Study for the Part 107 Exam

The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is the single most important credential in the commercial drone industry. Without it, you cannot legally fly a drone for any commercial purpose — not real estate photography, not roof inspections, not mapping, not anything where money is involved. With it, you are licensed to operate in a market projected to reach $54 billion by 2030.

The good news: this test is very passable. About 90% of people who study pass on their first attempt. You can take it at age 16 with no prerequisites. No flight hours required. No instructor sign-off. Just you, a testing center, and 60 multiple-choice questions.

Here is exactly how to prepare, what to study, and how to pass it.

What Part 107 Is and Why It Matters

Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations establishes the rules for commercial small UAS operations in the United States. Your Remote Pilot Certificate proves you understand airspace, weather, regulations, and safety well enough to operate a drone commercially. It is your legal authorization and your professional credential.

Without Part 107, you face fines up to $32,666 per violation. With it, you can charge clients, bid on contracts, work for drone service companies, or start your own operation. Every employer in the industry either requires it or expects it. There is no workaround and no shortcut.

Who Can Take It

• You must be at least 16 years old
• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
• You must be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone
• You must pass the TSA security background check (automatically initiated when you apply)

That is it. No prior certificates, no flight hours, no degree. If you are 14 or 15 right now, use this time to study so you can pass the test shortly after your 16th birthday.

What the Test Covers

The Airman Knowledge Test for Remote Pilot (test code UAG) has 60 multiple-choice questions. You need 70% (42 correct) to pass, and you have 2 hours. The questions come from these knowledge areas:

Airspace Classification and Requirements — This is the biggest topic on the test and the one that trips up the most people. You need to know the characteristics of Class B, C, D, E, and G airspace. You need to know which airspace you can fly in without authorization, which requires LAANC or a waiver, and which is prohibited. You will need to read sectional aeronautical charts — actual FAA maps with symbols for airports, airspace boundaries, obstacles, and restricted areas. Practice reading these until the symbols are second nature.

Weather Theory — You need to understand how weather affects drone operations: wind, visibility, cloud ceilings, turbulence, microbursts, density altitude, and temperature effects on battery performance. You must be able to read METARs (current weather observations) and TAFs (terminal aerodyne forecasts). These are coded weather reports used by all pilots. Example: METAR KORD 021856Z 32015G25KT 10SM FEW040 SCT250 M02/M15 A3032 — you need to decode that into plain English.

Loading and Performance — How weight, balance, and environmental conditions affect your drone’s performance. Density altitude (the combination of temperature, humidity, and elevation) directly impacts how much lift your propellers generate. Hot, humid, high-altitude days reduce performance dramatically.

Airport Operations — How airports work, traffic patterns, runway numbering, right-of-way rules, and how to safely operate near an airport with authorization.

Crew Resource Management — Communication, decision-making, workload management, and how to safely operate with a visual observer.

Radio Communications — Basics of aviation radio communication, common frequencies, and how ATC communicates with aircraft in your operating area.

Emergency Procedures — What to do when things go wrong: lost link, flyaway, equipment failure, battery emergencies, and reporting requirements. You must report any accident involving serious injury, loss of consciousness, or property damage exceeding $500 to the FAA within 10 days.

Part 107 Regulations — The specific rules: max altitude 400 feet AGL, visual line of sight required, no flying over non-participating people without a waiver, no night operations without anti-collision lighting, no flights from moving vehicles (with exceptions), yield right-of-way to manned aircraft, and drone registration requirements.

Free Study Resources

You can pass this test without spending a dollar beyond the exam fee. These free resources are excellent:

FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22) — The official study guide, free as a PDF from the FAA website. This is the source material the test questions are drawn from. Dense but comprehensive. Read it cover to cover at least once.

FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) Courses — Free online courses at faasafety.gov covering Part 107 topics. The “Part 107 Small UAS” course is directly relevant.

