G1D01: Who may receive partial credit for the elements represented by an exp…

G1D01§ 97.501, 97.505(a)G1D →

Who may receive partial credit for the elements represented by an expired amateur radio license?

AAny person who can demonstrate that they once held an FCC-issued General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra class license that was not revoked by the FCC
BAnyone who held an FCC-issued amateur radio license that expired not less than 5 and not more than 15 years ago
CAny person who previously held an amateur license issued by another country, but only if that country has a current reciprocal licensing agreement with the FCC
DOnly persons who once held an FCC issued Novice, Technician, or Technician Plus license

Why Section 97.505(a) directs Volunteer Examiners to give credit for the written elements a person already proved they passed, and that credit does not expire with the license. So someone who can document that they once held an FCC-issued General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra license, and that it was not revoked, gets credit for the elements that license represented and only needs to pass the remaining element(s). Expiration of the license itself does not erase the exam credit, but a revoked license does.

Watch out The choice with a 5 to 15 year window confuses element credit with the two-year grace period for renewing an expired license; there is no time limit on documented element credit. Credit is based on an FCC-issued license, so a foreign license does not qualify under this rule.

Documented proof plus never revoked equals permanent element credit. No clock, no expiration date on what you already passed.

HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.

47 CFR 97.501 Qualifying for an amateur operator license.

Each applicant must pass an examination for a new amateur operator license grant and for each change in operator class. Each applicant for the class of operator license grant specified below must pass, or otherwise receive examination credit for, the following examination elements:

(a) Amateur Extra Class operator: Elements 2, 3, and 4;

(b) General Class operator: Elements 2 and 3;

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov

47 CFR 97.505(a) Element credit.

(a) The administering VEs must give credit as specified below to an examinee holding any of the following license grants:

(b) The administering VEs must give credit to an examinee holding a CSCE for each element the CSCE indicates the examinee passed within the previous 365 days.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov

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