1.) The COLEM (or its delegated examiners) collects an exam fee, administers the appropriate examinations and issues a Proof-of-Passing Certificate (PPC). The PPC is the commercial equivalent of the VEC System's Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE). It documents examination element credit for a period of 365 days.

2.) The applicant completes the (FCC Form 605 ) application, attaches the original PPC and/or other credit documents and sends the paperwork to the FCC in Gettysburg, PA. Other credit documents may be either a commercial and/or an amateur radio operator license. The COLEM may act as the filing agent for the applicant. NRE has adopted this procedure since it permits the organization to file applicant applications electronically directly into the FCC's computer thereby greatly speeding up license delivery.

Successful completion of one or more of eleven different examination elements are required to obtain the General Radiotelephone Operator license (GROL), three different Radiotelegraph Operator licenses and various other permits, licenses and endorsements.