Worked All States
Worked All States, or WAS, is an Amateur Radio award given to those who successfully complete two-way amateur radio communications with each of the 50 United States of America. The award is sponsored by the ARRL. It is available to radio amateurs world-wide although US applicants must be ARRL members.
Basic award
The basic WAS award is earned by submission of proof of 2-way amateur radio contact using any combination of radio bands or transmission modes. Written proof of the contacts, usually in the form of QSL cards, must be submitted to qualify. The award certificate is dated and indivdually numbered.
Specialty awards
Specialty awards are available for working all 50 states using amateur satellites, Radioteletype (RTTY), Slow-scan television (SSTV), or on any of a number of amateur radio bands (144 MHz, 432 MHz, 222 MHz, 50 MHz, or 160 meters). Each of these are numbered indivdually as well.
An unnumbered award is available for working all US states using a digital mode other than RTTY. A an unnumbered phone (radiotelephone) award is available as well for using USB, LSB, AM, FM, or any other voice mode.
Endorsements
Endorsement stickers can be earned on both the basic and specialty awards. Categories are CW, US Novice class, QRP, Packet, EME, and any single amateur radio band.
Endorsements are earned the same way as the Basic and Specialty awards -- submission of written proof of 2-way contacts with each of the 50 United States of America using the mode or band for which the endorsement is offered.
5-Band WAS
In addition to the awards described above, a 5-Band WAS award is available. 5BWAS, as it is known, is awarded to hams who successfully complete two-way contact with each of the fifty United States on five amateur radio bands (exluding the 30-, 17-, and 12-meter bands). There are no band or mode endorsements associated with 5BWAS.
Alaska / Hawaii
Contacts with stations in Alaska must have been made after 1959-01-03 and stations in Hawaii after 1959-08-21.