If you are totally new to hamming, first go to the ARRL Web site and find a club (or several) in your area. Many give license classes and are associated with a Volunteer Examiner program. ARRL is at
http://www.arrl.orgThe restructuring took effect April 15. If you have an old Novice/Technician book you can use it, since the current Tech questions are a subset of the two tests combined and the rules questions should be the same for the Technician class. The General Exam is pretty much the same, and the new Extra is a combination of the Advanced and Extra class questions. This will change in the next rewrites, scheduled over the next three years. But the above is accurate through the remainder of 2000.
Consider shooting for the General class exam - its 5 words-per-minute CW is just the speed at which you know the characters. It does help to find someone to get you started on it though. If you go that route, check
http://www.fists.org or the CW list on
http://www.qth.netBoth groups are dedicated to helping newbies with Morse Code. The General written is basic electronics, but do all this is AT YOUR pace, don't feel rushed to do it all at once if you're more comfortable doing is a step at a time. You'll have years ahead to explore all that ham radio has to offer -- and it is substantial.
Anyway, we wish you all the best and we'd be glad to welcome you aboard! Hope to work you on the air when you get that ticket.
Good Luck & 73,
Alan N5LF
http://www.qsl.net/n5lf