How Much Does a Drone License Cost? Part 107 Fees Explained

Mandatory Fees

Optional Preparation Costs

Study courses are not required but are commonly used. The major providers and their current prices:

• Pilot Institute Part 107 course: $99-149 (frequently discounted)
• UAV Coach Part 107 course: $129-199
• Drone Launch Academy: $97-149
• FAA study materials: $0 (FAA website, freely available)
• Practice test sites (Prepware, 3DR Pilot): $0-30

Retake Costs

Failing the test does not reset your eligibility. You must wait 14 days before retaking and pay the $175 fee again for each attempt. The pass rate for first attempts among people who used a structured course is significantly higher than for self-study. If you fail once, total cost rises to $350 before the optional course cost.

Test Format and Pass Score

The Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit. You need 42 correct answers to pass (70%). The test is administered at PSI testing centers nationwide. Testing centers are in most US cities; you schedule an appointment and pay the $175 fee when booking.

Major Topic Areas

The test draws from seven knowledge areas weighted roughly as follows:

• Airspace classification and operating requirements (approximately 20-25% of questions)
• Flight restrictions and special use airspace
• Aviation weather and meteorology
• Loading and performance (drone performance at altitude, weight effects)
• Emergency procedures and crew resource management
• Radio communication procedures
• Physiological effects on pilots (affects human pilots more than drone pilots, but still tested)

Airspace Chart Reading

The most commonly failed section is airspace chart interpretation. Questions show a sectional chart excerpt and ask you to identify airspace classes, identify tower frequencies, or determine whether a specific location requires authorization. About 10-15 questions involve chart reading. Studying with actual sectional charts (available free from the FAA) is more effective than reading descriptions of airspace classes.

Part 61 Pilot Certificate Holders

Pilots who already hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (private, recreational, sport, or higher) with a current flight review can get a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate without taking the $175 knowledge test. Instead, they complete a free online training course through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) called ALC-677 and then apply through IACRA.

This exemption exists because Part 61 certificate holders already demonstrated aeronautical knowledge sufficient to cover most Part 107 subjects. The free online course covers the drone-specific additions (Remote ID, small UAS operational rules) not covered in general aviation certification.

The TRUST Test (Recreational Flyers)

Recreational drone pilots who never intend to fly commercially or sell footage do not need Part 107. They must complete the TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) instead, which is free and available online through FAA-approved test administrators. TRUST takes about 30 minutes and has no fee. It does not qualify you for commercial operations.

Drones Under 0.55 Pounds

Drones weighing less than 250g (0.55 lbs) do not require FAA registration for recreational use, but they still require Part 107 for any commercial operation. The weight exemption only applies to the $5 registration fee, not to the knowledge test requirement for commercial pilots. A recreational flyer under 250g avoids both the $5 registration and the need for Part 107 as long as they never fly commercially.

How Part 107 Renewal Works

Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates must be renewed every 24 months. Unlike the initial certification, renewal does not require a return visit to a testing center or payment of any fee. The entire renewal process is online through the FAA Safety Team website.

The recurrent training course (ALC-677 recurrent version) covers regulatory updates, airspace changes, and any new operational rules introduced since your last certification. Most pilots complete it in 1-2 hours. After passing the online course, you submit through IACRA and receive a renewed certificate. No testing center appointment, no fee, no in-person requirement.

What Changes After Renewal

The renewal process resets your 24-month clock. Your certificate number stays the same. If major regulatory changes have occurred (new airspace rules, Remote ID updates, operational category changes), the recurrent course will cover them. The renewal course is not a formality: the FAA updates it when rules change, and Part 107 has been updated multiple times since its 2016 introduction.

Consequences of Flying with an Expired Certificate

Flying commercially with an expired Part 107 certificate is treated the same as flying without a certificate. FAA civil penalties for commercial UAS violations start at $1,100 per incident and can reach $27,500 per incident for willful violations. Keep a calendar reminder for renewal 60 days before your certificate expires.

How the US Part 107 Fee Compares Globally

EU EASA Certification

Within the European Union, most consumer drone operations fall under the EASA Open category. The A1/A3 subcategory (covering most recreational and many commercial operations with drones under 900g) requires only a free online theory test through each member state's aviation authority. The A2 subcategory (covering drones 250g-4kg near people) requires a paid practical training component, which costs 50-200 EUR depending on the country and provider.

Why the UK Costs More

The UK's CAA requires operators flying commercially near people to obtain a General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC), which involves in-person practical training, a ground examination, and a flight assessment. The total cost through approved training providers runs 200-400 GBP. For lower-risk commercial operations farther from people, the A2 Certificate of Competency requires a theory test and self-declaration, costing roughly 50-100 GBP through online providers.