Everything you need to pass the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot knowledge test and earn your commercial drone license — eligibility, test topics, costs, and a realistic study timeline.
Minimum age
16 years old
Knowledge test fee
$175 (PSI)
Passing score
70% on 60 questions
Recurrent training
Free, every 24 months
Medical required
None
If you want to fly a drone for any commercial purpose in the United States — real estate photography, mapping, inspections, cinematography, agriculture — you need a Remote Pilot Certificate under FAR Part 107. It's commonly called a "drone license," and the FAA has issued more than 400,000 of them since 2016.
This guide walks through eligibility, the knowledge test, fees, timing, and how to keep the certificate current. No fluff — just the rules and the numbers you need.
What is a drone license?
The FAA's Remote Pilot Certificate is the credential that lets you operate a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) — a drone weighing less than 55 pounds — under FAR 107.1. It is the same certificate whether you fly for hire or just want the regulatory clarity that comes with being certificated.
You do not need a Part 107 certificate if you're flying purely as a hobbyist under the recreational exception — but you do need to pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), register your drone if it weighs more than 0.55 lb, and follow the recreational rules. The moment money, content monetization, or business use enters the picture, you need Part 107.
Part 107 vs. Recreational (TRUST)
Element
Part 107 (Drone License)
Recreational (TRUST)
Purpose
Commercial / any non-recreational
Hobby / personal enjoyment only
Test
60-question proctored exam
Free online test, ~30 min
Cost
$175 testing fee
Free
Min. age
16
None specified
Renewal
Free online recurrent every 24 mo
One-time
Operating limits
400 ft AGL, daylight + civil twilight, VLOS
More restrictive; community-based rules
Eligibility requirements
Under FAR 107.61, to qualify for an initial Remote Pilot Certificate you must:
Be at least 16 years old
Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
Be in a physical and mental condition that would not interfere with safe operation of a small UAS
Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge test, or hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (other than student pilot), have completed a flight review in the prior 24 months, and complete the FAA online training course
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1How much does a drone license cost?
The FAA Part 107 knowledge test costs $175, paid directly to PSI when you schedule. Drone registration is $5 per aircraft for 3 years. If you self-study with free FAA materials and a sectional chart, that's your total — about $180. Most people add $100–$300 for a structured prep course. Recurrent training every 24 months is free online. Expect $200–$500 all-in to earn and maintain the certificate.
Q2How hard is the Part 107 test?
The pass rate is roughly 90%, but the average passing score hovers in the high 70s — meaning most who pass barely pass. The hardest sections are sectional chart reading (15–25% of questions) and airspace classification. Weather products, METARs, and density altitude trip up beginners. With 15–25 hours of focused study and practice on actual sectional charts, a motivated candidate with no aviation background can pass on the first attempt.
Q3Do I need a drone license to fly recreationally?
No, but you must pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) — a free online test — and follow the recreational exception rules: fly within visual line of sight, under 400 ft AGL, follow community-based safety guidelines, and register any drone over 0.55 lb. The moment you fly for any business, paid, or non-hobby purpose, you fall under Part 107 and need the Remote Pilot Certificate.
Adaptive questions surface your weak areas. Examiner Reed runs full ACS-coverage oral exams. Mock checkrides predict your DPE pass rate.
5 questions/day • No credit card
Be vetted by the TSA as part of the application process
There is no medical certificate requirement. The disqualifying drug or alcohol convictions in FAR 107.57 and the prohibition on flying impaired in FAR 107.27 still apply.
The Part 107 knowledge test
The initial test — officially the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) — is a 60-question multiple-choice exam administered at any FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center (PSI). You have 2 hours. The passing score is 70%.
Test fee and logistics
Cost: $175 (paid to PSI at registration)
Format: Multiple choice, 3 answer options each
Required ID: Government-issued photo ID with current address, signature, and date of birth
FTN: You must create an FAA Tracking Number in IACRA before scheduling
Results: Immediate; printed Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) with embedded code
What's on the test
Per FAR 107.73, the knowledge areas tested include:
Regulations — applicability of Part 107, operating limitations, waivers, certification, registration
Airspace classification — Class B, C, D, E, G; controlled vs. uncontrolled; LAANC authorizations
Operation at night (added when FAR 107.29 was amended in 2021)
Roughly 15–25% of the questions involve reading a sectional chart. If you've never used one, this is the single highest-leverage thing to study.
How to apply — step by step
Get an FTN by creating an IACRA account at iacra.faa.gov.
Schedule the UAG test through PSI Exams; pay $175.
Study (most candidates need 15–25 hours).
Pass the test at a PSI testing center; keep your AKTR.
Apply for the certificate in IACRA using FAA Form 8710-13.
TSA vetting runs automatically; takes a few days to a few weeks.
Receive a temporary certificate by email once vetting clears.
Permanent plastic card arrives by mail in 6–8 weeks.
The full path from "I'd like to be a drone pilot" to holding a temporary certificate is typically 2–6 weeks, gated mostly by your study pace and TSA processing.
