Thinking about launching a career as a commercial drone pilot?

Whether you’re flying for photography, inspections, mapping, or any paid work, the FAA treats your drone like an aircraft under Part 107.

In this guide, we’ll explore how the Part 107 license works, who needs it, and how long it takes to get certified.

Let’s first understand what the Part 107 license actually is and why it matters.

What Is a Part 107 License?

FAA Part 107 License | Source: Medium.com

The Part 107 license, officially known as the Remote Pilot Certificate, is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It authorizes a remote pilot to operate small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) under federal regulations for commercial operations.

To put it simply: “drone license” is the everyday term people use. Part 107 is the specific FAA regulation, 14 CFR Part 107, that makes that license legally meaningful.

Part 107 rules were first introduced in June 2016 and updated in 2021 to permit night flying and operations over people without a waiver under specific conditions. At a glance, Part 107 requires:

Let’s take a quick look at the importance of Part 107 certification and what it means for you as a certified drone pilot.

Who Needs a Part 107 License?

You need a Part 107 certificate if you:

• Fly a drone for any form of paid work
• Operate commercially on behalf of a business or employer
• Use drone footage, data, or services in any revenue-generating capacity
• Conduct promotional flights, even without direct payment

You do NOT need Part 107 if you:

• Fly purely for recreational or hobby purposes and follow all FAA recreational rules (49 U.S.C. § 44809)
• You only need to pass the FAA TRUST test, not the Part 107 exam. See our Drone Laws in the USA guide for state-by-state recreational rules.

Let’s uncover the steps of getting a commercial drone pilot license.

Quick Steps: How to Get Your Part 107 License

You can earn your Part 107 License by meeting FAA eligibility rules, passing a knowledge exam, and completing the application process.

Here’s the full process at a glance.

Let’s understand the three important steps that need the most explanation: eligibility, the exam, and the application.

Step 1. Part 107 Eligibility Requirements

To earn a commercial drone pilot license under 14 CFR Part 107, here are the eligibility criteria.

For First-Time Applicants

To qualify for a Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107, you must meet all four of the following criteria:

• Age: Be at least 16 years old at the time of application. There is no maximum age.
• Language: Read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to comply with ATC communications and FAA regulations.
• Physical & mental fitness: Be in a condition that does not interfere with the safe operation of a small UAS. No formal FAA medical exam is required. You self-certify.
• No FAA denial orders: You must not be subject to any FAA order denying an airman certificate application.
• Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam: Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)
• No prior flying experience or aviation background is required.

For Existing Part 61 Certificate Holders

You must:

• Hold a pilot certificate issued under 14 CFR part 61
• Have completed a flight review within the last 24 months

Non-U.S. citizens and foreign nationals may obtain Part 107 certification under the same requirements as U.S. applicants.

For a full breakdown of federal and state-level rules, see our Drone Laws in the USA guide.

Step 2. Understand the Basic FAA Requirements

Once certified, you must:

• Keep your Remote Pilot Certificate accessible during all drone operations
• Complete FAA recurrent training every 24 calendar months to maintain aeronautical knowledge recency

These rules apply to both first-time pilots and Part 61 certificate holders.   

Step 3. Complete the FAA Part 107 Knowledge Requirement

To earn your Part 107 license, you must meet the FAA’s aeronautical knowledge requirement. The FAA tests this knowledge through either an exam or online training, depending on your background.

For First-Time Pilots 

You must pass the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) knowledge exam at an FAA-approved testing center.

Exam Format at a Glance

The exam is multiple choice and focuses on both aviation basics and drone-specific rules, including:

• Regulations: Part 107 rules, privileges, operating limitations, waivers, Remote ID, registration
• Airspace Classification: Classes A–G, special-use airspace, TFRs, sectional chart reading
• Weather: METARs, TAFs, wind patterns, density altitude, weather effects on sUAS performance
• Loading & Performance: Weight, balance, aerodynamics, performance calculations
• Operations: Emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communications, preflight inspection

How to Prepare

Start by benchmarking yourself with Drone U’s free 70-question Part 107 practice test to identify weak areas before opening a study guide. Drone U students who consistently score 90%+ on practice tests have a very high first-attempt pass rate.
For structured prep, the Drone U Part 107 Certification Course ($147) includes 29 video lessons, 10+ hours of content, and 350+ practice questions; taught by FAA-certified instructors with 30+ years of field experience. Over 20,000 students have passed since 2016.

Walk Into the Exam Feeling Prepared

Confidence doesn’t come from studying more; it comes from knowing you studied the right things. You’ll be able to:

• Know where to start (and what to ignore)
• Spot weak areas before test day
• Review quickly without second-guessing yourself

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Step 4. Apply for Your FAA Part 107 License

After you complete the required exam or training, you must apply for your Remote Pilot Certificate through the FAA.

Here’s how:

• Before exam day: Create a free IACRA account at iacra.faa.gov to get your FAA Tracking Number (FTN). You must provide this to the testing center when you sit the exam, so do this before you book your appointment.
• After passing: Log in to IACRA, start a new Remote Pilot Certificate application, and submit FAA Form 8710-13 electronically via the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website. You’ll need your government-issued photo ID and the exam ID provided at the testing center. The submission takes about 15 minutes.
• Processing: Once your TSA security check clears, typically within a few business days, you’ll receive an email with instructions to print your temporary certificate from IACRA. Your permanent certificate arrives by mail within 6–10 weeks. Carry it, physical or digital, on every commercial flight.

