wrote:

My ARRL Division is exploring bringing the "qualifying runs" to a
local venue. I don't know if they will run them concurrently with
License Exams, don't care. It will probably be a means for long time
hams to validate themselves into thinking they are still hams...

If I'm not mistaken, the ARRL has offered similar certificates for years.
Not locally, but via mail (i.e. you copy 1 minute of code at X WPM and you
get a certificate from the League). Not sure if other organizations like
FISTS do something similar or not.

I can't imagine for the life of me why you would have an issue with that. In
a sense, it is little different than contesting... WAS, for instance.

Perhaps it is the choice of operating mode that offends you for some reason?

Would it be more to your liking if the ARRL had "FM competency certificates"
where people had to copy a solid minute of a voice transmission and mail it
in the to the League?