What is Part 107 Certification?
Part 107 certification means holding an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating, which you need to act as remote pilot in command under 14 CFR Part 107, the FAA rule for small drone flights in the United States that aren't purely recreational. You earn it by passing the FAA's knowledge test (or, for eligible Part 61 pilots, completing FAA training), applying through IACRA, and clearing a TSA security check. The certificate does not expire, but to keep using it you need recurrent training (or another qualifying test or course) within the previous 24 calendar months, and the FAA's recurrent course is free.
Getting certified to fly drones commercially isn't just about passing a test, though that's definitely part of it. Part 107 is the FAA's rulebook for small drones, and the Remote Pilot Certificate is your ticket to fly under it, whether you're turning a hobby into a business or adding drones to an existing one.
Before Part 107 took effect, businesses that wanted to fly drones generally needed an individual FAA exemption. Part 107 replaced that case-by-case approach with standard rules and a single pilot certificate. The path is now much more straightforward, though it still takes real preparation and ongoing compliance.
What is Part 107
Part 107 refers to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 107, which governs the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), meaning drones that weigh less than 55 pounds at takeoff. The rule took effect on August 29, 2016.
The regulation covers pilot certification, operating limits, operations over people, waivers, and more. Think of it as the rulebook that allows businesses to operate drones legally while protecting people on the ground and other aircraft in the sky.
Part 107 applies to drone flights that are not purely recreational, whether that's real estate photography, infrastructure inspections, or agricultural monitoring. Understanding drone compliance requirements is necessary for anyone looking to commercialize their operations.
Who needs Part 107 certification
Under Part 107, the remote pilot in command must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating. Someone without a certificate may manipulate the controls only under the direct supervision of a certificated remote pilot in command who can immediately take over.
The FAA's line is simple: recreational flyers fly only for personal enjoyment under a separate statutory exception, and flights for any other purpose generally fall under Part 107. Examples of flights that typically need a Part 107 remote pilot include:
- Real estate agents photographing properties for listings
- Insurance adjusters documenting damage claims
- Construction companies monitoring job sites
- Agricultural operations conducting crop surveys
- Filmmakers capturing footage for commercial productions
Government agencies have another option. A federal, state, or local agency performing a governmental function can fly as a public aircraft operation instead of under Part 107, or it can fly under Part 107.
Even if you're not charging for drone services, you need certification when the flight isn't purely recreational. For example, a roofing contractor using a drone to inspect buildings for potential repair projects needs a Part 107 remote pilot, even though they're not selling drone services to others. Starting a drone service business requires careful attention to these certification requirements.
Age and eligibility requirements
To be eligible for a Remote Pilot Certificate, you must:
- Be at least 16 years old (you can take the knowledge test at 14)
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English, although the FAA may place operating limitations on an applicant who cannot meet this for medical reasons
- Not know or have reason to know of a physical or mental condition that would interfere with safe operation
- Pass the initial knowledge test, or, if you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate other than a student pilot certificate and meet the flight review requirements, complete the FAA's online initial training
There is no maximum age and no FAA medical certificate requirement. Part 107 doesn't require any particular education or prior aviation experience, so someone who has never flown an aircraft can earn the certificate.
Vision is covered by the operating rules rather than a medical exam. The remote pilot, the person at the controls, and any visual observer must be able to see the drone with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses.
Knowledge test requirements
The Part 107 knowledge test, officially called Unmanned Aircraft General, Small (UAG), has 60 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored validation questions, with 120 minutes for all 65. You need 70% to pass, so you can miss no more than 18 of the 60 scored questions.
Since September 29, 2025, PSI, the FAA's testing vendor, builds every exam to this blueprint:
| Content area | Share of questions |
|---|---|
| Regulations | 48% |
| Operations | 25% |
| Airspace classification and operating requirements | 20% |
| Weather | 5% |
| Loading and performance | 2% |
Regulations are the largest area, covering Part 107's operating rules, waivers, operations over people, Remote ID, and certification.
Operations covers radio procedures, airport operations, emergency procedures, aeronautical decision-making and crew resource management, physiology such as stress and fatigue, and maintenance and preflight inspection.
Airspace questions test whether you understand different types of airspace and when you need authorization in the airspace classes for drones, often using sectional chart excerpts. From October 26, 2026, some of those questions can show images from current FAA charts that are not in the printed testing supplement.
Weather covers weather sources such as METAR reports and how weather affects performance. The real-world side is covered in our guide to weather considerations for professional drone operations.
Loading and performance covers how weight, balance, and density altitude affect a small aircraft.
Study materials and preparation
The FAA's free study resources start with the Remote Pilot Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22). It was published in 2016, so it predates the 2021 rules on Remote ID and operations over people. Pair it with Part 107 itself, Part 89, and Advisory Circular 107-2A. Our Part 107 study guide turns all of this into week-by-week plans weighted to the current exam blueprint.
The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge covers airspace, weather, and aircraft performance in depth. It isn't drone-specific, but much of the exam material traces back to it. Professional UAS pilot training goes beyond test preparation to develop practical operational skills.
