Do I need a medical certificate?

No. Part 107 has no medical certificate requirement; you self-certify that you are fit to fly.

It is a knowledge test with a published study guide and free sample questions. Most candidates who study 15–20 hours pass; the failure rate concentrates in airspace and weather.

What about drones under 250 g?

The weight only affects registration for recreational flyers. Any commercial flight needs Part 107 regardless of the drone's weight.

Get an FAA Part 107 drone pilot certificate

Book the $175 Unmanned Aircraft General knowledge test at a PSI centre, pass 42 of 60, file FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA, and fly commercially in the US.

Time: 2–4 weeks of study · 2-hour test · certificate within days to a few weeks
Cost: $175 test fee · $0 for the certificate
Reviewed: 5 Sept 2026; 6 steps · 16 checks

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Part 107 is the rulebook for flying small drones (under 55 lb) for anything other than pure recreation in the United States, and the Remote Pilot Certificate is the licence that goes with it. There is no flight test and no medical: a two-hour knowledge exam at a testing centre is the whole gate.

Set up your FAA identity

Create an account at iacra.faa.gov. It issues your FAA Tracking Number (FTN).
Keep the FTN handy — PSI asks for it when you book, and the IACRA application needs it after the test.

Study the knowledge areas

The test draws on regulations, airspace and sectional charts, weather, loading and performance, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio procedures, physiology, airport operations and maintenance.

Work through the FAA's free study material (the Remote Pilot Study Guide and the Airman Certification Standards) or a structured course.
Spend real time on sectional charts: airspace classes, the legend, latitude/longitude, and reading METAR/TAF weather.
Take timed practice tests until you are consistently above 80%. The pass mark is 70% (42 of 60).

Book the test at a PSI centre

Book the "Unmanned Aircraft General — Small (UAG)" test through PSI's FAA testing site.
Pay the $175 fee; choose a centre with early availability, since the certificate cannot be filed until you pass.
Bring government photo ID and your FTN.

Pass the test

60 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes; you may use the supplied testing supplement (charts and figures).
Flag and skip hard items; unanswered questions count wrong, so answer everything before time runs out.
You receive an Airman Knowledge Test Report at the centre. The report is valid for 24 months for the application.

File Form 8710-13 in IACRA

Log in to IACRA, start a Part 107 application, and enter the 17-digit test ID from your report.
Complete the TSA security vetting step (automatic, but it can take days).
Print your temporary certificate from IACRA once it appears; the permanent card follows by mail.

Register the drone and stay current

Register each drone over 250 g on FAADroneZone ($5, three years) under Part 107 and label it with the registration number.
Set a reminder: complete the free online recurrent training before 24 calendar months pass, or your privileges lapse.

Questions

Do I need a medical certificate?: No. Part 107 has no medical certificate requirement; you self-certify that you are fit to fly.
Is the test hard?: It is a knowledge test with a published study guide and free sample questions. Most candidates who study 15–20 hours pass; the failure rate concentrates in airspace and weather.
What about drones under 250 g?: The weight only affects registration for recreational flyers. Any commercial flight needs Part 107 regardless of the drone's weight.

Sources

The numbers above come from these pages. If a fee or date here disagrees with the source, the source wins.

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Get a DGCA drone Remote Pilot Certificate in India

A DGCA Remote Pilot Certificate for the small (and optionally medium) class, valid 10 years

5–10 days of training · ₹50,000–₹1,00,000 for training · 6 steps

Licences & certifications · US

Get a private pilot licence (US, airplane)

An FAA Private Pilot Certificate (airplane single-engine land), no expiry, with a flight review every 24 months

6–12 months at 2 lessons a week · $12,000–$20,000 all-in in 2026 · 7 steps

1Set up your FAA identity

2Study the knowledge areas

3Book the test at a PSI centre

4Pass the test

5File Form 8710-13 in IACRA

6Register the drone and stay current