Rules note: You need an FCC license to transmit on GMRS (47 CFR 95.1705). Use only FCC-certified GMRS radios, and stay within the power and channel limits for your station type. This is general information, not legal advice. The eCFR text of Part 95 Subpart E is the authority.
A GMRS license is one of the simplest FCC licenses to get. There’s no exam, one fee covers ten years, and one license covers your immediate family. This guide follows the FCC’s own pages and the rule text in 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart E, so you can check each step against the source.
On this page
The short version
- Who can apply: any individual who is at least 18 and isn’t a foreign government or its representative (95.1705(a), 95.305(c)).
- Cost: $35 for a new license, and $35 to renew (FCC fee table).
- Term: 10 years (95.1705(e)).
- Who it covers: you, plus the immediate family members you allow to operate (95.1705(c)(2)).
- No test: Subpart E has no exam requirement. You need eligibility, the application and the fee.
Want a personalised version? Use our GMRS license checklist.
Do you need a license?
Yes, if you transmit on GMRS. The rule is direct: “A valid individual license is required to operate a GMRS station” (95.1705). That covers handhelds, mobile radios, base stations and repeaters. Your license covers the whole system, not each radio.
You don’t need a license for the Family Radio Service (FRS). Part 95 lets eligible people operate Personal Radio Service stations without an individual license unless a specific subpart requires one (95.305), and the FRS subpart doesn’t. FRS radios are limited to 2 W ERP or less, though. See GMRS vs FRS.
Step 1: Create an FCC username and get an FRN
Every FCC applicant needs an FCC Registration Number (FRN). The FCC’s ULS help describes it as “a 10-digit number that is assigned to all businesses and individuals conducting business with the FCC,” and says you must register before filing applications in ULS (ULS License Manager help).
- Register an FCC username in the FCC User Registration System.
- Log in to CORES (the FCC’s registration system) and register a new FRN as an individual.
- Write the FRN down. You’ll use it to log in to ULS.
If you’ve ever held an FCC license, you may already have an FRN. The FCC’s help page says to search for your call sign in ULS License Search, where your FRN appears on the results page.
Step 2: Apply in ULS
- Log in to the ULS License Manager with your FRN and password.
- Choose Apply for a New License.
- Select ZA – General Mobile Radio (GMRS). ZA is the GMRS radio service code on the FCC GMRS page.
- Check your name and address, read the certifications and sign by typing your name.
Step 3: Pay the $35 fee
The FCC’s fee table lists the new GMRS (ZA) application fee as $35 (fee code PRAM), with no regulatory fee (FCC). You pay through CORES. The FCC’s payment guide says to go to Manage Existing FRNs → FRN Financial → Bills and Fees, pick the payer FRN and pay the pending ULS fee (FCC CORES guide).
Step 4: Get your call sign
Once the license is granted, your call sign shows in ULS. You must identify with it at the end of a transmission or series of transmissions, and at least every 15 minutes during longer conversations (95.1751). See GMRS call sign rules.
Who your license covers
95.1705(c) lets a licensee allow “immediate family members” to operate their GMRS stations. The rule lists them: spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and in-laws.
The FCC GMRS page adds that “any family member, regardless of age, can operate GMRS stations and units within the licensed system” (FCC). You stay responsible for proper operation (95.1705(b)), including when a minor is operating (95.1743).
Friends and co-workers aren’t covered. Each of them needs their own license. Two exceptions apply:
- Emergencies: anyone may operate your station if it’s necessary to send an emergency message (95.1705(c)(3)).
- Your repeater: you may let anyone use your repeater, or limit it to specific people (95.1705(d)(2)).
Renewing
The FCC says GMRS licenses can be renewed from 90 days before the expiration date up to the expiration date. After that, you have to request a new license (FCC). Renewal is also $35 (FCC fee table).
Common mistakes
- Transmitting before the grant. Wait until your call sign appears in ULS.
- Assuming a friend’s license covers you. It only covers that person’s immediate family.
- Buying a radio that isn’t certified for GMRS. 95.1761 requires GMRS certification, and 95.335 says using a non-certified transmitter voids your authority to operate.
FAQ
How long does it take?
The FCC doesn’t publish a processing time on its GMRS page. Check your application status in ULS.
Do I need a separate license for a repeater?
No separate license type is listed. Repeater stations operate under your individual license, within the channel and power rules (95.1763, 95.1767). See GMRS repeaters explained.
Is there a test?
No. Subpart E sets eligibility and fee requirements but no exam.