What it is: A practical 2026 guide to the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, the federal certification required to fly drones commercially in the United States. Covers what Part 107 actually is, who needs it, the test (60 multiple-choice questions, $175 fee, in-person at an FAA Knowledge Testing Center), recurrent training, common operating limitations, and the easiest study path.
Who it is for: Anyone planning to operate drones for compensation in the US, including real-estate photographers, inspection operators, surveyors, public-safety professionals, and content creators monetizing drone footage.
Best if: You want the no-nonsense version — what the test covers, how to pass it on the first try, and what changes after you have the certificate.
Skip if: You only fly recreationally. Recreational flight has separate (looser) requirements covered briefly at the bottom. Daily AI fundamentals in our free Beginners in AI newsletter.
If you’ve decided to make money flying drones — or if your employer wants you to operate one for any work-related purpose — you need Part 107. This isn’t optional, isn’t a recommendation, and the FAA does enforce it. The good news: the certificate is achievable for most people in 2–4 weeks of part-time study, the test is multiple choice, and the credential is good for two years.
Here’s everything you need to know to get certified and stay current in 2026.
What is FAA Part 107?
Part 107 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations — the small-UAS rule — is the FAA’s framework for commercial drone operations in the United States. It went into effect in August 2016 and replaced the prior “Section 333” exemption process that required individual case-by-case FAA approval for every commercial drone use.
Part 107 applies to drones weighing less than 55 pounds operated for any non-recreational purpose. The certificate the rule requires is called the “Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating.” In practice, everyone calls it “Part 107” and the credential itself is called your “Part 107 license” (slightly imprecise; the FAA calls it a certificate).
Who needs Part 107?
You need Part 107 if any of the following apply:
- You receive compensation for drone work — including selling photos or video, charging clients, or being paid as an employee while operating.
- You operate a drone for your business — even if no money changes hands externally. Inspecting your own commercial property with a drone is a Part 107 operation.
- You operate a drone for a non-profit, government agency, or educational institution — with limited exceptions for federal, state, or local agencies that operate under public-aircraft rules instead.
- You post drone footage to monetized social media or YouTube channels. If the channel earns money from the content, the drone work is commercial.
You do not need Part 107 if you fly purely for personal enjoyment under the recreational rules — though you do still need to pass TRUST (covered below).
What does the Part 107 test cover?
The exam — officially the “Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)” test — is 60 multiple-choice questions, with 2 hours allowed, requiring 70% to pass. The major topic areas:
| Topic | Approximate weight | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Regulations | 15–25% | Part 107 itself, waivers, authorizations, who can fly what where |
| Airspace classification | 15–25% | Class B/C/D/E/G airspace, sectional chart reading, restricted areas |
| Weather | 11–16% | METARs, TAFs, density altitude, weather impact on drone performance |
| Loading and performance | 7–11% | Weight, balance, payload effects, battery considerations |
| Operations | 35–45% | Pre-flight planning, emergency procedures, ADM (aeronautical decision-making), CRM (crew resource management), physiology, night ops |
The hardest single topic for most candidates is sectional chart reading — the FAA charts use a specialized notation that takes time to internalize. Roughly a third of the questions involve identifying airspace from a sectional chart excerpt.
How do you actually take the test?
- Get an FTN (FAA Tracking Number) by creating an account at IACRA.faa.gov. This takes 5–10 minutes online. Save the FTN; you’ll need it.
- Find a Knowledge Testing Center. The exam is administered in person at PSI testing centers. Use psiexams.com to locate one near you. There are ~700 centers across the US.
- Pay the test fee. $175 paid to the testing center at registration.
- Take the test. 60 multiple-choice questions, 2-hour time limit. You’ll be allowed a non-electronic E6B-style flight calculator, a plotter (provided), and a copy of the FAA sectional chart legend (provided).
- Receive your score immediately. 70% to pass. If you pass, you’ll get an “Airman Knowledge Test Report” that is your proof of passage.
