Who needs a Part 107 drone license?
Anyone flying a drone for business purposes in the US needs a Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107. Purely recreational flyers take the free TRUST test instead. This distinction is about why you fly, not whether you use the same drone for a familiar kind of flight. Before preparing for the UAG test, decide whether your intended activity is a business operation or purely recreational flying.
The certificate qualifies a person to act as a remote pilot; it is not the same thing as aircraft registration. Under Part 107, every drone must be registered in FAA DroneZone. Keep those separate tasks in mind as you work through certification, and use official FAA resources for any operational requirement you need to check.
Who is eligible for a Remote Pilot Certificate?
You may take the knowledge test at age 14. To be issued the Remote Pilot Certificate, you must be at least 16, able to read, write, speak and understand English, and in a physical and mental condition that allows safe operation. Those eligibility points matter before you pay to schedule an exam appointment.
There is also an alternative route for someone who already holds a Part 61 pilot certificate with a current flight review: an FAA online course instead of the initial UAG test. If that describes you, follow the applicable FAA path rather than assuming the testing-center steps below are your only option. This guide focuses on the initial knowledge-test route.
What are the FAA steps to get a Part 107 certificate?
Follow the FAA's initial knowledge-test path in order. Your profile connects the test appointment with the later certificate application; passing the exam alone does not finish the application. The official process is:
- Create an IACRA profile and obtain your FAA Tracking Number before registering for the test.
- Schedule the UAG knowledge test at an FAA-approved PSI testing center and bring a government-issued photo ID.
- Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge test.
- Complete FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA, enter your 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID when prompted, sign electronically and submit.
- After the TSA security check, follow the confirmation email instructions to print your temporary certificate from IACRA. The permanent certificate is mailed after FAA processing.
How do you get an FAA Tracking Number?
Create an IACRA profile to obtain your FAA Tracking Number, or FTN, before registering for the knowledge test. This is the starting point for the standard initial-test path. Keep your account information accessible because you will return to IACRA after the exam to submit the certificate application.
Do not treat IACRA and PSI as interchangeable. IACRA is where you establish your FAA profile and later apply; PSI handles the appointment for the UAG knowledge test. Getting the FTN first keeps the steps in the intended order. The IACRA application itself is free.
Where do you take the Part 107 knowledge test?
Schedule the Unmanned Aircraft General, Small (UAG) initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center operated by PSI. Booking is available at faa.psiexams.com. Bring a government-issued photo ID. The knowledge test fee is $175 per attempt, paid when you schedule; because the testing vendor sets the fee, confirm the current amount at the booking site.
The test has 60 multiple-choice questions with three options each, a 2-hour limit and a passing score of 70%, or at least 42 correct answers. During the test you use the FAA testing supplement, FAA-CT-8080-2H, with sectional chart excerpts and other figures. Study those materials before you book so the charts are not a new format on test day.
What do you do after you pass the UAG test?
Complete FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA. When prompted, enter the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID. Your result may take up to 48 hours after the test to appear in IACRA, so an immediate absence does not necessarily mean something went wrong. Sign the application electronically and submit it.
After the TSA security background check, a confirmation email provides instructions to print your temporary certificate from IACRA. The permanent certificate is mailed once FAA processing is complete. The temporary certificate is valid for up to 120 calendar days under 14 CFR 107.64. The IACRA application, TSA check and temporary certificate cost nothing.
How do you register your drone and handle Remote ID?
Certification of the pilot and registration of the aircraft are different jobs. Under Part 107 every drone must be registered in FAA DroneZone. Registration costs $5 per drone and is valid for 3 years. Include it in your plan rather than assuming the knowledge-test fee covers the aircraft as well. Our drone registration guide covers the details.
Remote ID is another subject to check as you prepare to operate. Consult current official FAA guidance and our Remote ID overview for how it applies to your aircraft and operation. This guide does not replace the FAA's operating instructions or assume that earning a certificate alone settles every aircraft requirement.
How can you prepare for the Remote Pilot Certificate test?
Use the FAA's free official study material and work with the testing supplement. The Airman Certification Standards cover Regulations, Airspace and Requirements, Weather, Loading and Performance, and Operations. Practice across these areas instead of relying on a few familiar questions. Read answer explanations and use ACS codes to connect mistakes to the knowledge you need to revisit.
Part 107 Prep is an independent iOS and Android study app for the UAG test, not affiliated with the FAA or PSI. It has free daily practice and 300+ exam-style questions, including official FAA sample questions, real charts with pinch-to-zoom, an exam simulation, ACS-linked explanations, a mistake trainer, statistics, aviation glossary and study plan. Premium is $14.99 one-time with no subscription and no account required. Preparation helps you learn, but it cannot guarantee an exam outcome.
What happens after you become a remote pilot?
Your Remote Pilot Certificate does not expire, but to fly under Part 107 you must have passed the initial test or completed recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months. The FAA offers free online recurrent training on FAASafety.gov. This is separate from the initial PSI knowledge test and does not require you to buy another study product.
If you do not pass the initial UAG test, you must wait 14 calendar days before retesting, and a new appointment requires the test fee again. Your Airman Knowledge Test Report lists ACS codes for areas you missed, which can guide your next study session. Keep official FAA information close at hand as you move from preparation into flying.