Guide to renewing your Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

To renew Part 107 in 2026, you complete the FAA’s free online recurrent training course, ALC-677, on FAASafety.gov at least once every 24 calendar months. That’s it. There’s no testing center, no fee and no new exam to schedule.

This guide replaces our old 2020 walkthrough, which covered a temporary pandemic-era rule that no longer applies. Below you’ll find exactly when your deadline falls, how to take the course step by step, what to carry in the field, and what to do if your currency has already lapsed.

One quick note on wording. Pilots say “renew,” but the FAA calls it recurrent training, and what you’re keeping current is your aeronautical knowledge recency under 14 CFR 107.65. Your plastic Remote Pilot Certificate doesn’t change. Don’t have a certificate yet? Start with our Part 107 certification course, then come back here in two years.

When Do You Need to Renew Part 107? (The 24-Calendar-Month Rule)

Under 14 CFR 107.65, you can’t act as remote pilot in command unless you’ve done one of these within the previous 24 calendar months:

• Passed the initial aeronautical knowledge test
• Completed Part 107 recurrent training
• Completed the Part 107 training for Part 61 pilots with a current flight review

“Calendar months” is the part people miss. The clock runs to the last day of the month, 24 months later, not to the exact date. The FAA’s advisory circular (AC 107-2A) uses this example: pass the test on September 13, 2020, and recurrent training is due no later than September 30, 2022.

Find your deadline to renew Part 107

Take the month you last passed the test or finished recurrent training, add two years, then go to the end of that month:

You can also finish early. However, early completion starts a new 24-month clock from the month you finish. In the FAA’s example, a pilot who completes recurrent training on July 15, 2020 has a new deadline of July 31, 2022. So there’s no bonus for finishing months ahead—just less stress.

How to Renew Part 107 Online: ALC-677 Step by Step

The FAA’s “Become a Drone Pilot” page lists the course plainly: anyone who holds a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, regardless of aeronautical knowledge recency, can complete Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent (ALC-677) online at no cost. Here’s how it works.

1. Log in to FAASafety.gov. This is the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) site, not IACRA. If you’ve never used it, you’ll need to create a separate account.
2. Find ALC-677. Search the course catalog for “ALC-677: Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent.” Pick this one unless you also hold a current Part 61 pilot certificate (see the next section).
3. Work through every chapter. The course has an introduction, three numbered chapters and a review. According to the course page, the training takes about two hours, and the exam button stays locked until you’ve viewed all of it.
4. Take the exam in one sitting. It’s a multiple-choice knowledge check. If you don’t finish within 90 minutes, you’ll have to retake the whole exam.
5. Print your completion certificate. FAASafety.gov records the training credit automatically. Even so, the course page tells you to print the completion certificate and keep it as proof of recency.

That’s the whole process to renew Part 107. In our experience, the pilots who struggle aren’t confused by the steps. They simply wait until the last week of the month, then find out the exam takes longer than they planned.

Pro tip: treat the review chapter like real study, not a click-through. Airspace and sectional charts are where most pilots get rusty. If that’s you, our free Part 107 practice test and our guide to airspace classes are a fast way to warm up.

ALC-677 vs ALC-515: Which Recurrent Course Is Yours?

The FAA offers two free recurrent courses. Pick based on what other certificates you hold:

Most drone pilots take ALC-677. Also note that some employers name it directly. For example, Wing’s drone delivery postings say that if recurrent training applies, they only accept ALC-677. So if you’re chasing a delivery job, check the posting before you pick a course.

Proving You’re Current: What to Carry and What to Record

Recurrent training only counts if you can show it. When you fly under Part 107, keep these with you:

• Your Remote Pilot Certificate and a photo ID. Under 14 CFR 107.7, both must be in your physical possession and readily accessible when you’re exercising your certificate privileges.
• Your ALC-677 completion certificate. Paper or a saved PDF on your phone. It’s your proof of recency.
• Your drone registration. Part 107 registration costs $5 per drone and lasts three years, so its renewal date won’t line up with your recurrent training.