- Apply for the certificate through IACRA using the AKTR results. You’ll receive a temporary certificate by email and the permanent certificate in the mail 6–8 weeks later.
- Complete TSA security screening. The TSA does a background check; you’ll receive notification when it’s complete (usually within 14 days).
Total time from creating the IACRA account to permanent certificate in hand: roughly 8–10 weeks. The temporary certificate you receive by email allows you to operate legally during the wait.
How should you study?
Most candidates pass with 15–30 hours of total study. The market-leading prep options:
- Pilot Institute Part 107 Prep — the most-recommended paid course. $200–$300 depending on promotions. Strong on sectional charts and weather. Includes practice tests.
- Drone Pilot Ground School (UAV Coach) — established alternative. Similar pricing tier. Strong instructor-led approach.
- Free YouTube channels — Tony Northrup, Greg Reverdiau, and several other instructors have full free Part 107 series. Quality is real but the practice-test repetition isn’t there.
- FAA’s own free study materials — the FAA-H-8083-25 Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide are free PDFs. Comprehensive but dense.
The fastest reliable study path that gets most people there in 2–4 weeks part-time: do a paid course (Pilot Institute or UAV Coach), supplement with the free FAA Study Guide for any topic that didn’t click in the course, and take at least three full timed practice tests before going to the testing center.
What are the actual operating limitations under Part 107?
| Rule | The limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 400 feet above ground level (AGL), or within 400 feet of a structure |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (87 knots) |
| Maximum drone weight | Less than 55 pounds |
| Visual line of sight | Required; the remote pilot or visual observer must maintain visual contact with the drone |
| Operations from a moving vehicle | Only in sparsely populated areas |
| Operations over people | Restricted; categories 1–4 of the People Over People rule apply |
| Daylight operations | Civil twilight (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset) with anti-collision lighting; full night operations allowed with anti-collision lights |
| Minimum weather visibility | 3 statute miles |
| Cloud clearance | 500 feet below clouds, 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds |
| Maximum one drone | One remote pilot may control only one drone at a time |
Most of these limits can be waived by the FAA through the Part 107 waiver process if you have a legitimate operational need and a plan that maintains an equivalent level of safety. Common waivers: night operations (now mostly unnecessary since the 2021 rule update), operations over people, beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS).
What is Remote ID and how does it interact with Part 107?
Remote ID is the FAA rule (effective September 16, 2023; enforcement began March 16, 2024) requiring most drones to broadcast their location, operator location, and identification while flying. For Part 107 operations, Remote ID applies regardless of where you fly.
Three compliance options:
- Standard Remote ID drone. The drone broadcasts the required information natively. All new DJI, Autel, Skydio, and Parrot drones meet this requirement.
- Remote ID broadcast module. An add-on transmitter ($60–$200) attached to an older drone.
- FAA-recognized identification area (FRIA). You can operate Remote-ID-noncompliant drones only inside a registered FRIA.
For commercial operators in 2026: if you bought your drone in the last two years, you’re already compliant.
What about LAANC and controlled-airspace authorization?
If you need to operate in controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or surface E around airports), you need authorization from the FAA. The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) makes this fast for routine cases.
- Routine LAANC request. Submit through Aloft, AirMap, or another FAA-approved LAANC provider. Approval for pre-defined altitudes near airports is typically instant.
- Further coordination required. For altitudes above the LAANC ceiling or operations near unfamiliar airfields, you may need to submit a manual authorization request through the FAA DroneZone portal. Allow 30+ days.
Practical advice: keep one LAANC app installed on your phone and check airspace before every flight. Aloft is widely used and free for basic LAANC.
How do you stay current after Part 107?
Recurrent training is required every 24 months. The good news: it’s free, online, and self-paced. The FAA online recurrent course (ALC-677 for existing Part 107 holders) takes most pilots 1–2 hours to complete. Pass the embedded quizzes, save your completion certificate, and you’re current for another 24 months.
If you let your recurrent training lapse, you can’t legally operate commercially until you complete it. Penalty isn’t loss of the certificate itself; you just can’t fly until you’re current.
