The short answer is yes. Unfortunately, for almost all ham radios, you're going to need a license in the USA. What kind of license you need will depend on whether your ham radio is for pleasure or for business. And on top of that, it even depends on which frequencies you'll be transmitting. Unfortunately, there's quite a bit of bureaucracy involved, and you run the risk of getting fined if not everything is in order. I could write an entire second article on the ham radio licensing process alone, but you're best off taking your question to Google, or better yet, consulting an expert.