COVID-19 Prompts Dawn of Virtual License Exams

On March 26, the W5YI-VEC coordinated the first-ever fully remote exam for an FCC amateur license, with the candidate, examiners and proctor all online from different locations. According to Newsline, this pilot session may open the door for additional virtual exam sessions in the future. 
 

The ARRL VEC is leaving it up to individual volunteer examiner teams to decide whether to hold exam sessions, based on local restrictions and the expected number of candidates. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, told the ARRL Letter that she expects the numbers for new licensees to drop in March and April due to the reduced number of exam sessions.