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The Worked All States (WAS) award is one of the most popular awards in amateur radio. Sponsored by the ARRL, WAS recognizes operators who have confirmed two-way contacts with stations in all 50 US states. It is often the first major award that operators pursue, and it serves as an excellent introduction to systematic award chasing.
For operators based in the United States, WAS is a natural goal — most states can be worked on the HF bands without unusual propagation or large antennas. For operators outside the US, WAS adds an interesting DX dimension, as some states (especially Alaska, Hawaii, and the less populated interior states) can be challenging to reach.
To earn the basic WAS award:
There is no time limit. Contacts made over your entire amateur radio career count, and there is no minimum signal report requirement.
WAS is available in several forms, and endorsements provide additional challenges once you have earned the basic award:
Basic WAS — Any mode, any band. The starting point for most operators.
Single-band endorsements — WAS can be endorsed for individual bands: 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10, 6, and 2 metres, plus satellite. Single-band WAS on 160 metres is one of the more difficult HF achievements, while 20-metre WAS is the most straightforward.
Single-mode endorsements — CW, phone (SSB/AM/FM), digital, and RTTY endorsements are available. WAS Digital has become increasingly popular with the rise of FT8 and FT4.
Triple Play WAS — Requires WAS on Phone, CW, and Digital modes. Earning all three is a significant accomplishment that demonstrates versatility across operating modes.
WAS via satellite — All contacts must be made through amateur radio satellites. This is a rare and difficult endorsement. See Amateur Satellites for more on satellite operations.
While most US states have plenty of active operators, a few are consistently harder to work:
Alaska (KL7) — Propagation to Alaska from the lower 48 can be challenging, especially on the higher bands. Alaska's small amateur population and its geographic position mean you may need specific band openings. The 40 and 20-metre bands during evening hours (from the US perspective) often provide the best path.
Hawaii (KH6) — Propagation to Hawaii depends heavily on the band and the solar cycle. From the US mainland, 20 metres is the most reliable band. From Europe and Asia, Hawaii can be genuinely difficult to work.
Wyoming, Vermont, Delaware, and other low-population states — These states simply have fewer active operators. They are not propagation challenges but patience challenges — you need to be on the air when someone from that state is active. Contests and state QSO parties are excellent opportunities.
Tips for working hard states:
Each state counts once for the basic WAS. If you work multiple stations in the same state, only one confirmed contact is needed. The state is determined by the physical location of the station at the time of the contact, not by the callsign. A station using a vanity call with a different prefix still counts as the state where they are actually located.
For portable and mobile stations, the state where the station is physically operating at the time of the contact is what counts. This is why events like state QSO parties, Field Day, and POTA activations are valuable — they put operators in states that might otherwise be hard to find on the air.
LoTW is the most efficient path to WAS. Your logging software can upload contacts, and when the other station also uploads, the contact is automatically matched and confirmed. The ARRL's LoTW system tracks your WAS progress and allows you to apply for the award electronically.
QSL cards are also accepted. Cards must be verified by an approved ARRL DXCC/WAS card checker — these are volunteers who examine cards at hamfests and club meetings. You do not need to mail your cards to ARRL headquarters.
The WAS application involves a fee. ARRL members receive a reduced rate. Check the ARRL website for current pricing.
WAS is available to operators worldwide. For operators outside the United States, the challenge is greater because some states may only be reachable during specific propagation conditions. European operators typically find the eastern US states easy but may struggle with Hawaii and some western states. Asian and Oceanian operators face the reverse challenge.
Non-US operators pursuing WAS should pay particular attention to band openings, contest weekends, and state QSO parties. The 20-metre band provides the most consistent path to US states from most parts of the world.