How to Get Your FAA Part 107 Drone License (2026 Guide)

The FAA draws one line: recreational or commercial. If you fly purely for personal enjoyment with no money attached to the flight in any form, you fall under the recreational exception and don't need Part 107. If compensation enters the picture (directly or indirectly) you need the certificate before you fly.

Flights that require Part 107

• Photography or video for a paying client
• Real estate listing photos and walkthroughs
• Construction site progress documentation
• Infrastructure or property inspections
• News, journalism, and media work
• Content for a monetized YouTube channel or paid brand deal
• Academic or corporate research tied to a grant or salary
• Any flight where the pilot is compensated in any way

Flights that don't require Part 107

• Personal hobby flying with no income involved
• Filming for your own non-monetized accounts
• Flying at an AMA club field under community-based safety guidelines

One common misconception: flying a drone under 250 grams does not exempt you from Part 107. Weight limits only matter for registration requirements. Once you're flying commercially, Part 107 applies regardless of how light the drone is.

The FAA sets four baseline requirements to apply for a Remote Pilot Certificate. All four must be met before you can hold a certificate.

• Age: You must be at least 16 years old.
• English proficiency: You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. No exceptions. English is the standard language of aviation communication in the US.
• Physical and mental condition: You must be in a physical and mental condition that doesn't interfere with safe drone operation. The FAA does not require a medical exam, but you are responsible for self-certifying that you're fit to fly.
• Background check: The TSA runs a security threat assessment on all Part 107 applicants. Certain criminal convictions are disqualifying. The check happens automatically after you submit your IACRA application and typically clears within a few business days.

The test has 60 multiple-choice questions and a 2-hour time limit. You need to answer at least 42 correctly to pass. That's 70%.. Most test-takers finish in 60 to 90 minutes. You can skip questions and return to them, which helps when you hit airspace chart questions that take more time to work through.

Topic areas on the test

The hardest part: VFR sectional charts

Most people who fail do so because of sectional chart questions. These ask you to read an aeronautical map and determine what airspace a location falls in, what altitude limits apply, and whether you need authorization. Spending 3 to 4 hours specifically on sectional chart reading (more than on any other topic) pays off. The FAA's interactive sectional chart tool is free and lets you practice on actual charts used in the test.

Free study resources from the FAA

The FAA publishes official study materials at no cost. These are the source documents the test questions come from, so studying them directly is more reliable than third-party summaries:

• Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for UAS (the official outline of every testable topic)
• Remote Pilot Study Guide, the FAA's free study document (PDF download)
• FAA sample questions, official practice questions in the same format as the real test

The process runs in a specific order. You need your IACRA account and FTN number before you schedule the test. The testing center requires it at check-in..

Step 1: Create your IACRA account and get your FTN

Go to iacra.faa.gov and register as an applicant. After completing registration, the system displays your FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Write this down. You need it to register for the knowledge test. Without it, you cannot check in at the testing center.

Step 2: Study for the knowledge test

Use the FAA's official study materials (listed in the previous section) or a paid prep course. Give yourself at least two weeks if you're starting from scratch. Sectional chart reading takes the most practice time. Don't leave it until the day before.

Step 3: Schedule and take the knowledge test

The Part 107 knowledge test is administered in person at PSI testing centers nationwide. The fee is $175, paid when you schedule.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and your FTN number. The test is 60 questions with a 2-hour limit. You need 70% (42/60) to pass. Results are shown immediately. If you pass, you receive a test result sheet. Keep it for the IACRA application.

Step 4: Apply for your certificate in IACRA

Log back into IACRA with your test result sheet in hand. Start a new application for a Remote Pilot Certificate (sUAS rating). Enter your test confirmation number when prompted. The application takes about 10 minutes and triggers the TSA background check automatically.

Step 5: Wait for the background check and certificate

The TSA security review typically clears within a few business days. Once it does, you'll receive a Temporary Remote Pilot Certificate by email. It's a valid, printable certificate that lets you fly commercially right away. Your official plastic certificate arrives by mail within 60 to 90 days. You can fly under the temporary certificate until it arrives.

The certificate opens up commercial drone work, but it comes with a set of operating rules that apply to every flight. Knowing what's standard versus what requires extra steps saves you from violations.

Standard Part 107 operating rules

• Fly within visual line of sight (VLOS): you or a visual observer must be able to see the drone at all times without binoculars
• Stay at or below 400 feet AGL (or within 400 feet of a structure you're inspecting)
• Don't fly over moving vehicles or people who aren't part of your crew unless your drone qualifies under the Category rules
• Don't fly near airports without LAANC authorization (request through FAA LAANC or the B4UFLY app)
• Yield right-of-way to all manned aircraft
• Don't fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Register each drone you fly commercially for $5 per aircraft (one FA number covers all recreational drones; Part 107 requires individual N-numbers)

Operations now permitted without a waiver

FAA rules updated in 2021 removed the waiver requirement for two previously restricted operation types:

• Night flying: Permitted if you've completed the updated Part 107 knowledge test (or FAA online recurrent training) and your drone carries anti-collision lighting visible from at least 3 statute miles.
• Over people and moving vehicles: Permitted depending on your drone's risk category. Category 1 drones weigh under 0.55 lbs with no exposed rotating parts that could cause lacerations. Most consumer DJI drones fall into Category 1 or Category 3. Check your specific model on the FAA's drone categories page.

Operations that still require a waiver

• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS): flying beyond what you can see unaided
• Operations in Class B, C, or D airspace without LAANC authorization
• Flying from a moving vehicle (unless in a rural area with no non-participating people below)

Part 107 certificates expire every 24 months. The renewal process is simpler than the initial certification. You don't have to visit a testing center unless you want to.

Two renewal options

Option 1: Free online recurrent training (recommended): The FAA offers free online recurrent training at FAASafety.gov. Complete the course, download your completion certificate, and update your IACRA record. No test center visit required. This takes 1 to 2 hours and covers regulatory updates since your last certification).

Option 2: Retake the knowledge test: You can renew by passing the full initial knowledge test again at a PSI testing center. This costs $175 and takes the same preparation effort as the original certification. There's no advantage to this path for most pilots. The online training covers the same regulatory updates at no cost.

One more thing to track separately: drone registrations expire on their own 3-year cycle, independent of your certificate renewal schedule. A pilot with a valid certificate and an expired aircraft registration is still in violation. Check both dates in IACRA and mark them in the same calendar.