Here's how it went when I got into it...back in 1991-1992

No-Code : Written Exam (No code was introducted in 1991)

Novice : written exam and a 5 wpm

Technician : written exam

General : written exam, 13WPM

Advance Class: written exam

Extra Class: written exam, 20WPM


Recently they changed that and is followed

No code: No change

General: 5WPM and written exam (if you have taken your 5WPM all you had
to do is take the written exam for the general and your grandfather in)

If KC8GXW was a general (Ie had taken his written exam for his general)
then the FCC database would say Technician it would say general. The
fact is the FCC database says he is a old technician,

Todd N9OGL