FAA Part 107 License: How to Get Certified in 2026

If you plan to fly a drone for pay in the United States, in any way, real estate photos, mapping, inspections, YouTube sponsorships, the FAA requires a Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107. There is no way around it: recreational-only certification (TRUST) does not cover commercial work, and flying without Part 107 for hire is a federal violation with real fines attached.

The good news is that Part 107 is one of the more accessible professional certifications in aviation. There is no flight test, no medical exam, and no minimum flight hours. It comes down to one 60-question knowledge exam, a background check, and a $175 fee. This guide walks through exactly who needs it, what it costs, how to pass the test, and how to keep it current, updated for 2026.

What Is the FAA Part 107 Certificate?

The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is the federal credential required to fly a small unmanned aircraft (under 55 lbs) for commercial purposes in US airspace. It is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration after a candidate passes the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) knowledge exam and clears a TSA security background check.

Part 107, formally 14 CFR Part 107, is the rule the FAA published in 2016 to regulate small drones separately from manned aviation. Before it existed, commercial drone operators needed an actual pilot's license and a case-by-case exemption. Part 107 replaced that with a single standardized certificate, which is why it is often just called "the Part 107" or "a drone license," even though the FAA's official term is Remote Pilot Certificate.

Do You Need a Part 107 License to Fly a Drone?

You need Part 107 if you fly a drone for any compensation or business purpose, including in-kind trades, not just cash payment. Purely recreational flying only requires the free TRUST test. Anyone flying for a company, a client, or to promote a business, even without direct payment, falls under Part 107.

The dividing line is not the drone, it is the purpose of the flight. A hobbyist flying the same DJI Mini 4 Pro for fun needs only the TRUST certificate; a real estate photographer flying that identical drone to shoot a listing needs Part 107. Government employees flying drones for public agencies also fall under Part 107 rather than a separate track. Common activities that require Part 107 include:

• Real estate, wedding, or event photography and videography for clients
• Aerial mapping, surveying, and construction progress monitoring
• Infrastructure, roof, or solar panel inspections
• Agricultural spraying and crop monitoring
• Search and rescue or public safety work for a government agency
• Any drone content monetized through brand sponsorship rather than ad revenue alone

For the full picture on registration, Remote ID, and where you can legally fly, see our complete guide to US drone laws.

Part 107 Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Part 107 certificate you must be at least 16 years old, able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and in a physical and mental condition that does not interfere with safe drone operation. There is no medical exam or minimum education level required.

The specific requirements the FAA checks are:

• Age: You must be 16 or older to hold the certificate. You can take the knowledge test at 14, but the FAA will not issue the certificate until you turn 16.
• English proficiency: Required for reading regulations, communicating with air traffic control, and understanding airspace charts.
• Condition: No FAA medical certificate is required, unlike a manned-aircraft pilot's license. The FAA simply requires you not to have a condition that would interfere with safe operation.
• TSA vetting: Every applicant is automatically screened through a Transportation Security Administration background check when the application is submitted. Most applicants pass without ever hearing about it; a criminal aviation-security history can trigger a denial.

There is no citizenship requirement. Non-US citizens can hold a Part 107 certificate, which matters for pilots relocating to the US or working on US-based drone projects remotely.

How to Get Your Part 107 License: Step-by-Step (2026)

Getting certified in 2026 takes four steps: register for an FTN through IACRA, pass the 60-question knowledge exam at an approved testing center, submit your application, and clear the automatic TSA background check. Most applicants finish the whole process in two to three weeks.

1. Get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Create a profile on the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) system. This generates the FTN you need before you can register for the exam.
2. Schedule the knowledge exam. Book a seat at an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center (PSI runs most of them) and bring a government-issued photo ID.
3. Pass the UAG knowledge exam. The exam has 60 multiple-choice questions covering airspace classification, weather, loading and performance, emergency procedures, radio communications, and regulations. You need 70% (42 of 60) to pass, and results are available immediately after the test.
4. Complete FAA Form 8710-13 through IACRA. After passing, file the remote pilot application online using your FTN and the exam completion confirmation.
5. Clear TSA vetting and receive your certificate. The FAA forwards your application to the TSA automatically. Most candidates receive a temporary certificate by email within a few days to three weeks, valid until the permanent plastic card arrives by mail.

Part 107 cost breakdown

The only mandatory cost is the $175 exam fee. Everything else, prep courses, printed guides, practice question banks, is optional and exists only to help you pass on the first attempt.

What Can You Do With a Part 107 Certificate? (Operating Rules and Waivers)

A Part 107 certificate lets you fly a drone under 55 lbs during daylight, within visual line of sight, below 400 feet above ground level, and outside restricted airspace without further authorization. Anything outside those defaults, like night flights, flying over people, or beyond visual line of sight, either falls under a standard rule update or requires an FAA waiver.

Standard operating limits under Part 107:

• Altitude: Maximum 400 feet above ground level, or up to 400 feet above a structure if flying within 400 feet of it.
• Visual line of sight (VLOS): The remote pilot or a visual observer must be able to see the aircraft with unaided vision (corrective lenses are fine; binoculars are not) at all times per §107.31.
• Daylight or civil twilight: Flights are allowed from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset. Night operations are permitted with anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles, no separate waiver needed since a 2021 rule change.
• Airspace: Flying in controlled airspace (near most airports) requires near-instant authorization through LAANC, granted automatically through approved apps for most altitudes.
• Weight: The aircraft must weigh under 55 lbs (25 kg) including payload.

For anything beyond these limits, operations over people, from a moving vehicle, or BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight), meaning flight where the pilot cannot see the aircraft with the naked eye, you need a Part 107 waiver. The FAA reviews waiver applications in roughly 90 days. A separate rule, Part 108, is working through rulemaking specifically to normalize BVLOS operations without a case-by-case waiver; as of mid-2026 it remains unfinished, so BVLOS work still requires either a waiver or an existing exemption.

How to Renew Your Part 107 Certificate

Part 107 certificates do not expire, but you must complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months to keep flying commercially. Since 2021 this renewal is entirely free and online, through the FAA's own training portal, no testing center visit and no fee required.

The process:

1. Log in to FAASafety.gov with your FTN.
2. Complete the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent course (course code ALC-677), a self-paced module that takes most pilots 45 minutes to an hour.
3. The system automatically updates your certification status with the FAA on completion, no separate application needed.

Miss the 24-month window and your certificate is not revoked, but you are not legally allowed to exercise Part 107 privileges (commercial flights) until you complete the training. Third-party refresher courses ($25–$100) exist for pilots who want structured review, but they are optional; the FAA's own course satisfies the requirement at no cost.

What Happens If You Fly Commercially Without a Part 107 Certificate?

Flying for compensation without a Part 107 certificate exposes you to FAA civil penalties that can reach $75,000 per violation under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, plus potential criminal charges for egregious or repeated cases. The FAA actively investigates unlicensed commercial operations, particularly ones involving restricted airspace or client complaints.

Beyond the fine itself, an uncertified operator has no legal standing if a client dispute or property damage claim ends up in court, and most commercial drone insurance policies (see our drone insurance guide) require Part 107 as a condition of coverage. If you're weighing whether the certificate is worth the $175 and a few study weekends, the honest answer is that it is the baseline cost of legally making money with a drone in the US, not an optional upgrade.

Sources: FAA – Become a Certificated Remote Pilot | FAA – How Much Does It Cost to Get a Remote Pilot Certificate? | eCFR – 14 CFR Part 107 | FAA – Part 107 Waivers