In the US to obtain a license you take a written test. There are no more morse code requirements like there used to be.
In most built up areas there are tests multiple times a month, administered by volunteer examiners. In a few places the tests are free, most places you pay a fairly nominal amount (like $15). You show up, show ID, take the test, and learn if you pass on site. Your paperwork is sent to the FCC and tada (your address shows up in a public license database).
There three levels of licensing: technician then general then extra. Tech gives you all permissions for VHF and above, if you are only interested in VHF+ then a tech license is all you need. To transmit on HF (shortwave, which is not limited to line of sight) you will need at least general. Extra adds access to a few small reserved segments and the ability to request a vanity callsign. Assuming you want to do the study, it's possible to take and pass all three levels at one event (usually this will only cost the single fee, if any fee is charged).
The tests are multiple choice and drawn from public question pools, so study is fairly easy. Several people have put up data files for flashcard programs. If you know a bit about radio and apply some common sense, you can probably pass the technician test cold or get very close to it. You can try the tests online: http://www.eham.net/exams/
Standard procedure is to take the online tests until you reliably pass whatever test segments you'd like to try.. then go take it. I would strongly recommend trying for general+tech, even if you only plan on using tech-- it's not much harder to do general as well and you get access to a lot more spectrum that way.
An extra tidbit: you can now get a perfectly usable 2m/70cm (VHF/UHF) handheld radio for ~$30 (e.g. BF-F8+, though you'll also want a $2 programming cable since they're a bit of a PITA to program via the panel).
So, you don't have to fall down a deep gear rabbit hole just to get on the air. :) OTOH, depending on what you're interested in, a little handheld won't go very far.
You could also try building your own radio. There are all sorts of kits available. That'll make getting a decent radio a lot cheaper, and you can learn a lot that way.
Another option is buying a used radio. There's a lot of great equipment you can get at swapmeets or online for relatively cheap.
The results I've seen aren't that bad - within spec, and unlikely to cause problems for anyone else (especially on UHF/VHF - if this were HF it'd be different). The receive sensitivity isn't great, but they are a fantastic starter radio.
Wait is the drop of morse requirement only for tech or for anything up to extra as well? Last time I started to teach myself morse, it did not go over... well... at home.
In most built up areas there are tests multiple times a month, administered by volunteer examiners. In a few places the tests are free, most places you pay a fairly nominal amount (like $15). You show up, show ID, take the test, and learn if you pass on site. Your paperwork is sent to the FCC and tada (your address shows up in a public license database).
There three levels of licensing: technician then general then extra. Tech gives you all permissions for VHF and above, if you are only interested in VHF+ then a tech license is all you need. To transmit on HF (shortwave, which is not limited to line of sight) you will need at least general. Extra adds access to a few small reserved segments and the ability to request a vanity callsign. Assuming you want to do the study, it's possible to take and pass all three levels at one event (usually this will only cost the single fee, if any fee is charged).
The tests are multiple choice and drawn from public question pools, so study is fairly easy. Several people have put up data files for flashcard programs. If you know a bit about radio and apply some common sense, you can probably pass the technician test cold or get very close to it. You can try the tests online: http://www.eham.net/exams/
Standard procedure is to take the online tests until you reliably pass whatever test segments you'd like to try.. then go take it. I would strongly recommend trying for general+tech, even if you only plan on using tech-- it's not much harder to do general as well and you get access to a lot more spectrum that way.