Who may select a desired call sign under the vanity call sign rules?

The FCC vanity call sign program allows amateur radio operators to request a specific, unassigned call sign of their choosing, provided they meet the formatting rules for their current license class. This program is open to all licensed amateurs, regardless of their license tier. While it is true that higher-class licensees (like Amateur Extra) have access to shorter, highly sought-after call sign formats (such as 1x2 or 2x1 formats), a Technician or General class operator is perfectly eligible to participate in the vanity program to select an available standard format, such as a 1x3 or 2x3 call sign. There are no minimum time-in-service requirements or specific license class gateways just to apply for a vanity call sign. Any licensed operator can swap their sequentially issued call sign for a vanity one.