How to get a Part 107 drone license in 2026 (a step-by-step guide)

So you want to get paid to fly drones. Smart move. But before you start accepting gigs — whether that’s real estate photography, roof inspections, mapping, or posting monetized content on YouTube — you need a Part 107 drone license from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The good news: it’s not nearly as daunting as getting a traditional pilot’s license. There’s no flying test. No medical exam. No logbook hours required. It’s a written exam, and with the right prep, it’s very passable. (I passed on my first try with a 90%.)

Here’s everything you need to know about getting your Part 107 drone license in 2026.

Everything you need to know about getting a drone pilot license in 2026

What is a Part 107 drone license?

A Part 107 drone license — officially called a Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small UAS Rating — is the FAA certification required to fly drones commercially in the United States. “Part 107” refers to the section of FAA regulations (14 CFR Part 107) that governs small unmanned aircraft systems.

In plain English: if you’re making money with a drone in any capacity, you need one. That includes:

Selling aerial photos or video footage
Real estate, construction, or inspection work
Drone mapping or surveying
Posting drone content to YouTube for ad revenue
Operating a drone for any business, even a non-profit

If you’re just flying for fun with no income involved, you need the TRUST certification instead — a free, 45-minute online test. More on that below.

Who is eligible for a Part 107 drone license?

To qualify, you must:

Be at least 16 years old
Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English
Be in a physical and mental condition to safely operate a drone
Pass the FAA aeronautical knowledge test (or complete online training if you already hold a Part 61 pilot certificate)

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen.

How to get your Part 107 drone license: step by step

You can get your drone pilot license by passing a written test. It’s a similar experience to the permit test you took when you were 15 before getting a driver’s license in that it’s just a written test. No actual flying required. The test, which is a set of 60 multiple choice questions with a single correct response for each one, can be taken at one of the 696 testing centers in the United States.

Here’s how to get started with taking the test.

Step 1: Create your FAA profile. Before you can register for the test, you need an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Get one by creating a profile in the FAA’s Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system (IACRA) at iacra.faa.gov.

Step 2: Study. This is the step most people underestimate. The Part 107 test covers airspace classifications, weather, sectional chart reading, FAA regulations, emergency procedures, and more. Most people with no aviation background need 10–20 hours of focused study. In 2025, the average score on the Part 107 test was just 79.31% — barely above the 70% minimum passing score — which tells you that walking in underprepared is a real risk.

I used Drone Pilot Ground School and passed with a 90%. I have an in-depth breakdown of the best Part 107 test prep courses here, but in short: don’t wing it. (Pun intended.)

Step 3: Schedule and take the test. The Part 107 knowledge test — officially the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) test — is administered in person at FAA-approved testing centers. There are hundreds of locations nationwide. Find one near you here. You’ll need a valid government-issued photo ID. The testing fee is typically $175, whether you pass or fail — so study first.

The test is 60 multiple-choice questions, and you have two hours to complete it. You need a 70% or higher to pass.

Step 4: Apply for your certificate in IACRA. Once you pass, log back into IACRA and complete FAA Form 8710-13 for your Remote Pilot Certificate. After TSA vetting (typically within 10 business days), you’ll receive a temporary certificate. The permanent one arrives in the mail within a few weeks.

Step 5: Register your drone. Before you fly commercially, register each drone you plan to operate at FAA DroneZone. You’ll need to mark your drone with its registration number. If your drone requires an FAA registration number, it also needs to broadcast Remote ID information during flight.

I created an entire blog post and video explaining what my test experience was like, which you can see here.

How long does the whole process take?

From signing up to having your temporary certificate in hand, most people can complete the process in two to four weeks — the bulk of that time being study prep. The test itself takes up to two hours. FAA processing after passing typically takes under two weeks.

What does the Part 107 test cover?

Expect questions on:

Airspace classifications (Classes A through G) and special use airspace
Reading sectional charts
Aviation weather: METARs, TAFs, wind, density altitude
FAA regulations and Part 107 operating rules
Remote ID requirements
Emergency procedures
Radio communication procedures
Physiological effects of drugs and alcohol on pilots

Airspace and weather are consistently the hardest sections. Budget extra study time there.

How much does it cost to get a Part 107 drone license?

The test fee alone is $175. Add in a prep course (typically $149–$375 depending on which one you choose) and you’re looking at a total investment of roughly $325–$550. Many courses offer a pass guarantee that covers your retest fee if you fail, which is worth factoring in.How do I study for this Part 107 test?

Unless you already have significant airspace knowledge, the test isn’t going to be easy without having done some work in studying (and possibly taking a full informational course).

How to study for the Part 107 test

So how are you studying? A good friend of mine told me, “I’m going to just study the night before — college style.” Wait, what?! No! Don’t do that!

It’s important that you know the information not to simply pass, but to really know the airspace so you can be a safe pilot. If you’re like me and struggle to absorb information simply by reading, and prefer to take a course — in-person or online — then I recommend you study for the test via an online Part 107 training course. I’ve extensively reviewed and outlined the best Part 107 test prep courses, but some of my top picks include:

Drone Pilot Ground School

This is an online test prep course for commercial drone pilots, led by Alan Perlman.