For Part 61 certificate holders

Skip the proctored exam entirely. Complete the FAA ALC-451 online training course instead. Then apply through IACRA with your ALC-451 completion certificate and proof of a current flight review. A designated FAA representative can issue your temporary certificate at the time of application.

You can complete this by making an appointment with one of the following FAA-authorized representatives:

• At an FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
• With an FAA-designated pilot examiner (DPE)
• An airman certification representative (ACR)
• An FAA-certified flight instructor (CFI)*

Please note: * FAA-certified flight instructors (CFIs) cannot issue temporary certificates. They can process applications for applicants who do not require a temporary certificate.

Learn what certification you need for drone mapping in this video:

Once you earn your Part 107 license, you must continue to follow FAA operating rules to fly legally and safely.

Part 107 Operating Rules for Certified Pilots

Once certified, your Remote Pilot Certificate allows you to fly commercially under these standard Part 107 conditions.

Check out our Safe Drone Operations course to learn flying skills that will take you from a beginner to an expert drone pilot.

Core Operating Rules

Here are the core operating rules under Part 107:

• Fly at or below 400 feet AGL (above ground level)
• Maintain visual line of sight (VLOS) at all times without binoculars
• Fly only during daylight or civil twilight with appropriate anti-collision lighting
• Keep drone under 55 pounds (including payload)
• Fly at speeds under 100 mph
• Yield right of way to all manned aircraft
• Obtain LAANC authorization or ATC approval before flying in controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or E)
• Stay at least 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds
• Comply with FAA Remote ID requirements. Your drone must broadcast identification and location data during flight
• You cannot be a pilot or visual observer for more than one drone operation at a time.
• Do not fly a drone over people unless they are directly participating in the operation.
• Do not operate your drone from a moving aircraft.

Related Reading: Check out “Drone Laws in the USA” to get more information on the regulations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

NOTE: Recreational pilots must pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). This requirement does not apply to Part 107 operations.

TRUST Certificate | Source: Reclaimdrone.com

Beyond basic flight rules, there are a few operational considerations that can affect how and where you fly. Let’s understand these in the next section.

When You Need a Part 107 Waiver

You do not need a waiver to fly under standard Part 107 rules. A waiver is only required when you want to deviate from a specific regulation. Apply through the FAA Aviation Safety Hub. Here’s a list of every waivable regulation under §107.205 as of 2026.

Request a waiver for only what you need to fly your mission. Additionally, you can review the criteria to evaluate waiver applications: Part 107 Waiver – Section Specific Evaluation Information (PDF)

2. Airspace Authorizations

Operations in Class G airspace are allowed without air traffic control (ATC) permission. For Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E airspace, you need ATC authorization before flying.

The fastest way to get it is Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), a free tool available via apps like Aloft, AirHub, and DroneDeploy. LAANC covers 530+ FAA ATC facilities and 726+ airports nationwide and returns approvals in seconds.

Note: LAANC does not include contract or Department of Defense ATC facilities. For those locations, use FAADroneZone instead

3. FAADroneZone

The FAA uses an online portal called FAADroneZone for aircraft registration and for requesting waivers or airspace authorizations when LAANC is unavailable.

It helps in:

• Registering your drone- $5 per drone, required before your first flight and valid for 3 years.
• Airspace authorization for locations where LAANC is not available
• Waiver applications for operations that deviate from standard Part 107 rules

FAADroneZone Drone Registration

How to Renew Your Part 107 License?

Your Remote Pilot Certificate is valid for 24 months. After that, you must complete recurrent training to remain legally current for commercial operations.

Renewal Process (Updated 2021)

Step 1: Complete the free FAA Part 107 recurrent training course online at FAASafety.gov (no testing center visit required for most pilots).

Step 2: Save your completion certificate.

Step 3: Update your aeronautical knowledge recency in IACRA.

Note: Part 61 certificate holders renew via the ALC-515 course instead. If your certificate has lapsed for an extended period, you may need to retake the initial knowledge exam. Drone U also offers renewal prep resources for pilots who want a structured review.

What Can You Do with a Part 107 License?

According to Precedence Research, the Drone Service Industry will be $123.82 billion by 2034.

Businesses use drones because they save time and reduce costs. As a result, demand for certified drone pilots is skyrocketing.

You see drone work across many industries:

• Aerial Photography & Videography — real estate, events, film/TV
• Mapping & Surveying — land surveys, construction progress tracking
• Infrastructure Inspection — powerlines, cell towers, bridges, pipelines
• Agriculture — crop monitoring, precision spraying
• Search & Rescue / Public Safety — law enforcement, fire departments
• 3D Modeling & Digital Twin Creation
• Insurance Claims Assessment

To take part in these operations, you need the right certification. The Part 107 License gives you legal access to professional drone operations in the United States.

Check out this video to address any concerns and get clarification about the FAA Part 107 certification:

Related Resources

Disclaimer: Information in this guide reflects FAA regulations current as of June 2026. Drone regulations are subject to change. Always verify requirements directly with the FAA at faa.gov before flying commercially.

Ready to Pass Your Part 107 With Confidence?

Part 107 gets a lot easier when you stop guessing what to study. This training gives you a clear plan, so you can prepare faster and walk into the exam knowing you’re ready.

• Turn months of scattered studying into a few weeks of focused, structured prep
• Score 90% or higher on our quizzes, and you’ll know you’re ready for the real test
• Finally understand airspace, weather, and rules without memorizing blindly
• Know exactly what to study — and what you don’t need to stress about

See How the Course Works

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