Help exams stay free.
Since 2016 every SANVEC exam has been completely free — no session fees, no retest fees, nothing. Volunteers donate the time; donations and grants cover everything else. If ham radio gave you something, this is the cheapest way to pay it forward.
THE ONLY COST OF GETTING LICENSED IS THE FCC'S OWN $35 APPLICATION FEE — WHICH GOES TO THEM, NOT US.
Where your donation goes
SANVEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit fueled by volunteerism and supported by grants. Donations are tax-deductible and fund the unglamorous things that make free exams possible:
Testing materials & equipment
Exam supplies, laptops and tablets for electronic testing, and the gear VE teams carry to every Saturday session across the county.
Free classes & study resources
One-day license classes and open educational materials, so the path from curious to licensed never hits a paywall.
Remote exams, worldwide
The infrastructure that lets our VE teams test candidates anywhere on Earth — time zones, tooling, and all.
The next generation
Outreach, new exam teams, and support for member clubs growing amateur radio from San Diego to the East Coast.
Keep the frequency clear.
Every dollar keeps the exam fee at zero for the next person who walks in the door. Donations are processed securely through Stripe.
SANVEC IS A 501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION — DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW. QUESTIONS, GRANTS, OR EQUIPMENT DONATIONS: VEC@SANVEC.ORG · 619-215-1886.
