Track 1: Laurel VEC P&P — Lesson 2 of 7

Roles & Responsibilities

Who does what — from the VEC Chairman down to support personnel, and what distinguishes each role.

Learning objectives

Distinguish between Session Leader, Team Leader, and Deputy Team Leader
Identify tasks only a Team Leader or Deputy TL can perform
Describe the permitted role of support (non-VE) personnel
Understand VE family-member conflict-of-interest rules

Part A — Session Leader

The Session Leader

The person in charge of conducting a specific exam session is called the Session Leader (referred to in FCC rules as the “session manager” §97.513 P&P §12.6). This is normally the Team Leader, but a Team Leader may designate a Deputy Team Leader to serve as Session Leader during their absence. P&P §12.6.1

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Only TLs and Deputy TLs may be Session Leaders

No other VE may conduct an exam session. P&P §12.4.2.1 If neither the TL nor a designated DTL is available, the session cannot proceed.

Session Leader responsibilities include:

✓Assigning VE tasks based on license class and team workflow App. 8 §4.1
✓Ensuring no VE with a family member applying participates in any capacity §97.509(d) App. 8 §4.2
✓Reading required exam instructions before testing begins App. 4 §2.19 App. 8 §6.1
✓Addressing cheating, non-compliance, and VE conduct issues immediately App. 5 §3
✓Scanning and uploading session paperwork to the VE Portal App. 4 §2.20–2.21

Part B — VE qualification table

Which VE can administer which element

This is a firm rule. A VE may only administer, grade, and certify results for elements their license class permits. P&P App. 8 §4.1 §97.509(b)

Exam element(s)	Required VE license class
Element 2 only	Amateur Extra, Advanced, or General class
Elements 2 and 3	Amateur Extra or Advanced class
Elements 2, 3, and 4	Amateur Extra class only

⚠️

Minimum of three qualified VEs required at all times

At least three qualified VEs must be present and administering exams throughout the session. §97.509. A recommended ratio is one administering VE per four applicants.

Part C — Conflict of interest

Family member rule

No VE may administer, grade, or certify an exam for a family member §97.509(d) P&P App. 8 §4.2. Family members include: spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and anyone living in the same household. P&P App. 1 (Definitions)

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The VE may attend — but not participate

If a VE’s family member is applying at the session, the VE may be physically present but may not participate in any capacity — not registration, not monitoring, not grading, not signing. P&P App. 8 §4.2.1 This also applies to uploading documents to the VE Portal after the session. P&P App. 4 §2.21.1.1

Part D — Support personnel

Non-VE volunteers (support personnel)

Teams may use non-VE volunteers — people not eligible to be a VE, or eligible but not yet accredited. Their role is very limited and they must be closely supervised. P&P §12.8

✓Permitted: greeter, escort, document preparer, runner P&P §12.8.4
✓Not permitted: any task restricted to VEs (administering, grading, certifying) P&P §12.8.4
✓Non-VE volunteers are not part of the LARC VEC organization P&P §12.8.2
✓The Team Leader decides whether to use support personnel P&P §12.8.3

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Support personnel CAN prepare documents

Trained support personnel may prepare the LARC-VEC Form 605 and CSCE for signing by the certifying VEs. P&P App. 8 §9.1.6 This task does not require a VE to perform it — but the VEs must independently verify the documents before signing.

Part E — Team Leader key duties

Team Leader responsibilities (highlights)

✓Nominate qualified licensees to be VEs via the VE Portal P&P App. 4 §2.2.1
✓Create exams and answer keys (only TL and DTL may do this) P&P §12.4.2.2 App. 4 §2.16
✓Schedule and advertise exam sessions; update the team page by 1 November each year P&P §9.1.1
✓Notify Regional Coordinator of cancelled sessions within 2 days P&P §9.1.4
✓Respond to RC and VEC Chairman queries within 72 hours P&P App. 4 §2.14
✓Retain original session paperwork for 30 days, then destroy P&P App. 4 §2.22
✓Notify RC within 3 days of any change to TL or DTL contact information P&P App. 4 §2.7.1
✓Notify RC of all instances of cheating P&P App. 4 §2.23

Knowledge Check

A VE’s sister is attending the session to take the Technician exam. What is the correct action for that VE?

The VE may monitor but not grade or sign the sister’s paperwork
The VE must leave the building entirely for the duration of the session
The VE may attend but may not participate in the session in any capacity
The VE may participate as long as they don’t personally grade the sister’s exam

Knowledge Check

A General class VE is asked to help certify results for an applicant who passed both Element 2 and Element 3. Can this VE sign the CSCE?

Yes — General class can certify any exam result
No — Elements 2 and 3 together require Advanced or Amateur Extra class
Yes — General class can certify Element 2; another VE can certify Element 3
Only if a fourth Amateur Extra class VE countersigns

Knowledge Check

Which of the following tasks may a trained non-VE support volunteer perform?

Grade an applicant’s answer sheet using the answer key
Prepare (fill out) a Form 605 for review and signing by the certifying VEs
Observe and monitor applicants during the exam
Certify results by co-signing the CSCE

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