a number on it, and right click on it. Then click focus assist followed by clicking priority only. Some versions you may have to right click on the me.
  
  Right click on the task bar to open Task Manager.
  
  [(If this fails click CONTROL-SHIFT-ESCAPE all at once) Make sure all applications are closed except the ones we are using.]


25. [Make sure all apps and processes are quit except for zoom.]


26. Open a browser in guest mode and fit it within the box on your screen. [Click profile picture, click on “Open guest profile”. Slide new browser down and close the one behind it. If using Safari, guest mode not needed]


27. In the URL bar, please type EXAM.TOOLS and press enter.


28. [*IF IN DARK MODE*] Click on the black/white moon in the bottom right corner.


29. Select “JOIN EXAM SESSION”.


30. On the top line type “Team Identifier”


31. On the second line type (PIN).

ROOM READY:
We are ready to begin your exam. Do not click anything else, VE’s in the next room will guide you from here.

Please have your identification ready. You will be moved shortly. Good luck.

ROOMS BUSY:
MAIN ROOM HOLD - You are all set up now. If you can keep your hands in view and not leave your seat or make any adjustments, we will not have to scan your room again. Please stay just like you are and as soon as a room is ready, we will move you in to take your exam. Do not click anything else, VE’s in the next room will guide you from here.

OBSERVATION ROOM HOLD - You are all set up now. If you can keep your hands in view and not leave your seat or make any adjustments, we will not have to scan your room again. We are going to move you into an observation room where one of our VE’s will be watching you. Please stay just like you are and as soon as a room is ready, we will move you in to take your exam. Do not click anything else, VE’s in the next room will guide you from here.



START EXAM


[Have them position the bottom edge of the browser below, “Exam history” and above, “No exams have been taken”. This position will ensure they get the schematics with the questions.]



[Start Timing Now]



32. In order to make this process go smoothly, we ask that you listen carefully and follow our instructions. Please do not get ahead of what we are asking you to do.


33. Please check your name, address, email, and phone number.


34. Please read ONLY your name out loud.


35. After you verify your information is correct, please click “START _____ EXAM”


36. In the top right corner, you will see the number of questions remaining. Please move your mouse pointer up to that spot now.
    
    [Verify they put the mouse pointer on top of the word remaining.]


37. You will not use your mouse or trackpad anymore for the exam.


38. To select your answers for the questions, simply press the “A”, “B”, “C”, or “D” keys on the keyboard. This will not only mark your answer, it will also automatically advance to the next question and light it up. The questions will be bottom justified because some questions have schematics above them.
    
    [DO NOT OFFER OR MENTION UNLESS ASKED!
    
    *READ ONLY IF USING A CALCULATOR*]


39. If you need to use the calculator, you may use the trackpad {mouse}, but then you will need to click on the word remaining to refocus to the exam page and begin using the letters A, B, C, and D again.


40. When you have answered all of the questions, the word “Remaining” will change to a gold “GRADE EXAM” button. After you finish, press the gold GRADE EXAM button without any further prompting from us, and that will give us your score.


41. We will now turn off all of our video and audio so that we don’t distract you. However, you must keep both of your devices active throughout the exam.

GOOD LUCK! You may begin!


FINISH EXAM

42. Please click the “GRADE EXAM” button and we will get your score.



[Please stop timing now.]



43. Would you like a screen shot of your name and score for class or personal reasons?


44. Click on the “FINISH AND SIGN FORMS” button, that is the gold button.


45. Click on “FINISH AND SIGN”


46. Now scroll to the bottom of the page and type your full legal name on the line below the red sentence where says “FULL NAME OF SIGNER”.
    [If they ask about middle say, “If you have one, yes, we want your full legal name on that line.”]


47. Now scribble your signature into the “SIGN HERE” box.


48. Once you have finished with your signature, click on “SIGN DOCUMENTS”, the green button below the box.


49. Click on “FINISH SESSION”.


50. Click on “LOG OUT”


51. We will now stop recording and sharing your screen.



POST EXAM INFORMATION

52. NEW: We will be emailing you a CSCE. Once the FCC receives your exam information, they will email you a link with payment instructions. You have 10 days to make the payment directly to the FCC.
    
    After payment is received, the FCC will send a final email with a link to your Official License, valid for 30 days.
    
    Do not make any changes to your FCC record during that thirty-day period. Making changes may delay or void your application.


53. UPGRADE: We will email you a CSCE with instructions to verify your upgrade online. That process should be completed by the end of next week.
    
    Do not make any changes to your FCC record until at least thirty days after your upgrade appears in the system. Making changes may delay or void your application.

[READ ONLY IF APPLIES]

54. FOR YOUTH ONLY: Because you tested with PARC, you qualify for reimbursement of the $35.00 FCC License Fee through the ARRL.
    
    Instructions are available on our website after you receive your callsign.


55. FOR LADIES ONLY: There is a national organization for women in amateur radio called the Young Ladies Radio League, or YLRL. We encourage you to look them up if you are interested in additional resources and opportunities.


56. FOR EXTRA CLASS ONLY: Congratulations on earning the highest license class in amateur radio. We invite you to join PARC Radio and consider becoming a Volunteer Examiner.
    
    You may volunteer as often as your schedule allows. If you are interested, please email ve@parcradio.com for details.


• IMPORTANT: Please allow up to ten days for processing before contacting us or the FCC.
  
  Before reaching out, check your email spam and junk folders and review your FCC CORES account.
  
  

  STAYING INVOLVED

  
  We encourage you to join the ARRL and get involved in your local radio club. For more information about our online club, please use the telegram link on our website.
  
  

  CLOSING

  
  Thank you for testing with PARC today. We look forward to hearing you on the air and hope to see you or your friends at a future exam session.
  
  Do you have any questions or comments for us?
  
  [PAUSE FOR CONGRATULATIONS AND COMMENTS.]
  
  For follow-up questions, please contact us through our Facebook page or review the FAQ on our website. Please make Zoom full screen. In the chat, you will see a link to the What’s Next page.
  
  Click the link, bookmark it, and review the next steps.
  
  You are free to leave the meeting. Click Leave Meeting in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Please remember to remove your second device as well.
  
  73!