The FAA can ask you to present your certificate and ID, and federal, state or local law enforcement can ask too. Meanwhile, clients and employers often ask for proof that you’re current before they hire you.

We also recommend a simple record, even though it isn’t a separate FAA form. Track your last recurrent date, your next deadline, and your registration expiration dates in one place. A calendar reminder 60 days out is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy.

What If Your Part 107 Currency Lapsed?

First, don’t panic. Your certificate is still valid. What lapsed is your recency, and the fix is the same free course.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• Stop flying as remote PIC under Part 107. No paid jobs and no commercial flights until you complete recurrent training.
• Take ALC-677. The FAA says it’s open to Part 107 certificate holders regardless of currency. You don’t need to go back to a testing center.
• Fly under supervision if you must. According to AC 107-2A, a remote pilot who hasn’t met the recurrent training requirement can still manipulate the controls under Part 107, but only under the direct supervision of a current remote PIC who can take immediate control.
• Recreational flying follows different rules. If you want to fly for fun while you catch up, follow the recreational rules, including the TRUST test. Never use them for paid work.

The AC 107-2A example spells out the gap. A pilot due September 30 who finishes recurrent training on October 5 can’t use the certificate from October 1 through October 5. So if your deadline is close, finish the course before you book your next job. If you’re out of practice overall, a refresher through our Part 107 course (lifetime access means you can come back anytime) makes the recurrent exam far less stressful.

Does the October 26, 2026 test change affect recurrent training?

The FAA’s chart-image change starting October 26, 2026 applies to the initial knowledge test (the UAG exam) taken at a testing center. ALC-677 is a separate online course. That said, the same chart-reading skills show up in recurrent training, so it’s worth brushing up. Our post on the Part 107 test changes explains what’s new.

After You Renew Part 107: Level Up With Advanced Training

Recurrent training keeps you legal. It doesn’t make you better at the work clients pay for. Two hours every two years is the floor, not the goal.

So once you’re current, use the momentum. Here’s where we’d point most pilots:

• Mapping and modeling: our mapping and modeling bundle covers the workflows construction and survey clients rely on.
• Thermal work: Intro to Drone Thermography is the starting point for inspections, solar and public safety.
• Inspections: the inspections bundle walks through roof, tower and infrastructure jobs.

Want everything? A Drone U membership is $97/month and includes all of our courses, monthly coaching calls and the members-only Work & Opportunity section for job leads.

Managing recurrent training for a team? Our enterprise drone programs help organizations keep pilots current and proficient, including hands-on Flight Mastery training. Drone U also offers continuing education credits for organizations. Book a consultation to set it up.

FAQ: How to Renew Part 107

How much does it cost to renew Part 107?

Nothing. The FAA lists both recurrent courses, ALC-677 and ALC-515, as no cost.

How long does Part 107 recurrent training take?

The ALC-677 course page estimates about two hours for the training. Then you have 90 minutes to finish the exam in a single session.

Does my Part 107 certificate expire?

The certificate itself doesn’t. Your aeronautical knowledge recency does, every 24 calendar months. Without current recency, you can’t act as remote PIC under Part 107.

Can I renew Part 107 early?

Yes. You can take ALC-677 anytime. Just remember that your next deadline is then based on the month you finished.

Do I have to retake the test at a testing center?

No. Recurrent training is online through FAASafety.gov, even if your currency has lapsed.

Stay Current, Then Keep Learning

Renewing your Part 107 is the easy part: a free course, about two hours, every 24 calendar months. Put the deadline on your calendar, print the certificate, and keep flying.

New to all this, or need a full refresher? Our Part 107 course is $147 (regularly $197) with lifetime access, FAA-aligned quizzes, a downloadable study guide and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Drone U has 10+ years of in-person drone training and 14+ years of online drone education behind it.

We don’t teach hype. We teach what works—because we fly it ourselves.

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