What is the Worked All Continents (WAC) award?

The Worked All Continents (WAC) award is a prestigious achievement in amateur radio, administered by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). The award recognizes operators who have made confirmed two-way radio contacts (QSOs) with other amateur radio stations on each of the six inhabited continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. The goal of the WAC award is to encourage operators to improve their skills, learn about radio propagation across the world, and foster global goodwill through amateur radio communication.

To qualify for the WAC award, applicants must provide proof of confirmed contacts with stations in each of the six continents. Contacts can be made on any band or mode, and there are no specific date restrictions. Verification can include QSL cards, electronic confirmations through platforms like Logbook of The World (LoTW) or eQSL, or a combination of both.

There are also endorsements available for the WAC award, which recognize achievements in specific modes or bands:

• WAC SSB (Single Side Band), CW (Morse code), and Digital: These endorsements recognize operators who have made contacts with all six continents using specific modes: SSB (voice), CW (Morse code), or digital modes such as RTTY or FT8.
• WAC Single Band: Endorsements are available for operators who have made contacts with all six continents on specific amateur radio bands, such as 20 meters, 40 meters, or 80 meters.

To apply for a WAC award, an operator must submit their log of confirmed contacts along with the required verifications to their IARU member society or the IARU WAC Manager. Once the submission has been reviewed and approved, the operator will receive a certificate to commemorate their achievement.

The WAC program provides a fun and challenging goal for amateur radio operators worldwide, encouraging them to expand their horizons and connect with fellow enthusiasts across different continents.