DXCC

DXCC, short for DX Century Club, is a flagship award program in amateur radio administered by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). It recognizes achievement in contacting a specified number of distinct DXCC entities, as defined by the ARRL DXCC List. The basic DXCC award requires confirmation of communications with 100 different entities across all bands and modes. The list of entities includes independent states, territories, and certain special regions, and is updated periodically to reflect geopolitical changes.

To earn the award, applicants must obtain QSL confirmations for at least 100 entities and submit them to ARRL for validation. Confirmations may be submitted as paper QSL cards or electronically via the ARRL’s Logbook of the World (LoTW), and ARRL may also accept other digital confirmations, depending on rules. Once validated, the applicant receives the DXCC certificate. There are also variants: DXCC by Band (100 confirmed entities on a single band) and DXCC by Mode (100 confirmed entities in a single mode, such as CW, SSB, or digital). The DXCC Honor Roll recognizes operators who have confirmed all current DXCC entities on the list.

The program is one of amateur radio’s oldest and most respected awards, and it informs activity and contesting worldwide. Related ARRL offerings include the annual DXCC Most Wanted list, highlighting the entities most sought after by operators.