APEX UAV
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Become a drone pilot

Want to fly drones professionally?

To get paid for drone work anywhere in the US, you need an FAA Remote Pilot certificate, called "Part 107." Here's the whole process in plain English: what it takes, what it costs, where to take the test, and the websites you'll use the rest of your flying career.

Get the study guideSee the stepsTest day
16+Minimum age. Read, write and speak English.
~$175FAA test fee, paid to PSI when you book
60 / 2 hrsGraded questions on the test (plus a few ungraded trial questions) and the time limit
70%Score to pass (42 of the 60 graded)
30+ hrsStudy time we recommend before you test
$5Drone registration, good for 3 years
FreeOnline recurrent training every 24 months

From zero to legal commercial pilot

Most people go from start to temporary certificate in 4 to 6 weeks: about 3 weeks of study (plan on at least 30 hours), the test, and about a week or two of FAA paperwork.

  1. Make sure you qualify

    You must be at least 16, able to read, speak, write and understand English, and in good enough physical and mental shape to fly safely. No pilot's license or medical certificate is needed.

  2. Get your FAA Tracking Number (FTN) in IACRA

    Create a free profile at IACRA, the FAA's application site. It gives you an FTN, which you need to book the test. Use your name exactly as it appears on your ID.

  3. Study

    The test covers regulations, airspace, reading sectional charts, weather (including decoding METAR and TAF reports), loading and performance, airport operations, radio procedures, emergencies, decision-making, physiology and maintenance.

    Give yourself at least 30 hours of study before test day. For most people that's about 3 weeks at 1.5 to 2 hours a day. Don't book until you're scoring well above 70% on full practice tests.

    Apex Part 107 Training has the study guide, and the Pro Bundle adds three timed practice tests with every answer explained, flashcards and a sectional chart walkthrough, unlocked the moment you pay. See the training.

  4. Book the test at an FAA testing center near you

    The test is called "Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)." It's taken in person at an FAA-approved testing center run by PSI, the FAA's testing company. There are hundreds across the country, often at local airports and flight schools.

    Opens a map of FAA testing centers near you. Confirm the center and time on the PSI site when you book.

    About $175, paid to PSI. Check the current price when you book.

  5. Pass the test

    60 graded multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, plus a few ungraded trial questions. You need 70% of the 60 graded questions (42) to pass. You get your score report at the testing center. Keep it: it has your 17-digit Exam ID. If you don't pass, you can retake it after 14 days. What to expect on test day.

  6. Apply for your certificate in IACRA (Form 8710-13)

    About 48 hours after the test, log into IACRA, choose Start New Application › Pilot › Remote Pilot › Other Path Information, enter your 17-digit Exam ID, then sign and submit.

  7. TSA security check, then your temporary certificate

    The TSA runs a background check (usually about a week or two). When it clears, the FAA emails you, and you print your temporary Remote Pilot certificate from IACRA. You can fly commercially with it right away. It's good for 120 days, and the plastic card with your permanent number comes in the mail before then.

  8. Register your drone and set up Remote ID

    Register every drone you fly commercially at FAADroneZone under Part 107 ($5 per drone, good for 3 years) and put the registration number on the outside of the drone. Your drone must broadcast Remote ID: most newer drones have it built in, older ones need an add-on broadcast module.

  9. Get insured

    The FAA doesn't require insurance, but almost every client does, and so does Apex. Plan on drone liability coverage of at least $1,000,000. Apps like SkyWatch sell it by the month or year.

  10. Check before every flight

    • Airspace: near most airports you need authorization. Get it in seconds through a LAANC app, or apply in FAADroneZone.
    • Restrictions: check TFRs and NOTAMs for the place and day (stadiums, VIP visits, wildfires, rocket launches).
    • Weather: 3 miles visibility, stay 500 ft below and 2,000 ft away from clouds, and watch the wind.
    • The drone: props, batteries, firmware, and a quick pre-flight inspection. Keep a flight log.

  11. Stay current: free training every 24 months

    Your certificate doesn't expire, but to keep flying you must take the free online recurrent course ALC-677 on FAASafety.gov every 24 calendar months (Part 61 pilots with a current flight review take ALC-515 instead). Carry your certificate (or a digital copy) and proof of the course when you fly.

  12. Start getting paid

    Set up your business (an LLC, a business license where you live, and a separate bank account are a good start), check your state and local drone laws, and build a portfolio. Then apply to fly for Apex UAV: we send cleared pilots paid jobs in the areas they cover, nationwide.

Already a licensed pilot (Part 61)?

If you hold a pilot certificate and have had a flight review in the last 24 months, you can skip the test. Take the free online course ALC-451, fill out Form 8710-13 in IACRA, and meet with an FSDO, designated examiner, ACR or CFI to verify your identity.

No surprises

Test day: what to expect

The Part 107 test is taken in person at an FAA-approved testing center run by PSI. Here's how the day goes, so nothing catches you off guard. Rules can vary a little by center, so read your PSI confirmation email too.