For weather products such as METARs and TAFs, the FAA's current reference is the Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28), which replaced Advisory Circular 00-45H in December 2022.
Third-party courses and practice tests are also available. The FAA publishes official sample questions, and PSI offers a free sample test on its FAA testing site. Our free Part 107 practice test adds an explanation and FAA source for every answer, including questions on FAA sectional chart excerpts.
Our suggestion: aim to understand the rules rather than memorize answers, since the real exam uses its own questions. Practice tests help you find weak areas, especially if you review every question you miss.
Taking the Part 107 exam
The knowledge test is taken in person at an FAA-approved PSI testing center. You can't take it online from home.
Before you book, create a profile in the FAA's IACRA system to get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). On test day, bring identification that shows your photo, date of birth, signature, and home address; the details can be spread across more than one document, and PSI's applicant bulletin lists every accepted form.
The FAA puts the test fee at about $175, paid when you book.
The test center supplies the printed testing supplement, which contains the chart excerpts and other figures some questions refer to, along with scratch paper and a pen. The test software also has a built-in calculator.
When you finish, you receive your Airman Knowledge Test Report, which shows your score and the ACS codes for any questions you missed. A test report is not a certificate. You still need to apply for the certificate in IACRA.
TSA security threat assessment
After you pass, you apply for the certificate in IACRA (FAA Form 8710-13), selecting your test record or entering the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID from your test report. The FAA's Airmen Registry then confirms your information with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before it generates a temporary certificate.
When the TSA check is complete, the FAA emails you instructions for printing a temporary Remote Pilot Certificate from IACRA. The permanent certificate is mailed to you after the FAA finishes its internal processing.
The FAA's description of this process doesn't involve fingerprints, an interview, or a separate TSA fee. The FAA's cost guidance mentions only the testing center fee.
Operational limitations under Part 107
Part 107 sets specific operating limits. These are the main ones:
Altitude: no higher than 400 feet above ground level, unless the drone is flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure and no higher than 400 feet above the structure's immediate uppermost limit.
Visual line of sight: the remote pilot in command, the person at the controls, and any visual observer must be able to see the drone throughout the flight. That ability must be used by either the visual observer, or by both the remote pilot in command and the person at the controls. See our guide to visual line of sight.
Night and twilight: since the rule change took effect on April 21, 2021, night flight is allowed without a waiver if the remote pilot has completed the knowledge test or training after April 6, 2021 and the drone has anti-collision lights visible for at least 3 statute miles, with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. The same lighting is required during civil twilight. Know where no-fly zones and restricted areas are before any flight.
Maximum groundspeed: 87 knots (100 mph).
Weather: at least 3 statute miles of visibility from the control station, and at least 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds.
Airspace: prior ATC authorization is required in Class B, C, and D airspace and in Class E surface areas designated for an airport.
People: flight over people is allowed only when they are directly participating in the operation, are under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection, or when the operation meets one of the four operations over people categories.
Moving vehicles: you may not fly from a moving aircraft. You may fly from a moving land or water vehicle only over a sparsely populated area, and not while carrying another person's property for compensation or hire.
Many of these rules can be waived, but not all. The FAA's list of waivable sections includes the rules on moving vehicles, night lighting, visual line of sight, visual observers, multiple aircraft, right of way, operations over people, airspace, and the operating limits above. The ban on carrying hazardous materials can't be waived.
Waiver process for restricted operations
When standard Part 107 rules don't fit a mission, you can apply for a certificate of waiver through the FAA's waiver system. The FAA may issue a waiver when it finds that the proposed operation can be conducted safely under the waiver's terms.
Waivers can cover operations such as beyond visual line of sight flights, flights over people that don't meet one of the four categories, and flights above 400 feet. Since the 2021 rule changes, night flight no longer needs a waiver if you meet the lighting and training requirements, though the anti-collision lighting rule itself can be waived.
Each application describes the operation and how you will reduce its risks. A structured risk assessment helps you build that case.
The FAA says it will do its best to approve or deny waiver requests within 90 days of submission, and that processing times vary with the complexity and completeness of the application.
Record keeping requirements
Part 107 requires relatively few records. You must carry your Remote Pilot Certificate and identification when exercising its privileges, keep your drone registered, report qualifying accidents within 10 calendar days, and make any records the rules require available to the FAA on request. Category 4 operations over people are the main exception: §107.140 requires the owner (or the operator, by agreement) to keep records of maintenance, preventive maintenance, alterations, and inspections, plus the status of life-limited parts and airworthiness directives.
The FAA's advisory circular on Part 107, AC 107-2A, recommends more. It describes logbooks of inspections, maintenance, repairs, and alterations as useful for documenting a drone's history. Proper drone maintenance records also help when you need to show that an aircraft was in a condition for safe operation.
Flight logs aren't required by Part 107, but most professional operators keep them. Logging the date, location, duration, aircraft, and pilot for each flight supports insurance claims, client reporting, and tracking drone pilot flight hours.
Keep proof of your most recent recurrent training as well. Your completion certificate from FAASafety.gov is your record that you are current. Teams can upload each pilot's certificate to DroneBundle, set the date the training is due again, and get reminders before it lapses.
Our suggestion is to keep records for at least two years, and longer for work involving critical infrastructure or high-value clients. Follow any mandatory retention requirements first; this suggestion doesn't replace them. For example, Category 4 records of life-limited parts, airworthiness directive compliance, and inspection status must be kept and transferred with the aircraft when it changes owners. Digital systems make it easier to search, back up, and share records, provided you keep them secure.
Recurrent training and renewal
Your Remote Pilot Certificate does not expire. To keep acting as remote pilot in command, you must have completed one of these within the previous 24 calendar months:
- Passed the initial knowledge test
- Completed the FAA's recurrent training
- Completed the training for pilot certificate holders, if you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate other than a student pilot certificate and meet the flight review requirements
The FAA's standard recurrent course is ALC-677 on FAASafety.gov. It is free, and FAASafety.gov says it takes approximately 2 hours, with an exam that must be completed and graded within 90 minutes. Its exam requires a score of 100%, highlights wrong answers, and can be retaken until you pass, after which you can print a completion certificate.
If your 24 months lapse, your certificate still exists. You simply can't act as remote pilot in command until you complete recurrent training. The FAA directs anyone who holds a Part 107 certificate to the online recurrent course regardless of how long they have been out of currency, so a lapse doesn't mean retesting at a PSI center. Our Part 107 renewal guide walks through the steps.
Rules change, so we suggest checking the FAA's drone pages and safety alerts between recurrent cycles.
Common violations and enforcement
The FAA can take enforcement action against anyone who violates Part 107. Certain offenses, such as alcohol and drug violations or refusing an alcohol test, are specifically listed in Part 107 as grounds for suspending or revoking a Remote Pilot Certificate.
The rules most worth double-checking before each flight are the ones that depend on location and timing: airspace authorization, temporary flight restrictions, operations over people, and your 24-month recency. A lapsed currency or a missing LAANC authorization is easy to overlook and easy to prevent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get Part 107 certified?
It depends mostly on your study time. After you pass, your test result is available in IACRA for your application, and you can print a temporary certificate once the FAA emails you that the TSA check is complete. The permanent certificate follows by mail.
Do I need Part 107 if I'm only flying drones for my own business?
Yes. Any flight that isn't purely recreational generally falls under Part 107, including inspecting your own facilities or documenting your own projects.
How much does Part 107 certification cost?
The FAA puts the knowledge test fee at about $175. The FAA's study materials and recurrent training are free.
Can my Part 107 certificate expire?
No. The certificate itself does not expire. To keep using it, you need recurrent training (or another qualifying test or course) within the previous 24 calendar months, and the FAA's online recurrent course is free.
Beyond basic certification
Part 107 certification is the beginning of a professional drone pilot's regulatory journey. Advanced operations like large-scale mapping projects, infrastructure inspections, or emergency response services often call for waivers, airspace authorizations, specialized equipment, and crew training beyond the basic certificate.
Good flight planning includes checking airspace, obtaining any required authorization through LAANC or FAADroneZone, and reviewing NOTAMs and temporary flight restrictions before each flight.
International operations involve different regulatory frameworks, with each country maintaining its own certification requirements.
Implementation considerations
Obtaining Part 107 certification marks the beginning of your commercial drone journey, but a successful operation takes planning beyond the certificate. Start by mapping your intended missions against the Part 107 rules. If you plan to fly beyond visual line of sight or over people who aren't covered by the four categories, plan for the waiver timeline early.
Build your operating procedures in parallel with your exam preparation. Write standard procedures for pre-flight inspections, flight operations, and record keeping before your first paid job, since they are harder to introduce once client projects are under way. Drone operations software can help manage flight planning, maintenance tracking, and compliance records from day one.
Don't leave insurance until the last minute. Commercial drone insurance needs vary with your operations and your clients' requirements, so get quotes before you set your prices.
In summary
Part 107 certification is the regulatory foundation for commercial drone work under Part 107 in the United States. You earn it by passing the FAA knowledge test (or completing FAA training if you're an eligible Part 61 pilot), applying through IACRA, and clearing the TSA check, and the certificate never expires. To use it, you need recurrent training (or another qualifying test or course) within the previous 24 calendar months, and the FAA's recurrent course is free.
The operating rules cover altitude, visual line of sight, night lighting, airspace authorization, weather minimums, and operations over people, and many of them can be waived when a mission needs it. Knowing them well is what keeps your flights legal and safe.
As your operation grows, flight logs, maintenance records, training records, and authorizations become harder to manage by hand. Setting up a system early keeps compliance manageable as you scale.
Ready to streamline your Part 107 operations?
Managing commercial drone operations takes more than a certificate. It takes efficient systems for flight planning, equipment tracking, and compliance documentation. DroneBundle gives commercial drone operators tools designed for Part 107 operations, helping you stay compliant while you grow.
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