So you’re looking to make money off your drone in the US and found out you need a drone commercial license for that.
To start your drone business, you’ll need to pass the Part 107 FAA test, get the license, and then register your drone (or drones).
In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about this entire process and how you can get a guaranteed passing for the test!
If you’re looking to fly a drone for hire or as a part of your job, or really for any non-recreational activity then you must get a remote pilot certificate from the FAA(Federal Aviation Administration) under the part 107 regulations.
So basically if you’re making money with your drone inside the US, you’re going to need it.
No, there is only one type of drone license you can get in the States(unlike Europe) and there aren’t different classes of drones (like with car driving licenses).
The part 107 FAA test is a test intended to give you the final certification for commercial flight with any drone under 55 lbs.
The test comprises 60 multiple-choice questions and you need to score at least 70% to successfully pass.
From the moment you begin studying for the test to receiving your FAA remote pilot certification it usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks.
There is a test center fee of $160 for taking the test to the commercial drone licence.However some test centers are owned by PSI (test provider) and charge $109. The test is scheduled and paid for online and there are about 800 test center locations in the US.
No, you don’t need a license for recreational use, but if your drone exceeds 250 grams (0.55 lbs) then you need to pay $5 and register it online.
In this section we’ll go more in depth with all the steps you need to take to get your Part 107 FAA drone license. It’s not an easy test, but It’s quite simple if you know where to learn from.
Study with a complete online course made specifically for passing this FAA part 107 test, because just learning from the internet isn’t going to cut it.
The test itself is quite difficult and requires a lot of specific knowledge.
Next, you need to take the actual FAA exam and pass it.
You get 2 hours to answer the 60-question, multiple-choice test and you’ll find out if pass or fail right on the spot.
After passing your test, complete a 15 minute application online and you’ll get your temporary certificate in 4-6 business days and you’re able to fly commercially after that!
You can only take the FAA part 107 test in person by going to a local test center in your area.You can schedule an appointment with a FAA-approved Knowledge Testing center here.
However, while the initial test must be taken in person, and as mentioned previously, there is recurring training once every 2 years, but that training is online
The FAA Part 107 test is quite difficult and in no way you should just base your luck on general knowledge to successfully pass it.
Until 2021 you had to take a recurring test in person once every 2 years, but now you don’t have to take it anymore, instead just need to follow an online recurrent training and just keep proof that you took that training with you when you’re flying.
The Part 107 FAA test is quite complex and it requires you to learn over 120 concepts, with more being added along the way.
The Part 107 FAA test is quite complex and it requires you to learn over 120 concepts, with more being added along the way.
The best way to make sure you have high chance of passing it is by following an online course that is frequently updated and has a high pass rate.
My main recommendation is the Drone Launch Academy Drone License course.
If you follow that link, you’ll get a $59 discount and pay considerably less than pretty much everything I could find online.
However, don’t get it wrong, this is a very complete exam prep course with everything you need to learn to pass the Part 107 test with flying colors.
However, don’t get it wrong, this is a very complete exam prep course with everything you need to learn to pass the Part 107 test with flying colors.
Here are a few advantages that it has:
Getting a course like this that guarantees to reimburse your money from the testing center means that you don’t risk failing the exam and pay the $160 (approx) for the testing fee again and again, which is pretty great.
In the course you’ll be guided step by step, but just in case, I’ll give you all the information you might need in this article.
After you finish the learning course, you can register for the exam and schedule an appointment with a Testing Center near you. You can find more information on the faa site.
Let’s have a quick look at what the commercial license exam comprises.
The test is structured in the following way:
You need to learn the US Airman Certification Standards which has over 120 different concepts to learn.
Here’s a list of the sections that you’ll need to cover when learning for the FAA part 107 test:
All these bullet points have additional subsections with intricate details that you must know to pass the test.
Let's see how you can actually get the necessary documents after completing the test successfully and when can you start flying as a commercial drone pilot.
After you successfully passed the part 107 test you’ll need to complete the FAA FORM 8710-13 to get your certificate.
a.Log in with your username and password (same as when you registered for the course)
b.Click “start new application” and choose the following:
c.Enter the 17-digit Exam ID (you might get it up to 48 hours after passing the test)
d.Sign the application electronically and submit
You’ll get a confirmation email with instructions for printing a temporary remote pilot certificate.
At this point you have full clearance to fly with your drone commercially (if you already registered the drone too).
After FAA processes it, you’ll get a permanent remote pilot certificate via mail, so make sure you send them your actual correct physical address.
From this point on you can take your permanent pilot certificate with you when flying and you'll be all good.
Once every 2 years you NEED to complete the Free online training course from FAA. Until 2021 it was the case that you actually need to show up in person at some testing center and take the test AGAIN, but fortunately things have changed and now you can simply take a free online course with no tests at the end.
Weirdly enough, the FAA doesn’t require that you demonstrate your ability to fly a drone to get your drone license. However, even with the advanced GPS systems and obstacle avoidance sensors in today's drones, you definitely should learn the basics of how to fly a drone.
Yes, you do need to register your drone for commercial use no matter the weight.
Normally, for recreational use, you don’t have to register drones under 250 grams like the DJi mini 2.
You also need to be 13 or older to do that and it costs just $5 and the process is quite simple. You can register your drone in the US by following the link to the official FAA Drone Zone.
Let's see some more details you should know before you go and learn more about the part 107 test.
Having the part 107 commercial license you can fly in all 50 US states, but it is not valid outside of the US.
No, the FAA cannot track your drone for now, at least until a few years from now when a new technology will be required for registered drones called remote ID, which basically reports the drone position at all times while in the air.
Remote Id is a way for drones to broadcast the operator’s location and unique identification number, like a digital license plate. The rules for Remote ID official will take effect in 2023, so we can all fly without this worry until then.
The remote ID capability has to be implemented by drone manufacturers in the following years if they want to be adopted at a larger scale. And of course this implies some potential privacy issues that people aren’t really fond of.
You can fly any drone under 55 lbs in total take-off weight if you successfully passed the part 107 license. If you want to fly anything heavier than that you’ll require additional clearance.
Recreational Drone use:
Commercial use
Yes, non-US citizens can fly commercially in the U.S., assuming you hold the correct visa.
No drug test needed for taking the part 107 commercial license test, but you’ll need to learn in the curriculum about the effect of drugs and alcohol on piloting drones (will be a part of the test).
If you’re taking pictures for someone or yourself and you’re not getting payed in exchange, then you do not need a commercial drone license.
Yes, you need a commercial license from the FAA to make money with your drone in the US.
No, you can use your FAA drone pilot license to take photos and videos commercially and sell them. If you’re taking photos for yourself or without financial compensation there is no license required.
If you’re a wedding photographer or videographer you need a commercial license.
Yes, there is a database for checking that but you’ll have to submit information about yourself. It’s a great tool if you want to check if someone who’s working for you has a certificate and won’t get you into any trouble.
In conclusion, getting the commercial license for flying in the US is necessary if you want to start making money with your drone, and passing the Part 107 test can be quite simple if you have the right courses to learn from.
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