To get a Part 107 commercial drone license, you need to be at least 16, pass the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an approved testing center, and file an application through the FAA’s IACRA portal that triggers a TSA background check. The whole process usually costs under $200 and takes a few weeks from start to finish. The formal name for what you’re earning is a Remote Pilot Certificate, and it’s what the FAA requires before you fly any drone under 55 pounds for business purposes.
Who Qualifies
The eligibility bar is short. You must be at least 16 years old, able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and in physical and mental condition to safely operate a drone.1eCFR. 14 CFR 107.61 – Eligibility There’s no medical exam. You self-certify your fitness. If a medical condition prevents you from meeting the English language requirement, the FAA can add operating limitations to your certificate rather than deny it.
U.S. citizenship is not required. Foreign nationals can earn the certificate under the same age, language, and fitness rules. Non-U.S. citizens typically need to bring two forms of identification to the testing center, such as a valid passport paired with a U.S.-issued driver’s license or state ID.
Every applicant goes through a security vetting by the Transportation Security Administration. It runs automatically after you submit your application and can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. If the screening flags an issue, your certificate won’t issue no matter how well you did on the test.
Studying for the Knowledge Test
The Aeronautical Knowledge Test covers 13 topic areas, including airspace classifications, weather, emergency procedures, and nighttime operations.2eCFR. 14 CFR 107.73 – Knowledge and Training Most of it is practical: reading aviation weather reports like METARs and TAFs, knowing which airspace requires authorization before you fly, and handling a lost-link scenario when the drone stops responding.
Start with the FAA’s free study guide, the Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide, downloadable directly from faa.gov.3Federal Aviation Administration. Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide This is the source material the FAA writes test questions from. Third-party courses and practice exams can help reinforce it, but the official guide comes first.
Getting Your FAA Tracking Number
Before you can sit for the exam, you need an FAA Tracking Number, or FTN. You create one by registering on the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) portal at iacra.faa.gov.4Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Tracking Number Frequently Asked Questions The number stays with you for your entire aviation career and is required before any FAA testing center will schedule you.
Taking the Test
The exam is 60 multiple-choice questions. You need at least 70 percent, or 42 correct answers, to pass. FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Centers charge about $175.5Federal Aviation Administration. How Much Does It Cost to Get a Remote Pilot Certificate These centers are usually located at flight schools or aviation-focused technical colleges. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. When you finish, you’ll receive an Airman Knowledge Test Report with a 17-digit exam ID. You need that number to complete the next step, so keep it somewhere safe.
Filing Your Application
With your test report in hand, log back into IACRA and start a new application for a Remote Pilot Certificate. Enter the 17-digit exam ID from your test report, and the system populates FAA Form 8710-13, which is the application specific to remote pilot certificates.6Federal Aviation Administration. Form FAA 8710-13 – Remote Pilot Certificate and/or Rating Application Review your personal information, electronically sign, and submit.
The Airmen Certification Branch then reviews the application while TSA runs its background check. IACRA typically issues a temporary electronic certificate within about 7 to 10 business days, and that temporary certificate lets you start flying commercially right away.7Federal Aviation Administration. Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application Your permanent plastic card arrives by mail within roughly 6 to 8 weeks. You’re required to have your certificate accessible on every commercial flight.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
The only mandatory out-of-pocket expense is the roughly $175 testing fee. Study materials from the FAA are free. Drone registration, which you need before flying commercially, adds $5 per aircraft.8Federal Aviation Administration. How to Register Your Drone From the day you schedule your exam, most applicants finish the whole process within a few weeks, with the TSA background check being the variable that determines whether it’s closer to two weeks or closer to two months.
Register the Drone Before You Fly
Your pilot certificate isn’t the last step. Every drone you fly commercially must be registered with the FAA through the DroneZone portal. Registration costs $5 per aircraft and lasts three years.8Federal Aviation Administration. How to Register Your Drone The FAA-issued registration number must be displayed on an exterior surface of the drone where it’s visible during a visual inspection. Tucking it inside the battery compartment doesn’t count.9Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change
Your drone also needs to comply with Remote ID, which broadcasts identification and location data over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth so law enforcement and other airspace users can identify drones in flight.10Federal Aviation Administration. Remote Identification of Drones Most drones sold today have Standard Remote ID built in. If you’re flying an older drone without it, you can add a broadcast module, but then you must keep the drone within visual line of sight at all times.
Keeping the Certificate Current
Your Remote Pilot Certificate never technically expires, but the privilege to fly under it does. Every 24 calendar months, you must complete the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent Training course to stay current.11eCFR. 14 CFR 107.65 – Aeronautical Knowledge Recency The course is free and available online through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website.12Federal Aviation Administration. Recurrent Training Courses for Drone Pilots Available Online It covers regulatory updates and changes to the National Airspace System since your last training.
If you let the 24-month window lapse, you can’t fly commercially until you complete the recurrent training. There’s no penalty for missing the deadline beyond losing your commercial flying privileges in the meantime. You don’t have to retake the paid knowledge test. Finish the free online course, save the completion certificate with your pilot certificate, and you’re current again.