Applying for an Exam
Organisational Arrangements and Exam Scheduling
Under an agreement with ComReg, IRTS is responsible for setting and organising the Amateur Station Licence Exam. The exam is usually held in Dublin but, where the numbers warrant it, exams can be held at other centres. Exams would normally be held twice yearly, in May / June and November / December.
2023 Examination Dates
The next HAREC examination is scheduled for Saturday, the 4th of November 2023.
There will be two examinations held simultaneously in Dublin, at The Maldron Hotel, Tallaght
and in Cork at the Clayton
Silver Springs Hotel, Tivoli.
Registration for the examinations will commence at 10.30 a.m. and the examination will run from 11 am to 1 pm.
How to Enter
Places for exams are limited, they are allocated on a first come first served basis and are only reserved on receipt of an application form and the exam fee. To reserve a place for the exam, candidates should forward a completed application form to …
- Dave O'Connor. 13 Sydenham Mews,
- Corrig Avenue,
- Dunlaoghaire, Co Dublin. A96RF99
- IRTS Exams
Download the application form here. (As an alternative to posting the form, a scanned copy may be emailed to IRTS Exams, but please ensure that it is signed before scanning.)
The exam fee is €50 or €25 for full-time registered students, repeat candidates and those who are retired, unemployed or have a disability. Special facilities are available on request to candidates with disabilities including special font/colour examination papers and one to one examinations. Please include a note of any special requirements along with your application form. Payment may be made by credit card or PayPal using our online payments system. Alternatively, Cheques or Money Orders payable to IRTS may be sent to the treasurer
N.B. A completed application form must be submitted and payment must be made before a candidate can reserve a place for the exam.
The Exam Paper
The exam consists of a question paper of 60 multiple-choice questions divided into two main sections; The first section focuses on the technical aspects of radio communications. The second part covers operating rules, procedures, and regulations.
The time allowed is two hours. The pass mark is 60% and a pass is required in each of the two main sections of the paper.
A sample exam paper can be found here. A Revised HAREC examination guide is now available. See HAREC Examination Guide And also see the exam syllabus page here
Photo ID
Suitable photo ID must be produced by candidates attending an exam. The photo ID can be a driving licence, a passport, an employment photo identity card or a student card containing a photograph. A national Garda photo ID is also acceptable. Anyone who fails to produce photo ID on the day of the exam will not be allowed to sit the exam.
