Though it is possible to get your General or Extra class license first, you still have to pass all of the other written exams. So to get your Extra class license you have to take the Tech (or what ever it’s called now days), General and Extra class license as well as the code test.
The written test are multiple guess, you can find plenty of study guides online and at a local club. If you don’t want to or can’t comprehend the information, you can take online sample test over and over again and just memorize the questions and answers.
There are several morse code tutor programs available. Just spend a few minutes every day and you’ll get it.5 WPM isn’t a big deal. I loaded a program called Super Morse on a work PC. I came in 15 minutes early every day, had a cup of coffee and practiced CW before everyone showed up. I went from saying dot and dash to 15 WPM in 6 weeks. Took the 13 WPM test and forgot everything shortly afterwards. I don’t own a key, and can’t recognize when some one is calling me on CW. Yes even if you’re on SSB, some stations will call you on CW.
Best thing to do is get together with your local club that offers the test and go over with them the schedule. You don’t have to take all of the tests at the same time, you can knock out the written tests, and then you have up to a year to knock out the CW test. Or hope that they will discontinue that requirement.
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