FAA Part 107 Drone Course (Licensing Guide)
To earn the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate for small drones, you must be at least 16, meet the FAA’s English and safety requirements, pass a 60-question knowledge test, and apply through IACRA. A prep course can help you study, but it is optional and does not grant the certificate. You must also complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
I often see working adults compare a short drone course with a degree or a broad certification. For this goal, the choice is narrower: the FAA does not require a college program. What matters is learning the test subjects, passing the FAA-authorized exam, and completing the application steps.
A useful way to avoid wasted time and money is to separate three things: the FAA certificate, a course that helps you prepare, and a college course that may award academic credit. They can overlap, but they are not the same. Here is how to choose a path and follow it.
Part 107 admissions and certificate application
This is a professional credential, not a degree program. There is no college-degree or GPA requirement, and prior flight experience is not required. You must meet FAA eligibility rules, pass the initial knowledge test, and complete the application process. The FAA issues the certificate after required security vetting.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be at least 16 years old and able to read, speak, write, and understand English. The FAA also requires that you be able to safely operate a small unmanned aircraft. The Transportation Security Administration conducts security vetting as part of the process.
The credential is called a Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating. “UAS” means unmanned aircraft system: the drone and the equipment used to operate it. People often call it a Part 107 license, but the FAA issues a certificate.
What is the application sequence?
Follow these steps in order:
- Create an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Set up an account in the FAA’s Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system, known as IACRA, and obtain your FTN.
- Schedule the UAG test. Register for the Unmanned Aircraft General—Small (UAG) knowledge test through an FAA-approved testing provider. The test is taken at an approved testing center.
- Prepare and take the test. Bring the identification required by the test provider. Check its current instructions when you book.
- Apply in IACRA after passing. Use your test information to submit the Remote Pilot Certificate application.
- Watch for updates. The FAA processes the application and required security vetting before issuing the certificate. Follow any instructions sent through IACRA or by the FAA.
A prep course cannot replace these steps. A provider’s certificate of course completion is not the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate.
Course curriculum and exam requirements
The initial test checks whether you can make safe, lawful flight decisions, not just recall terms. It has 60 questions, a two-hour time limit, and a passing score of 70 percent, or 42 correct answers. Study the FAA knowledge areas and use practice questions to find gaps before test day.
What does the UAG test cover?
The FAA’s Remote Pilot study guide outlines the knowledge areas. These include regulations, airspace, weather, loading and performance, and safe operating practices. “Airspace” means the areas of sky where different rules and permissions may apply. “Loading and performance” concerns how a drone’s weight and setup can affect its flight.
A structured course should help you connect rules to decisions. For example, studying airspace should prepare you to identify when an operation needs authorization, not only to memorize airspace names. Weather study should help you recognize conditions that could affect a safe flight.
Use the FAA study guide as a reference, even if you enroll in a commercial course. Compare the course outline with FAA test subjects and look for lessons, practice questions, and explanations that address each area.
What does “recurrent training” mean?
Recurrent training is FAA online training that keeps your aeronautical knowledge current. Remote pilots must complete the training for the applicable small-UAS knowledge areas within each 24-calendar-month period. It is a maintenance requirement after certification, not a substitute for the initial UAG test.
Keep a record of when you complete the training and check the FAA’s current instructions for the correct course. Also review the rules that apply to each planned flight. A certificate does not give blanket permission to fly in every location or situation.
Choosing a course and preparing efficiently
A prep course is optional. Its value depends on whether its teaching style, practice tools, schedule, and price fit your needs. The FAA sets the certificate standard; it does not require a college course or institutional accreditation to qualify for Part 107.
Compare training paths
| Preparation path | May fit you if… | Check before you choose |
|---|---|---|
| FAA study materials and self-study | You can set a study schedule and learn well from written guides | Make a plan for all knowledge areas; add practice questions |
| Online prep course | You want lessons you can fit around work | Confirm what is included, how long access lasts, refund terms, and whether the exam fee is separate |
| Instructor-led course | You prefer live teaching and time to ask questions | Check the teaching schedule, total cost, and whether the class prepares you for the UAG test |
| College course | You also want academic credit for a larger program | Get written confirmation of credits, transferability, total cost, and financial-aid eligibility |
A commercial course may use phrases such as “FAA approved” or “FAA accredited.” Ask what those words mean in that provider’s offer. Do not assume they mean the course replaces the FAA test or leads directly to certificate issuance.
If a school promises college credit, check the institution’s accreditation and ask the school that may receive the credit to confirm in writing that it will count toward your intended program. Credit acceptance can depend on the receiving school and program.