AOPA Free Part 107 Test Prep — The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association offers a free, interactive online prep course. It covers all test topics with quizzes and explanations. This is one of the best free resources available.

AOPA High School Aviation STEM Curriculum — UAS Pathway — If you are in high school, this free curriculum is specifically designed to prepare students for Part 107. It is aligned to the test objectives and is being used in schools across the country. Ask your school if they offer it, or access the materials through AOPA’s education portal.

FAA Practice Tests — The FAA publishes sample questions. Take every practice test you can find. The real test draws from the same question bank.

YouTube — Channels like Pilot Institute, Tony Northrup, and 51 Drones offer free Part 107 study content. Do not rely on YouTube alone, but it is great for topics you find confusing.

Paid Courses Worth Considering

If you prefer structured instruction or want to maximize your score, these paid options have strong track records:

Pilot Institute Part 107 Course (~$150) — Video-based, self-paced, with practice tests and a pass guarantee. Frequently goes on sale. Widely considered the best value in paid prep courses.

DARTdrones Part 107 Test Prep (~$300) — Offers both online and in-person options. Good if you want hands-on instruction.

Drone Launch Academy (~$200) — Another solid online course with lifetime access and updates.

None of these are required. The free resources are sufficient if you put in the time.

The Study Plan

Most people need 15 to 30 hours of study time to pass comfortably. Here is a realistic 3-week plan:

Week 1: Learn the material. Read the FAA study guide or work through the AOPA course. Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing answers. Spend extra time on airspace classification and sectional chart reading — this is where most of the test questions come from.

Week 2: Deep dive on weak areas. Take a practice test to identify where you are struggling. Most students struggle with:

• Reading sectional charts (the symbols, airspace boundaries, and airport information)
• Decoding METARs and TAFs
• Understanding airspace classes and their requirements
• Density altitude calculations

Spend this week drilling these topics until they click.

Week 3: Practice tests. Take as many practice tests as you can find. Aim for 85%+ consistently before scheduling your real test. When you get a question wrong, understand why — do not just memorize the correct answer.

Test Day: Registration, Scheduling, and What to Expect

Register on IACRA. Go to iacra.faa.gov and create an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). You need this to schedule your test.

Schedule at a PSI testing center. The test is administered by PSI (formerly through CATS and LaserGrade). Find a location at psiexams.com. Testing centers are scattered across the country — there is likely one within an hour of you. Schedule at least a week out.

Cost: $175. Paid at registration. Non-refundable if you no-show. If you fail, you can retake after 14 days (and another $175).

Bring two forms of ID, at least one with a photo (driver’s license, passport, school ID). Arrive 30 minutes early.

The test environment. You sit at a computer in a proctored room. 60 questions, 2 hours. You are given a supplement booklet with sectional chart excerpts, METAR examples, and figures referenced in questions. No phone, no notes, no calculator (one is provided on screen if needed).

Results are immediate. You will know if you passed before you leave the testing center. Your score report shows which knowledge areas you need to review.

After You Pass

Apply on IACRA. Log back in and complete your Remote Pilot Certificate application. The TSA background check takes 48-72 hours but can take longer.

Register on FAA DroneZone. Go to faadronezone.faa.gov to register your drone(s). Commercial drones must be registered regardless of weight. Cost is $5 per drone for 3 years.

Your temporary certificate arrives via email within a couple of weeks. Your permanent plastic card follows by mail.

The recurrent test. Your certificate must be renewed every 24 months. The recurrent knowledge test is free and taken online at faasafety.gov. It is shorter and easier than the initial test. Set a calendar reminder so you never let it lapse.

This Is Your Entry Ticket

Part 107 is the minimum requirement, not the finish line. But it is the credential that opens every door in the commercial drone industry. Clients require it. Employers require it. Insurance companies require it. Without it, you are grounded.

With it, and the flying skills you have been building, you are ready to start building a portfolio of real work.