How to Get a Drone License (FAA Part 107)

Do you need a Part 107 drone license?

You need a Part 107 license if you fly a drone for any purpose that isn't purely recreational. The FAA draws the line at intent, not payment, and not drone size. If your flight furthers a business, produces content you monetize, or provides something of value to anyone other than yourself, it falls under Part 107.

That definition is broader than most people expect. Here's what does and doesn't require certification:

If you're flying strictly for enjoyment, you have a different and much lighter set of requirements built around a free TRUST training and certificate. We cover the full set of recreational rules on this page from our parent company, UAV Coach.

Who is eligible for a Part 107 license?

Almost anyone can get a Part 107 license. You must be at least 16 years old, able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and in a physical and mental condition to safely operate a small unmanned aircraft. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, and there is no maximum age.

The full FAA eligibility requirements:

1. 1 At least 16 years old at the time you apply. No upper age limit.
2. 2 Able to read, speak, write, and understand English. The FAA allows exceptions for medical reasons that don't affect safe operation.
3. 3 In a physical and mental condition to safely fly. There's no medical exam and no medical certificate required — this is a self-assessment, unlike manned aviation.
4. 4 Pass the 60-question aeronautical knowledge test. This is the only real hurdle.
5. 5 Pass a TSA security background check, which happens automatically during your application.

Two things people are surprised to learn:

If you want hands-on instruction alongside your certification, we run in-person flight training classes with experienced instructors.

How to get your drone license in 6 steps

Getting a Part 107 license takes 6 steps: creating an FAA Tracking Number, studying for the knowledge test, scheduling your exam at an approved testing center, taking (and passing) the 60-question test, completing FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA, and receiving your certificate. Most people can become certified drone pilots in four to six weeks.

1. 1

   Step 1 — Get your FAA Tracking Number (FTN)

   Before you can schedule your test, you need an FTN. You create one by registering for a free account in IACRA, the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system. It takes about ten minutes, and you'll need your FTN in hand when you book your exam.

   How to obtain an FAA Tracking Number

2. 2

   Step 2 — Study for the knowledge test

   This is where the real work happens, and where most of your four to six weeks goes. Our students report spending 15–20 hours preparing. The material covers airspace, weather, sectional charts, regulations, and aircraft performance — subjects most people have never encountered.

   More on your study options further down this page.

3. 3

   Step 3 — Schedule your test

   The Part 107 exam is administered in person by PSI at FAA-approved testing centers. There are 723 locations across the U.S. states and territories, so most people have one within a reasonable drive.

   You'll schedule directly with the testing center, pay a $175 fee, and pick a date. Many students book their test date before they finish studying. A deadline can be an effective motivator!

   Find your nearest FAA testing center

4. 4

   Step 4 — Pass the exam

   60 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes, 70% to pass. The exam is proctored and delivered over a computer. You'll get your score before you leave the building.

5. 5

   Step 5 — Complete FAA Form 8710-13

   After you pass, log back into your IACRA account and complete Form 8710-13, the Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application. You'll enter your 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID. This is roughly 10–15 minutes of online paperwork.

   Your application then goes through automatic TSA security vetting.

6. 6

   Step 6 — Receive your certificate

   Once vetting clears, you can print a temporary certificate from IACRA that carries full privileges — you're legal to fly commercially from that moment. Your permanent plastic card arrives by mail afterward.

   It's laminated, it's official, and it's a very satisfying thing to pull out of your wallet :)

What's on the Part 107 exam?

The Part 107 exam — formally the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) knowledge test when you're booking your exam through PSI — has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 120-minute time limit. You need 70%, or 42 correct answers, to pass. Questions are drawn from subject areas defined in 14 CFR 107.73.

Each test is assembled from a larger question bank, so no two people see an identical exam.

Here are some of the topics you'll be tested on:

• —FAA Drone Laws
• —National Airspace System (NAS)
• —Reading Sectional Charts
• —Airport Operations
• —Weather & Micrometeorology
• —Flying a Drone at Night
• —sUAS Loading and Performance
• —Emergency Procedures
• —Crew Resource Management
• —Radio Communications
• —Effects of Drugs & Alcohol
• —Aeronautical Decision-Making

Here's how each of the five key knowledge areas are weighted across the exam questions. As you can see, about half of the questions on your test will be about drone regulations.