At the end of each lecture you’ll get a 10-question practice quiz, plus a 25 question quiz at the end of each module AND 5 full-length practice tests.

The course has a clean, simple interface — I watched it on my subway rides to work and while on the stair-master at the gym!

Time needed to complete: 10-15 hours

Cost: $299

PLUS: Use this link to get $100 off your Drone Pilot Ground School purchase!

Drone Launch Academy

This online, self-paced course is taught by instructors with more than 75 years of combined experience in aviation. The course comes with 1 year of unlimited access.

Time needed to complete: 10-15 hours

Cost: $199 ($149 with coupon code DroneCameraWork50)

PLUS: Use Coupon Code DroneCameraWork50 to get $50 off your Drone Launch Academy purchase!

DARTdrones

While DARTdrones offers a $200, online Part 107 Test Prep Course that’s pretty similar to the others, the key differentiator is the DARTdrones Part 107 Test Prep Live Virtual Course. You get all the benefits of an in-person course — the ability to ask the instructor on-the-spot questions with instant responses, more customization and higher engagement. But you get the benefits of an at-home training course: no commute, you can stay on your couch, and you don’t have to wear pants.

At $375, it’s pricier than the other picks, but it can be worth it for that personalized attention. And yes, that $375 also includes access to DARTdrones’ full online Part 107 Test Prep Course, which on its own costs $200.

Cost: $375 for the live, virtual course or $200 for the standalone course.

How do I get my Part 107 drone license if I already have a manned pilot’s license?

For people who already hold a pilot certificate issued under 14 CFR part 61, You simply need to complete the FAA’s online course, which will take you about two hours to complete. Note that you must have completed a flight review within the previous 24 months. Get more information on that process here.

The course is free, and anyone can access it, even if they do not have an existing drone pilot license. The course covers topics that manned pilots wouldn’t necessarily know, such as recommended drone maintenance procedures, effects of weather on drones and emergency procedures.

Once you complete the two-hour online program, you’ll receive a course completion certificate. From there, you can register in the FAA’s IACRA system as an “applicant,” providing your existing pilot’s license information in the application. Your FAA-issued permanent certificate will arrive in the mail within a few weeks.

I’m not flying drones for money. Do I still need a license?

Everyone flying drones needs some sort of certification The FAA divides drone flights into two categories: commercial (you’re operating for a business or organization) or hobby (you’re flying recreationally for fun).

Hobby pilots need a certificate too, though it’s much easier to get. If that’s you, you must pass the FAA recreational drone test (referred to as TRUST). To fly drones recreationally, you must go through an easy online course, which takes about 45 minutes to complete, including a mandatory online quiz (though, it’s pretty straightforward and basically just common sense!).

It’s officially referred to as TRUST (short for The Recreational Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety Test), and it can be taken online for free via one of the FAA-approved partner organizations, which include some online Part 107 course providers, as well as organizations like The Boy Scouts of America. See the full list of TRUST administrators here.

What about gray areas?

Even if you’re flying drones not for pay, but are still operating drones for a business (like, you’re taking pictures of a high school football game for the school’s website, or you’re volunteering to use your drone to survey coastlines on behalf of a non-profit organization), you need to be operating under Part 107.

That said, your specific operation might fall into the gray area between “commercial” and “recreational.” Maybe you’re in an outdoor FPV competition, and there are prices involved, but not necessarily cash. I get a LOT of questions from people in this “grey area.” Here’s what the FAA says.

“Using a sUAS to take photographs for your own personal use would be considered recreational,” according to the FAA’s website. “Using the same device to take photographs or videos for compensation or sale to another individual would be considered a commercial operation.”

Please contact an attorney to get further legal advice.

My drone pilot license is about to expire. How do I renew it?

Drone pilots must complete a free, online recurrent training course every 24 months. That’s good news, as in the past pilots had to take an in-person test which added extra burden (and cost!).

Luckily as of 2021, you can easily keep your FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate current from the comfort of your couch by taking an online recurrent training course through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website for no cost.

The Remote Pilot recurrent online training is a series of mini quizzes, videos and text slides. There are well over 100 slides, and the course takes about one hour to go through (of course, depending on how fast you read). I would also recommend budgeting about 30 minutes to an hour for the test.

Learn more: The FAA’s Remote Pilot recurrent online training is available now. Here’s what it’s like

How can I see if someone actually has a license with the FAA to fly drones?

You can browse the FAA’s public registry of Part 107-certifed remote pilots here.

In order to browse the database, you will have to start by submitting information about yourself, including your name and address. From there, you can browse all airmen and see whether they are manned or remote pilots. You’ll be able to see each pilot’s certificate and their rating. If you’re hiring someone to do commercial drone work for you, this is a great place to check if that drone pilot is actually certified. Note that not all pilots who have certificates may show up in your database search. Pilots do have 90 days to opt-out of having their address posted so there is a significant lag in posting, and someone’s legal name may not be the name you know then as when you search them.

This piece on getting your Part 107 drone license is considered Part 3 in my ‘Getting Started with Drones’ series. Missed Part 2? There, we discussed how to know whether you can legally fly your drone in a specific area right here.
And up next? Part 4 of Getting Started With Drones. There we discuss everything you need to know about drone insurance.

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