# 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. - **Section:** Licences & certifications · **Region:** US · **Difficulty:** medium - **Time:** 2–4 weeks of study · 2-hour test · certificate within days to a few weeks - **Cost:** $175 test fee · $0 for the certificate - **You end up with:** A Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating, current for 24 months - **Last reviewed:** 2026-09-05 · **Canonical:** https://for.do/p/faa-part-107-drone-us/ ## Before you start - Be at least 16 years old, read/speak/understand English, and be physically and mentally able to fly safely - An IACRA account (iacra.faa.gov) with an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) — create it before booking the test 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. ## 1. 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. ## 2. 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). ## 3. 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. ## 4. 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. ## 5. 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. ## 6. 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. ## Where people get this wrong - Taking the free TRUST test and assuming you are covered. TRUST is for recreational flyers only; any flight that is for work, compensation, or a business needs Part 107. - Not completing the recurrent training. The certificate itself does not expire, but your privileges do 24 calendar months after your last test or recurrent course; the recurrent course is free and online. - Skipping sectional charts. Around a third of the questions are airspace and chart reading; people who study only rules fail on the map questions. - Flying over people or at night without the right conditions. Both are allowed under the 2021 rules only if the operation meets the category and lighting requirements; the test covers them. ## 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. ## Tools used - [FAA IACRA](https://find.do/t/faa-iacra/) (official) — The FAA's airman application system — Part 107 and pilot certificates start here. - [PSI (FAA knowledge tests)](https://find.do/t/psi-faa-testing/) — Books the FAA knowledge tests — Part 107 ($175) and the private pilot written. - [FAADroneZone](https://find.do/t/faa-dronezone/) (official) — Register drones under Part 107 and complete recurrent training. ## Sources - [Drone U — Part 107 licence guide (2026)](https://www.thedroneu.com/blog/part-107-license-guide/) - [OpenExamPrep — FAA Part 107 study guide 2026](https://open-exam-prep.com/study-guides/faa-part-107) - [FAA — Become a certificated remote pilot (official)](https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot)