FAA Part 107

You need it to fly under the FAA's Small UAS Rule (Part 107). The FAA states that in order to fly your drone under Part 107 you must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate, which demonstrates you understand the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones.

The FAA lists three: be at least 16 years old; be able to read, speak, write, and understand English; and be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone. You must also pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam, the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG).

The FAA publishes the topic areas: regulations and rating privileges, limitations and flight operations; airspace classification, operating requirements and flight restrictions; aviation weather sources and effects on performance; loading and performance; and emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communications, performance determination, drugs and alcohol, decision-making, airport operations, maintenance and preflight inspection, and night operations.

First obtain an FAA Tracking Number by creating an IACRA profile, then schedule an appointment with an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center. The FAA specifically advises bringing a government-issued photo ID to your test. Afterward, allow up to 48 hours from the test date for the knowledge test to appear in IACRA.

No. If you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate and have completed a flight review within the previous 24 months, you complete the Part 107 Small UAS Initial (ALC-451) online training course, then validate your identity with a FSDO, designated pilot examiner, airman certification representative, or certificated flight instructor. Note that CFIs cannot issue temporary certificates.

Complete recurrent online training within the previous 24 calendar months. Holders of a Part 107 remote pilot certificate take the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent (ALC-677) course at no cost. If you are also certificated under Part 61 with a current flight review, the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent (ALC-515) course satisfies the requirement instead.

You file FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA, entering the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID and signing electronically. A confirmation email arrives once the TSA security background check is complete, with instructions for printing a temporary remote pilot certificate from IACRA. The permanent certificate then arrives by mail once FAA processing finishes.

Yes. The FAA requirement is that the Remote Pilot Certificate must be easily accessible by the remote pilot during all UAS operations. The agency repeats this requirement for both first-time applicants and existing Part 61 certificate holders, and lists having your certificate available whenever you fly as a process step.

The FAA's published guidance on becoming a certificated remote pilot does not state a question count, time limit, passing score, test fee, or retake policy. Confirm those logistics directly with the FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center where you schedule, and treat any figure you see elsewhere as unverified.

The FAA points candidates to the Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards, published as a PDF. It is the agency's statement of the knowledge and task areas the test is built around, so use it to organize study rather than working from topic lists alone.