What changes are coming — BVLOS and Part 108?
The largest pending change to the regulatory framework is Part 108, a new rulemaking covering Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations — drones flown past where the operator can see them. Part 108 has been in development for several years; the framework allows drones up to 110 pounds with appropriate certification, expanding what’s currently only possible through individual case-by-case waivers under Part 107.
The June 5, 2025 executive order directed expedited completion of Part 108 with an aspirational timeline of early 2026 finalization. Whether that timeline holds depends on the FAA’s rulemaking process. For Part 107 operators, the practical implication is that BVLOS will become more accessible without requiring a per-operation waiver — potentially unlocking long-range inspection, mapping, and delivery use cases.
What about the recreational rules — do you still need TRUST?
Yes. Even if you have Part 107, when you fly recreationally you’re technically subject to the recreational rules — including passing The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). TRUST is free, online, and takes 30 minutes. Most Part 107 holders complete it once and keep the certificate on file.
If you only ever operate commercially under Part 107, you don’t need TRUST. If you might fly your work drone for a personal trip, take TRUST once.
FAQ
How much does Part 107 cost in total?
Direct costs: $175 test fee. Indirect costs: $200–$300 for a paid prep course (optional but recommended), plus your time. Total realistic out-of-pocket: $200–$500 depending on study materials.
How hard is the test?
Moderately hard. The FAA does not publish official pass rates, but instructor-reported first-attempt pass rates with quality preparation are around 75–85%. With minimal preparation, candidates often fail the airspace section. With a paid prep course and three practice tests, most candidates pass on the first try.
What happens if I fail?
You must wait 14 calendar days to retake the test, pay another $175, and try again. There is no limit on retakes. Study the topics you missed (the score report tells you which categories you missed).
Can I fly without Part 107 if I’m just doing a friend a favor?
If money changes hands or you’re flying for any business or compensation, no. The FAA’s definition of commercial operation is broad. If your friend is a real-estate agent and asks you to shoot their listing, that’s a commercial operation regardless of whether you charge.
Do I need to register my drone separately?
Yes. Drones over 0.55 pounds (250 grams) must be registered with the FAA. Cost is $5 per drone for commercial operation; the registration is good for 3 years.
What if I work for a federal agency?
Federal agencies operate under their own rules (Public Aircraft Operations) rather than Part 107. State and local public-safety agencies can use either — many opt for Part 107 because of its flexibility.
What if I want to fly for fun and also do paid work?
Get Part 107 anyway. Operating under Part 107 is always legal for recreational flying too; operating only under the recreational rules is not legal for paid flying. Once you have the certificate, use it for both.
The bottom line
Part 107 is achievable for most adults with 2–4 weeks of part-time study. It costs about $200–$500 all-in. It opens up legal commercial drone work and is required to charge for any service you provide with a drone in the US. Recurrent training every 24 months is free and easy.
Once you have it, the next step is operational practice. Get Part 107, then fly. The certificate proves you know the rules; flying real jobs is how you actually become competent.
For broader context: AI in Drones: The Complete 2026 Guide, AI for Real Estate Drone Operators, DJI vs Skydio vs Autel. Daily AI fundamentals in our free Beginners in AI newsletter.
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Sources
- FAA, Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems — primary regulatory reference.
- FAA, Become a Drone Pilot — step-by-step certification process.
- FAA, Remote ID rule — broadcast requirement details.
- FAA, The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) — recreational pilot requirement.
- 14 CFR Part 107 as published in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107 — the authoritative version of the rule, updated continuously by the National Archives.
- FAA-H-8083-25C, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge — comprehensive FAA-published study reference for the airspace, weather, and aerodynamics portions of the Part 107 test.
- Pilot Institute and UAV Coach — widely-used third-party prep courses for the Part 107 exam. Listed for completeness; the primary study material is the FAA documents above.
- FAA DroneZone, faadronezone-access.faa.gov — the official FAA portal for drone registration, Remote ID broadcast module declarations, and Part 107 waiver submissions.
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