I have been a Tech Plus since June of 1994 and have decided that I want to be a General class operator but it seems that there is a hole in 97.505a that may make me repeat the Element 1 exam.
I took the exact same tests as a Novice, Technician and Technician Plus which is really saying Element 1a(5wpm Code), Element 2 and Element 3a. Back then you could take the exam first, get your Tech Ticket, then take your code exam to become Tech Plus. Now in 97.505a, the progression of these previous tests matters. If I would have had my Novice ticket first( at all ) 97.505a5 would say I am good now for element 1, From 97.505a4 and my current tech ticket (converted from tech plus) say I am good for element 2. The problem I see is that I never had a Novice License only Tech and Tech plus and 97.505a never mentions tech plus in my current state(expired and outside renewal window).
So my question is has anyone else upgraded their Tech Plus( not Tech + CSCE ) to general and did you have to take Element 1 over?