Breakdown of how each of the five key topic areas are weighted across the FAA exam questions.

Key Topic Category	Percentage
Drone Regulations	48%
Airspace Classification and Operating Requirements	20%
Weather	5%
Loading & Performance	2%
Operations	25%

How hard is the Part 107 test?

The Part 107 test is challenging for people without an aviation background, but very manageable with preparation. In 2020, the national pass rate was 93.36%, but by 2025, it had dropped to 82.96%. The average score in 2025 was 79.31%. I do think the test has gotten objectively more difficult over the last few years. We've updated our course materials multiple times to account for new regulations and tougher test questions.

The most common stumbling blocks are sectional chart reading, airspace classification and quirky FAA drone regulations. Here's where we see folks consistently struggle:

• —Sectional charts. Reading airspace boundaries, ceilings and floors, and determining what class of airspace a given point sits in.
• —Airspace classification. Knowing the difference between Class B, C, D, E, and G — and what each requires of you.
• —Weather interpretation. METARs and TAFs are written in a compressed code that has to be learned.
• —Loading and performance. Center of gravity, weight limits, and how density altitude affects your aircraft.

Nothing on the Part 107 exam is intellectually hard! Anyone can pass it, from 16 year olds to 106 year olds. It just takes deliberate studying. Typically about 15-20 hours worth.

How much does a drone license cost?

The required cost of getting a drone license is $175. That's the test fee, paid directly to PSI when you are booking your test. Drone registration adds $5 per aircraft for three years. Test prep is optional and ranges from free to about $300. All in, it's less than $500 to get your FAA drone license. Which is not bad when it comes to industry certifications.

Most people land somewhere between $180 and $480 once test prep is factored in. So all in, it ends up being less than $500 to get a drone license. Which, compared to other industry and career liccenses and certifications, isn't that bad!

The $175 test fee is non-refundable. That's the real argument for preparing properly. A failed attempt costs you $175 and a mandatory 14-day wait before you can retest.

Your recurrent training is free. You're required to complete an online recurrency course every 24 calendar months to keep your license current. It's free, administered through the FAA's website, and takes about an hour.

Budget for costs beyond certification. If you're building a business around this, budget separately for drone insurance and other start-up costs. Many pilots use on-demand coverage rather than an annual policy. Forming an LLC can start at $150–$200 depending on your state.

More information in our drone insurance guide over at our parent company, UAV Coach.

How long does it take to get a drone license?

Most people get their drone license in four to six weeks from starting to study. Study time is the biggest variable. Our students report 15–20 hours of preparation. Scheduling a test typically takes a few days to two weeks depending on your local center's availability.

Here's where the time actually goes:

If you're motivated and have open evenings, you can compress your studying considerably. Book a test date about two weeks out, study 1–2 hours a night, and you can be certified inside three weeks. We've had students study over a couple of days and take their test within one week. But that's atypical! Most folks take a few weeks.

What is test day actually like?

You'll arrive at a PSI testing center, present a government-issued photo ID, and store your belongings in a locker. The test is taken on a computer in a proctored room, with a printed supplement of charts and figures provided. You'll receive your score immediately after finishing.

How it runs: You'll be seated at a computer in a proctored testing room, often alongside people taking entirely unrelated exams. You have 120 minutes. You can flag questions and come back to them, and most students finish with plenty of time to spare.

Your score: You'll get a pass/fail result and a numeric score before you leave, along with a printout listing the knowledge codes for any questions you missed. Keep that printout — the Exam ID on it is what you'll enter into IACRA when you get back home.

If you don't pass: You wait 14 calendar days, pay the $175 again, and retest. It's not a permanent setback, but it's an expensive and frustrating one, which is the whole argument for going in prepared.

Students consistently tell us to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your scheduled time. Check-in and photo ID verification sometimes take longer than the testing centers imply.

How should you study for the Part 107 exam?

Free resources include YouTube videos and practice test banks. Some of the resources are quite good, though a little out-of-date. Paid courses like Drone Pilot Ground School offer a structured curriculum and real human support.

We sell our own course, so take this section for what it is, but we'd rather tell you the truth about the alternatives than pretend they don't exist.

If you want to get a sense of our structured curriculum, and how we teach a typical lesson, you can preview our course for free before deciding anything.