To renew your Part 107 certificate, complete the FAA’s free online recurrent training course on FAASafety.gov within 24 calendar months of your initial certification or last recurrent training. The certificate itself never expires, but your authority to fly commercially does, and the online course is what restores it. Plan on about two hours, no fee, and no trip to a testing center.1Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
When to Renew
Federal regulations require recurrent training within 24 calendar months of either your initial certification or your last recurrent completion.2eCFR. 14 CFR 107.65 – Aeronautical Knowledge Recency Once that window closes, you’re grounded. You cannot legally fly under Part 107 until you finish the training, even if the physical certificate is still in your wallet.
There is no grace period. There is also no penalty for letting your currency lapse beyond losing the ability to fly, and you never have to retake the initial knowledge test at a testing center. The same free online recurrent course brings you back into compliance no matter how long you’ve been lapsed.1Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot Every lapsed day is still a day you can’t legally accept paid work, so set a reminder a month before your deadline.
Finishing early doesn’t cost you time. If you complete the training ahead of schedule, the 24-month clock resets from your new completion date.
Which Course to Take
The FAA offers two versions of the recurrent training, and picking the wrong one is a common mistake. Which you need depends on whether you also hold a pilot certificate under Part 61.
- If your only FAA credential is a remote pilot certificate, take Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent (ALC-677) on the FAASTeam website.1Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
- If you hold a Part 61 certificate (private, commercial, ATP, or recreational), take Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent – Part 61 Pilots (ALC-515) instead. It’s shorter, but it only satisfies the recurrency requirement if you also have a current flight review under 14 CFR 61.56.3FAASTeam – FAASafety.gov. Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent – Part 61 Pilots
If you’re a Part 61 pilot whose flight review has lapsed, take ALC-677 instead. The Part 61 version won’t count without a current flight review.
Completing the Online Course
The entire process happens on FAASafety.gov. Create an account if you don’t already have one, or log into your existing account, and open the correct course.4FAASTeam – FAASafety.gov. Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent The modules cover airspace classifications, weather effects on drone performance, emergency procedures, crew resource management, night operations, and regulatory updates. Plan on roughly two hours to work through the material.
At the end you take a 45-question multiple-choice exam with a 90-minute limit. You need every answer correct to pass, but the exam is open-book. If you miss a question, you can retake the exam immediately and as many times as needed.1Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot The 100% requirement sounds intimidating, but with the material open in front of you, it’s really a check that you read the content.
Once you pass, the FAASTeam site generates a certificate of completion. Save or print it right away. That document is your proof of current aeronautical knowledge, and you’ll need to carry it when you fly. There’s no follow-up application through IACRA or any other FAA system. Your original Part 107 certificate stays valid; the completion certificate is what makes it current.1Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
What to Carry When You Fly
Every time you operate under Part 107, three items need to be on you: your physical Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, a government-issued photo ID, and the completion certificate from your most recent recurrent training.1Federal Aviation Administration. Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
You must present all three on request from an FAA representative, an NTSB representative, any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, or a TSA representative.5eCFR. 14 CFR 107.7 – Inspection, Testing, and Demonstration of Compliance Keep a digital copy of the completion certificate on your phone as a backup, but the FAA expects the original or a printed copy to be available.
What Happens If You Fly With Lapsed Training
Flying commercially without current recurrent training means operating without valid privileges. Drone operators who fly without proper authorization face civil penalties of up to $75,000 per violation, and the FAA can suspend or revoke the certificate entirely.6Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Steps Up Drone Enforcement in 2025
Lapsed currency can also void drone insurance. Aviation policies commonly include pilot warranty clauses that require current certifications, and an insurer that discovers expired recurrent training at the time of an incident may deny coverage. For commercial operators carrying liability insurance, that gap could mean paying out of pocket for property damage or injury claims. The training is free and takes about two hours, so the math on letting it slide isn’t close.
Related Housekeeping That Isn’t Renewal
Two things often get confused with renewal but are separate obligations. If you move, you have 30 days to notify the FAA of your new permanent mailing address; after that window, you can’t legally exercise your Part 107 privileges until the FAA has your updated information on file.7eCFR. 14 CFR 107.77 – Change of Name or Address And if the physical certificate is lost, destroyed, or damaged, you can request a replacement online through the FAA’s Airmen Certification page or by mail for a $2 fee.8Federal Aviation Administration. Replace an Airmen Certificate Neither action renews your currency; only the recurrent training does that.