Question E1E03:
[97.521] What is a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator?  

Choices:  
A: A person who has volunteered to administer amateur operator license examinations  
B: An organization paid by the volunteer examiner team to publicize and schedule examinations  
C: An organization that has entered into an agreement with the FCC to coordinate, prepare, and administer amateur operator license examinations  
D: The person who has entered into an agreement with the FCC to be the VE session manager    

Correct Answer is  C: An organization that has entered into an agreement with the FCC to coordinate, prepare, and administer amateur operator license examinations  

Correct answer: C — An organization that has entered into an agreement with the FCC to coordinate, prepare, and administer amateur operator license examinations.

1) Why C is correct
- Under FCC Part 97.521, a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) is an organization that has a formal agreement with the FCC to oversee the amateur testing system.
- VECs coordinate the work of Volunteer Examiners (VEs), manage exam sessions and paperwork, and interface with the FCC (e.g., forwarding applications and results). Examples: ARRL VEC, W5YI-VEC.

2) Why the other choices are incorrect
- A: Describes a Volunteer Examiner (VE), which is an individual licensed amateur who administers exams under a VEC’s oversight (see 97.509). Not a VEC.
- B: Misstates the role. A VEC isn’t simply “paid to publicize/schedule.” Its authority comes from an FCC agreement and includes coordination, oversight, and submission of results to the FCC.
- D: No single “person” has an FCC agreement to be a session manager. The session manager (often called the VE Liaison) is appointed by the VEC and operates under the VEC; the FCC agreement is with the organization, not an individual.

3) Useful rules of thumb
- VEC = organization with FCC agreement; VE = individual examiner working under a VEC.
- Paperwork path: VEs conduct session → VEC reviews/submits → FCC updates licensing.
- Sessions must be run by a team of at least three VEs; the required class of VE depends on the exam element being given (per 97.509).