The week before

  • Put in at least 30 hours of study, and score well above 70% on full practice tests before your date.
  • Find your PSI confirmation email: center address, date, time and reporting instructions.
  • Make sure the name in IACRA (your FTN) matches your ID exactly.
  • Plan the drive and parking. If you have to move your appointment, do it on the PSI site as early as you can.

What to bring

  • A current photo ID showing your photo, date of birth, signature and home address: a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID or alien residency card.
  • Proof of address if your ID doesn't show your current home address (for example a lease, utility bill, mortgage, insurance or vehicle registration statement). P.O. boxes don't count.
  • Your failed test report if this is a retake.
  • Optional: your own basic four-function calculator, if you'd rather not use theirs.

What the center gives you

  • Scratch paper and a pencil (or a dry-erase board).
  • The FAA testing supplement: the booklet of charts and figures the questions refer to.
  • A basic calculator at most centers. A calculator with memory can be refused by the proctor.
  • A computer station in a quiet, proctored room.

What you can't bring in

  • No phones in the testing room. Turn it off and leave it in your car or the locker the center gives you.
  • No smartwatches, fitness bands, headphones, bags, notes, books or study materials.
  • No calculators with stored programs or memory that can't be cleared.
  • Testing rooms are usually video-monitored, and the proctor's word is final.

Checking in

  • Arrive about 30 minutes early unless your confirmation says otherwise. Show up late and you can be turned away and lose your fee.
  • The proctor checks your ID and signs you in, then walks you to your station.
  • Use the restroom first. Your 2 hours keep running if you step out.

During the test

  • A short tutorial on the software comes first, before your clock starts.
  • 60 graded multiple-choice questions, 3 choices each, in 2 hours. The FAA can also mix in a few unscored trial questions it's testing, so you can't tell which ones they are.
  • You need 70% of the 60 graded questions (42 right) to pass. Pace yourself for every question on your screen: that's under 2 minutes each.
  • You can flag questions and come back to them. Wrong answers don't count against you, so answer every question.
  • Answer every question like it counts. Since you can't tell which ones are ungraded, every question deserves your best answer.
  • New from October 26, 2026: some chart questions show the chart image right on the screen instead of in the booklet, and the FAA says you'll have the tools you need for any question that needs measuring. The booklet is still provided for now.

Right after

  • You get your printed score report (the Airman Knowledge Test Report) before you leave. Keep it safe.
  • It shows your score and codes for the topics you missed, plus the 17-digit Exam ID you'll need in IACRA.
  • Passed? About 48 hours later, apply for your certificate in IACRA (step 6 above).
  • Didn't pass? You can retest after 14 days. Study the topics on your report, rebook, pay the fee again, and bring the failed report with you.

Based on the FAA's Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix, AC 60-11C (test aids) and the FAA Airman Testing Community Advisory (September 2026). Always follow your testing center's instructions. Apex UAV isn't affiliated with the FAA or PSI.

Apex Part 107 Training

Study smarter for test day

Built by Apex UAV from the FAA's official study materials. The study guide is $19. The Pro Bundle ($39) adds three timed practice tests with every answer explained, flashcards, and a sectional chart walkthrough using the same figures you'll see on the real test. Instant access on your phone or computer.

Plan on at least 30 hours of study. Our materials help you prepare, but no study guide can guarantee a passing score.

Get the trainingTry 5 free questions

Drone pilot resources

The official sites you'll use over and over. Bookmark this page.

Getting certified

IACRAGet your FTN and apply for your Remote Pilot certificate PSI FAA testingBook the Part 107 (UAG) test at a center near you FAA: Become a drone pilotThe FAA's official steps FAASafety.gov recurrent training (ALC-677)Free course every 24 months to stay current FAA Airmen InquiryLook up any certificated pilot, including yourself

Study materials (free from the FAA)

Remote Pilot Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22)The FAA's own study guide Remote Pilot ACSExactly what the test can cover Testing supplement (FAA-CT-8080-2H)The charts and figures used on the real test 14 CFR Part 107The drone rules, word for word Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical KnowledgeWeather, charts, performance and decision-making in depth

Drones and authorizations

FAADroneZoneRegister drones, request airspace authorizations and waivers, report accidents How to register a drone$5 per drone, good for 3 years Remote IDWhat your drone has to broadcast and how Part 107 waiversFlying beyond line of sight, over moving vehicles and more Operations over peopleWhen and how you can fly over people

Before every flight

B4UFLYCan I fly here? Free FAA-approved apps LAANCInstant airspace authorization near airports UAS Facility MapsHow high you can fly near each airport Temporary Flight RestrictionsThe FAA's live TFR list and map NOTAM searchNotices that can affect your flight Aviation Weather CenterMETARs, TAFs and aviation forecasts SkyVectorFree online sectional charts Part 107 rules in plain EnglishApex UAV's quick guide to what's allowed

Apex UAV isn't affiliated with the FAA, PSI or the TSA. Fees and steps can change; the FAA's site is the final word. Updated October 2026.