Amateur Radio Training
Welcome to the IRN’s curated list of completely free training platforms, interactive tools, video lectures, and study guides. Whether you are aiming for your first licence or an advanced upgrade, these community-vetted resources will help you pass your exams at no cost.
The International Radio Network wants to support and encourage our unlicensed members to obtain their ‘ticket’ and enjoy so many more aspects of amateur radio communication.
We have also thrown in some links to learn morse code. While it might not be required by most Authorities, it can be a lot of fun to learn.
Interactive Practice & Training Platforms
United States
- MyHamRadioStudy
A modern, free study tool providing targeted practice questions, interactive flashcards, and simulated mock exams for FCC Technician, General, and Extra class licences. Features audio cards for accessibility.
Learning and understanding is reinforced through guides around theory, and the website also includes some amazing ‘tools’ that many amateur radio operators would also find useful.
Contact/Access: Access via the MyHamRadioStudy Home Page.
- HamStudy.org
A completely free web and app platform utilizing adaptive flashcards, tracking metrics, and full practice exams optimized for all FCC license tiers.
Contact/Access: Connect via the HamStudy Main Site.
United Kingdom
- Essex Ham
Delivers the highly popular Foundation Online course, a free, self-paced interactive program with lessons, videos, and mock tests.
Contact/Access: Reach out via the Essex Ham Landing Page.
- Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC)
A completely online, Discord-based club that runs structured, free training courses over Zoom for various licence levels.
Contact/Access: Join their community server or view schedules on the OARC Front Page.
- Bath Distance Learning
Widely respected for running comprehensive, free online classroom training specifically for the advanced Full Licence level.
Contact/Access: Check enrolment details on the Bath Based Distance Learning course page.
- Bredhurst Receiving and Transmitting Society (BRATS)
Offers entirely free web-based self-training material spanning Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced exam levels.
Contact/Access: Access materials via the BRATS Main Site.
Canada
- Cold Lake Amateur Radio Emergency Services (CLARES)
Provides an acclaimed, free, self-paced online Basic Amateur Radio Course mapping directly to the official ISED question bank.
Contact/Access: Register through the CLARES Portal.
- HamPrep Canada
An entirely free, account-free web application that indexes all official ISED Basic qualification questions, functioning as an offline study guide and mock test generator.
Contact/Access: Run practice exams directly via HamPrep Canada.
Morse Code (CW) Training for Beginners & the Curious
- LCWO (Learn Morse Code Online)
A completely free, browser-based platform utilizing the proven Koch Method to teach CW at your own pace through customizable text, callsign, and word listening exercises.
Contact/Access: Create a free profile directly on LCWO.net.
- Long Island CW Club
A global community offering over 130 weekly, live online classes via Zoom for adults and children, pairing student-centered instruction with a welcoming, low-stress environment.
Contact/Access: Contact their administration through the Long Island CW Club Website.
- The CWops CW Academy
A structured, world-renowned free program featuring virtual group classrooms led by expert mentors, running multi-week courses aimed at taking novices to fluent conversational operators.
Contact/Access: Sign up for upcoming semesters at the CWops Home Page.
Top YouTube Video Lecture Series
US Exam Tracks
- W4EEY Video Classes
Highly praised for full-length classroom video recordings and slide decks mapping out General and Amateur Extra licences. See the W4EEY video page.
- Ham Radio Crash Course (HRCC)
Hosted by Josh (KI6NAZ), this channel offers fast-paced, highly engaging video crash courses. Watch the tutorials on the Ham Radio Crash Course channel.
UK Exam Tracks
- Essex Ham YouTube Channel
Features dedicated video playlists that visually demonstrate the core practical concepts required under the modern Ofcom syllabus. Watch them on the Essex Ham training videos page.
Free Downloadable Study Guides (PDF & Text)
United States
- Noji Ratzlaff Study Guides
Clean, text-based reference files optimized for printing out as lightweight, offline cram-sheets. Grab copies from the Noji Home Page.
- The KB6NU "No-Nonsense" Guide
A highly famous PDF study manual for the entry-level Technician exam, stripping away dense filler text. Get the files directly from the KB6NU Blog Portal.
Canada
- RAC Basic Study Manual Supplements
Radio Amateurs of Canada provides free online learning guides, band plans, and operating target sheets. Download them from the Radio Amateurs of Canada Official Site.