ARRL News reported that the FCC has extended the filing deadline to March 5, 2026, for amateur radio licenses that otherwise were due to expire from October 1, 2025, to March 5, 2026. The announcement is included in an FCC Public Notice (DA-25-943) released on Monday, November 17, 2025.
The news follows the recent reopening of the federal government on November 13, following a 43-day shutdown. Since reopening, many federal agencies, including the FCC, have resumed activities, though reducing backlogs and rebounding to full operations may take some time.
This includes continued delays in filing amateur radio license applications.
ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, explained that the announcement means that amateurs whose license expired, or will expire, between October 1, 2025, and March 5, 2026, may continue to operate upon completing a license renewal filing by March 5, 2026.
Somma added the FCC ULS systems are intermittently available again, which include the license manger system, FCC license search, and application search databases, as well as the CORES system. However, FCC system issues are affecting application processing.
The FCC had also briefly resumed accepting application filings via its Electronic Batch Filing (EBF) system on late Wednesday afternoon, November 19. “The EBF system is used by ARRL VEC and all VEC organizations to file exam sessions, new and upgraded licenses, as well as individual and club license filings, none of which are not being processed at this time,” said Somma.
During the shutdown, the ARRL VEC urged its Volunteer Examiners to continue giving ham radio exam sessions. “We have over 2,500 license applications ready to file as soon as the EBF system becomes available and fully operational,” said Somma. “ARRL VEC is prepared to submit the backlog of sessions and applications to FCC for issuing licenses.”
ARRL VEC has published important information For ARRL VEC exam candidates who were unable to get an FCC Registration Number (FRN) while the FCC CORES system was unavailable.
To read this complete story and the latest updates, and for instructions For ARRL VEC exam candidates, visit https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-vec-ready-to-file-2-500-ham-radio-license-applications-fcc-extends-renewal-filing-deadline (ARRL News 11/18/2025).