How soon after passing the examination for your first amateur radio license may you transmit on the amateur radio bands?

Transmitting on amateur radio bands requires having an official operator/station license grant issued by the FCC. The correct answer indicates that you can start transmitting as soon as your license grant appears in the FCC's license database. This is crucial because the license grant reflects that you've successfully completed the necessary examination and are authorized to operate on the amateur bands.

It's important to understand that while you may receive the Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) immediately after passing the exam, this document alone does not grant you operating authority. You must wait until the FCC updates its database to reflect your new license status.

This ensures that all operators are documented and that the appropriate legalities are observed, avoiding potential issues with unauthorized transmissions. Until your information is officially recorded in the FCC's system, you're technically not permitted to transmit, even if you've passed your examination.