A practical study sequence
Start by reviewing the FAA study guide and marking subjects you do not know. Then choose self-study or a course based on those gaps and the amount of structure you need.
- Study by knowledge area. Work through regulations, airspace, weather, loading and performance, and operations.
- Use practice tests as a diagnosis. Review every missed answer and note the rule or idea behind it.
- Practice under time limits. The official test allows two hours for 60 questions. Timed practice can help you see whether you need to improve your pace.
- Book when your results are steady. There is no required practice-test score, so use your own results to identify weak areas rather than relying on a course’s pass-rate claims.
- Confirm costs. Test and course fees can change. Check current provider pricing, any added charges, and refund terms before you pay.
Cost and provider checks
There is no single required course price because a prep course is optional and providers set their own prices. The knowledge test also has a fee that may change. Check the current amount with the testing provider and include it in your budget.
Before enrolling, ask what you will receive, whether test fees are included, how long course access lasts, and what happens if you withdraw. Do not choose by sticker price or advertised pass rate alone. Look at the full cost and whether the instruction covers the FAA knowledge areas.
Career uses, operating limits, and credential upkeep
The certificate can support work that involves small-drone operations, but it does not guarantee a job or authorize every flight. Employers may also value practical skills, safe planning, and experience relevant to their work. Before each mission, check the rules, airspace, and permissions that apply.
How can the credential be used?
Part 107 is relevant to people whose work involves operating small drones, such as aerial imaging, inspection, mapping, or other commercial tasks. The skills needed vary by job. A pilot who plans flights near controlled airspace, for example, must understand how to check requirements and obtain any needed authorization.
A useful way to build work evidence is to keep a portfolio of compliant projects. It could include flight plans, safety procedures, sample deliverables, and notes on how you checked airspace and operating requirements. Do not include flights that you were not authorized to conduct.
Scenario: choosing training for a work goal
Consider a working adult whose employer wants them to help with aerial site images. If the goal is only to qualify for Part 107, a degree program may add cost and time without being required by the FAA. Self-study or a focused prep course may be more direct, depending on the learner’s needs.
If the same person also needs college credit for a separate program, a credit-bearing course may be worth reviewing. They should first ask the college, in writing, whether the credits count and verify the full cost. In either case, they still need to pass the UAG test and complete the FAA application.
Keep the certificate current
Complete the applicable FAA recurrent training within each 24-calendar-month period. Before every operation, check current FAA rules and the requirements for that location and mission. Depending on the flight, you may need airspace authorization or to meet other operating conditions.
Next step: Decide whether you need the FAA credential alone or academic credit as well. Then compare preparation options, verify all costs, and use the FAA study guide to map your study plan.
Frequently asked questions
These answers focus on the steps people most often need to confirm before training or applying. The FAA’s current rules and instructions are the final source for eligibility, testing, applications, and recurrent training, so check them again when you are ready to act.
Does a Part 107 prep course give me a drone pilot certificate?
No. A prep course helps you study. You must pass the FAA-authorized UAG test and complete the FAA application process to receive the Remote Pilot Certificate.
Is a college degree required for Part 107?
No. The FAA does not require a college degree, GPA, or prior flight experience for this certificate.
How old do I have to be to take the test?
You must be at least 16 to qualify for the Remote Pilot Certificate. Applicants must also meet the FAA’s English and safe-operation requirements.
How many questions are on the UAG test?
The initial UAG knowledge test has 60 questions. You have two hours, and you need a score of at least 70 percent, or 42 correct answers, to pass.
Where do I take the initial test?
You schedule the test through an FAA-approved testing provider and take it at an approved testing center. Check the provider’s current booking and identification instructions.
When do I apply in IACRA?
Apply after passing the UAG test. You need an FAA Tracking Number for the process, which you obtain through IACRA.
Does the FAA accredit Part 107 prep courses?
A commercial course does not replace FAA testing or certificate issuance. Ask the provider to explain any approval or accreditation claim and confirm exactly what the course includes.
How often must I complete recurrent training?
Complete the applicable FAA online recurrent training within each 24-calendar-month period to maintain aeronautical knowledge recency.
Can I fly anywhere after I receive the certificate?
No. The certificate does not remove airspace or operating limits. Check the requirements for each location and mission, including whether authorization is needed.
Will a Part 107 certificate guarantee a drone job?
No. It is a credential for remote-pilot operations, not a job guarantee. Employers may also look for relevant experience, technical skills, and evidence of safe work.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Richard Thornton. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
