September 2026: first-time licenses 10.8% higher than a year earlier, and upgrades outnumber new hams
A monthly read on US ham radio: how new licensing compares with last year, what upgrades show, and where the activity is, region by region.
The FCC granted 1,718 first-time amateur radio licenses in September, 10.8% higher than September 2025, and 1,924 licensed hams moved up a class. Here is what stood out in the month, by region and by state.
New hams in September: how the month compares
September brought 1,718 new hams, about the same as August 2026 (1,686) and 10.8% higher than September 2025 (1,550). Among the 6 Septembers in our data, which starts in 2021, it ranks 4th highest. Another 57 grants went to people who had held a license before; they are counted separately from first-time licenses.
Zooming out gives a more cautious picture. Over the last 12 months there were 24,401 first-time licenses, 10.1% below the 12 months before (27,154). The 12-month total includes October 2025, when only 81 first-time licenses were granted nationwide, far below the usual 2,161; the FCC data does not say why, and that one month accounts for much of the gap. The latest three months total 5,253, 5.5% below the same three months a year earlier (5,559), so the decline has not eased yet. The FCC data records when licenses are granted but not why people apply, so this report describes the pattern without explaining it.
Ham radio upgrades in September
Upgrades outnumbered new licenses this month, 1,924 to 1,718. Upgrades were 16.2% higher than August 2026 (1,656) and 17.7% higher than September 2025 (1,634). Over 12 months there were 21,783 upgrades, 3.3% higher than the 12 months before (21,096). Upgrades are people already in the hobby moving up a class by passing the General class exam or the Amateur Extra class exam, so they say more about existing hams than about new interest.
Ham radio licensing by region, September 2026
Region by region, the West had the highest rate of new licenses in September: 0.56 first-time licenses per 100,000 residents, against 0.41 in the Northeast. The West holds 23.4% of the population and received 27.9% of the month's first-time licenses; the Northeast holds 17.0% of the population and received 14.7%.
| Region | Share of US population | Share of September first-time licenses | First-time per 100,000 | Licensed hams per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | 23.4% | 27.9% | 0.56 | 295.9 |
| South | 39.2% | 39.8% | 0.48 | 190.2 |
| Midwest | 20.4% | 17.7% | 0.41 | 196.7 |
| Northeast | 17.0% | 14.7% | 0.41 | 163.8 |
Sorted by first-time licenses per 100,000 residents. Census regions, with DC in the South.
Licensed hams per capita tell a similar story: the West has 295.9 per 100,000 residents and the Northeast has 163.8. Regions follow Census definitions with DC in the South. 13 states withheld a monthly count of fewer than 10, so regional totals leave those out.
For any single state, see its page for the county map and monthly trend, for example California, the state with the most first-time licenses this month.
Which states moved most in September
Across the 37 states with a published count in both months, 24 granted more first-time licenses than in September 2025 and 12 granted fewer. Among states with at least 30 in both months, the biggest gains were North Carolina (up 102.4%), Michigan (up 91.2%), Virginia (up 61.3%), and the biggest drops were Washington (down 11.3%), Oregon (down 6.7%), California (down 5.5%). Monthly counts in a single state are small and can swing on a few dozen licenses.
How many hams are there, and how long does a license take?
730,187 people held an active license at the end of September, including 6,260 with territory or military addresses. This is our first monthly snapshot, so there is no month-over-month change in licensed hams to report yet; one will appear once the next month is published. Another 80,891 licenses are past expiration but still inside the two-year renewal grace period and are not counted.
New licenses granted in September waited a median of 1 day from the day the FCC received the application, and nine in ten were granted within 4 days (1,775 grants measured). Longer waits are mostly unpaid fees; see the call sign wait time page.
More monthly reports
September 2026 ham radio statistics FAQ
How many new hams were licensed in September 2026?+
The FCC granted 1,718 first-time amateur radio licenses in September, 10.8% higher than September 2025, plus 1,924 class upgrades. First-time means the person had no earlier license on file.
How many licensed ham radio operators are there in the US in September 2026?+
730,187 people held an active, unexpired amateur radio license at the end of September. This is our first monthly snapshot, so there is no month-over-month change in licensed hams to report yet; one will appear once the next month is published.
Which part of the US is licensing the most new hams?+
In September the West led per capita with 0.56 first-time licenses per 100,000 residents. The West has the most licensed hams per capita overall, at 295.9 per 100,000.
How long did it take to get a ham radio license in September 2026?+
New licenses granted in September waited a median of 1 day from the day the FCC received the application, and nine in ten were granted within 4 days (1,775 grants measured). Longer waits are mostly unpaid fees; see the call sign wait time page.