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In this article we talk about what exactly is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 test and who’s legally required to get a drone license.
The Part 107 test is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) official exam for certifying commercial drone pilots in the United States so they can become licensed. This multiple-choice test evaluates a pilot’s knowledge of airspace regulations, weather patterns, flight operations, and safety procedures. Passing the exam grants you a Remote Pilot Certificate, which is required for anyone looking to legally fly drones for business purposes, including aerial photography, inspections, mapping, and more.
Unlike a recreational drone pilot who flies just for fun, commercial operators must follow stricter rules to ensure safe integration into national airspace. The Part 107 test ensures pilots understand their responsibilities, such as maintaining line-of-sight, avoiding manned aircraft, and knowing when airspace authorization is required. By passing the test, drone pilots prove they have the skills and knowledge to operate safely and legally.
It is about as difficult as the written exam for a drivers license test, but the topics are obviously different. The Part 107 test is made of 60 multiple choice questions covering a wide range of topics. You need to score at least a 70% to pass the test and you’re allowed to take the test as many times as you need. Each time you take the Part 107 test, it costs around $175. You can schedule to take the test any day Monday-Saturday at an approved testing center. The test is not open notes, outside of a booklet you are provided by the testing center. The booklet simply contains figures that you will refer to in order to answer some test questions but the booklet will be of minimal help in answering questions on the test.
The test questions are not “common sense” questions, so we recommend you study if you want to pass. However, the test is not overly difficult and 3 weeks of studying should be enough to pass.
If you, or your employer, directly or indirectly get paid to fly the drone. Not everyone who flies a drone needs a Part 107 license. Here's a breakdown to help you determine if you need this certification:
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You need a Part 107 license if you plan to fly your drone for any commercial purpose. That means that your employer is getting paid to fly the drone or you are getting paid to fly the drone as part of the job. This includes, but is not limited to:
If you, or your employer, don't get paid for flying the drone in any shape or form.
Even if you aren’t legally required to get a Part 107 license, you still need to follow FAA guidelines. Some of these are:
You will be fined at a minimum. Law enforcement officers can request proof flying a drone commercially without a Part 107 license is a violation of FAA regulations and can result in serious consequences. Here's what you could face:
It's important to remember that these are just potential consequences. The severity of the penalty will depend on the specific circumstances of your violation. However, it's clear that flying commercially without a Part 107 license is a serious offense with potentially significant repercussions.
There are several ways you could get caught flying without a drone license:
Find practice resources. You have a few options. There are online courses costing $150 or more, but you can also take practice tests. We believe practice tests are the better choice over spending hours on video lectures. Why? Because they let you learn gradually, one question at a time. In contrast, a 10-hour lecture dumps too much information at once, overwhelming your brain and making it hard to retain anything. Plus, many practice tests mimic the actual exam experience. The real test isn’t about watching videos—it’s about answering questions correctly under test conditions.