Operating rules you'll be tested on
These show up on the test and govern every flight you'll ever make as a remote PIC:
Maximum altitude: 400 ft AGL, or within 400 ft of a structure
Maximum groundspeed: 100 mph (87 knots)
Visibility: 3 statute miles from control station
Cloud clearance: 500 ft below, 2,000 ft horizontal
VLOS: Visual line of sight maintained at all times by RPIC or visual observer
One drone at a time unless waived
No flight over people unless operating under FAR 107.39 categories or with an Operations Over People waiver
No flight from a moving vehicle over a populated area
Night operations allowed if the drone has anti-collision lights visible for 3 statute miles (FAR 107.29)
Per FAR 107.13 and 14 CFR Part 48, you must register any drone you operate under Part 107 — including drones under 0.55 lb. Registration costs $5 per drone, valid for 3 years. The registration number must be displayed on the drone's exterior. Drones over 0.55 lb operated under Part 107 also require Remote ID broadcast capability as of the FAA's compliance deadline.
Recurrent training — keeping the certificate current
Under FAR 107.65, to exercise the privileges of your Remote Pilot Certificate you must complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months. As of 2021, this is a free online training course at faasafety.gov — no in-person retest, no fee. The course covers updated regulations, night operations, operations over people, and current safety topics. It takes most pilots 1–2 hours to complete.
Carrying the certificate
FAR 107.7 requires the remote PIC to have the certificate available for inspection by the FAA, NTSB, TSA, or any federal/state/local law enforcement officer. A digital copy on your phone is acceptable.
Cost breakdown
Item
Cost
Knowledge test (UAG)
$175
Drone registration (per drone)
$5 / 3 yr
Study materials (self-study)
$0–$150
Online prep course (optional)
$100–$300
Recurrent training (every 24 mo)
Free
Typical total to certificate
$200–$500
Realistic study timeline
Weekend warrior: 2 weeks of focused study (1–2 hr/day) is enough for most candidates with no aviation background.
Existing Part 61 pilot:FAR 107.61 lets you skip the proctored test entirely. Take the FAA's free online course "Part 107 small UAS Initial (ALC-451)" and you're done.
Total beginner who hates regs: Plan on 4–6 weeks. Most failures happen because people skim regulations and never practice sectional chart reading.
How GroundScholar helps with this
The Part 107 test rewards clean recall of specific numbers (cloud clearances, altitude limits, registration fees) and the ability to interpret a sectional chart under time pressure. Both are exactly what adaptive drilling is good at. GroundScholar's Part 107 mode quizzes you on the same knowledge areas the FAA tests, weights questions toward your weak topics, and shows you the live FAR or AIM citation behind every answer — so you're not memorizing trivia, you're learning the rule.
When you're close to test-ready, the mock oral simulator role-plays a knowledge-test review session: you talk through airspace, weather, and emergency scenarios out loud and get a pass-likelihood prediction before you spend $175 at PSI. Every cite is verified against the current regulation, not a 2019 PDF someone scraped.
Ready to start?
A drone license is one of the lowest-friction certificates the FAA issues — no medical, no flight hours, no checkride. The bottleneck is just sitting down with the right material and proving 70% on a 60-question test. Build a study plan, drill sectionals, and book the exam.
Yes. FAR 107.61 sets the minimum age for the Remote Pilot Certificate at 16 — younger than the 17 required for a Private Pilot certificate. There's no medical, no minimum flight hours, and no parental consent requirement in the regulation itself, though minors may need a parent for testing center identification policies. Sixteen-year-olds can and do legally operate commercial drone businesses under Part 107.
Q5How long does it take to get a Part 107 license?
From decision to temporary certificate, plan on 2–6 weeks. Studying takes most beginners 2–4 weeks. Scheduling the PSI test typically has same-week availability in metro areas. After you pass, IACRA application and TSA vetting take a few days to a few weeks. Once vetting clears, the FAA emails a temporary certificate immediately. The plastic card arrives 6–8 weeks later but is not required to fly.
Q6Do I need to renew my drone license?
The certificate itself does not expire, but to exercise its privileges you must complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months under FAR 107.65. Since 2021, recurrent is a free online course at faasafety.gov — no proctored retest, no fee. It takes 1–2 hours and issues a completion certificate you keep with your records. Miss the 24-month window and you cannot legally operate as remote PIC until you complete it.
Q7Can a Private Pilot skip the Part 107 knowledge test?
Yes. Under FAR 107.61, if you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (other than student pilot) and have completed a flight review within the previous 24 months, you can complete the FAA's free online course 'Part 107 small UAS Initial (ALC-451)' instead of taking the $175 proctored test. Submit the course completion certificate with FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA and you'll receive your Remote Pilot Certificate after TSA vetting.
Q8What happens if I fail the Part 107 test?
You must wait 14 calendar days before retesting and pay the $175 fee again. The Airman Knowledge Test Report lists the knowledge area codes you missed — review every one before scheduling again. Most retake failures are people who guessed on sectional chart questions the first time and didn't fix that gap. Practice with a real Phoenix or Washington sectional and the FAA's published sample questions until you're consistently hitting 85%+.
Drone License: FAA Part 107 Guide 2025 | GroundScholar