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How to Get Your FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

✓ Reviewed against current FAA sources on September 27, 2026

If you fly a small drone (under 55 pounds) for anything other than pure recreation, you will almost always operate under 14 CFR Part 107 and need an FAA remote pilot certificate. That includes real estate photos, roof and solar inspections, a paid wedding video and even free photos that support a business. A few operations follow other rules, such as government public-aircraft operations and flights under special FAA exemptions (§107.1 (opens in a new tab)). The process takes a few weeks, most of it spent studying. This guide walks through the whole path, from deciding whether you need the certificate to keeping it current.

Do you need a remote pilot certificate?

You need one whenever your flight is not strictly for recreation. The test is the purpose of the flight, not whether you are paid. Photographing a friend's house so the friend can list it for sale is a Part 107 operation even if no money changes hands, because the flight is not for recreation.

Recreational flyers operate under a separate statute, 49 U.S.C. 44809, and take the free Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) instead. If you are unsure which applies to you, read Part 107 vs. recreational flying.

1. Confirm that you are eligible

The FAA requires that you:

• are at least 16 years old;
• can read, speak, write and understand English;
• are in a physical and mental condition to fly a drone safely.

There is no FAA medical certificate requirement for remote pilots.

2. Get an FAA Tracking Number

Create a profile in IACRA, the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application. Your profile gives you an FAA Tracking Number (FTN), which you need to schedule the knowledge test. Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your government ID; a mismatch can delay your test or your certificate.

3. Schedule the knowledge test

The initial test is the Unmanned Aircraft General - Small (UAG). It is taken in person at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center operated by PSI. PSI handles scheduling and fees; the fee has been $175. Confirm the current fee, time allowed and ID requirements in PSI's bulletin when you book, because they can change.

4. Know what the test covers

The test is multiple choice, with three answer choices per question, and the passing score is 70 percent. Under the blueprint effective September 29, 2025, Regulations make up 48 percent of the scored questions, Operations 25 percent, Airspace 20 percent, Weather 5 percent, and Loading and Performance 2 percent. Our guide to the 2025 test blueprint breaks this down.

Many airspace and weather questions refer to figures in the FAA's testing supplement, FAA-CT-8080-2H. Since October 26, 2026, the test has also included image-based questions that are not in the supplement, such as sectional chart excerpts. Our books and practice questions are updated for the change. Practice reading real chart excerpts as well as the supplement figures.

5. Take the test

Bring a government-issued photo ID. You will take the test on a computer at the testing center. You receive a score report before you leave. It lists the knowledge areas where you missed questions and carries the Knowledge Test Exam ID you need for the next step. Keep it safe.

If you do not pass, §107.71 (opens in a new tab) requires you to wait 14 calendar days before retesting. Use the score report to target your weak areas.

6. Apply in IACRA

The FAA says it may take up to 48 hours from the test date for your result to appear in IACRA. Once it does, complete FAA Form 8710-13 for a remote pilot certificate, enter your 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID, sign electronically and submit.

7. Clear the TSA security check

The TSA runs a security background check on every applicant. When it clears, the FAA emails instructions for printing a temporary certificate, and the permanent card follows by mail. You may fly under Part 107 once you hold the temporary certificate. Keep your certificate available whenever you fly.

A different path for current Part 61 pilots

If you already hold a Part 61 pilot certificate other than a student pilot certificate (sport, recreational, private, commercial or ATP) and have completed a flight review within the previous 24 calendar months (§61.56 (opens in a new tab)), you do not have to take the UAG test (§107.61 (opens in a new tab)). Instead, you complete the FAA's free online course ALC-451 on FAASafety.gov, then submit Form 8710-13. A flight instructor, designated examiner, airman certification representative or FAA office validates your identity before the application goes forward.

Register your drone

The certificate is for you; registration is for the aircraft. Every drone flown under Part 107 must be registered with the FAA, regardless of weight. Registration costs $5 per drone, lasts three years and requires marking the drone with its registration number. Drones must also meet the Remote ID rule, which operators have been required to follow since September 16, 2023.

8. Stay current

The certificate does not expire, but you may not exercise its privileges unless, within the previous 24 calendar months, you have passed the knowledge test or completed recurrent training (§107.65 (opens in a new tab)). The training is a free online course on FAASafety.gov. See Part 107 recurrent training for how the calendar-month rule works.

Costs and timeline at a glance

Common questions

Is the test open book?

No. You are given the FAA testing supplement, and the FAA permits certain aids such as a basic calculator; check PSI's current rules for what you may bring.

Do I need to know how to fly a drone to pass?

No. The certificate is issued on the basis of a knowledge test. You are, however, responsible for operating safely once you fly.