How to Get Your FAA Part 107 License (2026 Complete Guide)
If you want to fly a drone commercially in the United States, you need an FAA Part 107 license.
That includes real estate photography, construction progress, inspections, marketing videos, public safety operations, and any situation where money is involved, even if you are flying the drone to promote your business or your blog. The drone industry is all the buzz right now, as the opportunities are abundant - you can learn more about it in our blog post Careers in the Drone Industry.
We teach Part 107 prep in person in Cleveland, Ohio, to general public and train public safety agencies nationwide. After working with hundreds of students, we can tell you this clearly:
The Part 107 test is very passable.
But it requires structured preparation.
Here is exactly how the FAA Part 107 test works and how to pass it the first time.
What Is the FAA Part 107 License?
The Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (aka drone license) is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It allows you to operate a drone for commercial purposes under 14 CFR Part 107 regulations.
There is no online version of the actual FAA exam. You must take the test in person at an approved PSI testing center.
Once you pass the knowledge test, you apply for your Remote Pilot Certificate through the FAA system.
Where Do You Schedule the FAA Part 107 Test?
The FAA Part 107 exam is a proctored, in-person test. That means it is supervised at an official testing center. You cannot take it at home.
All Part 107 knowledge tests are administered through PSI, the FAA’s approved testing provider.
To schedule your exam, you will:
Create an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system (often referred to as IACRA).
Visit the PSI testing website.
Search for a testing center near you.
Select a date and pay the testing fee, which is typically around $175.
Testing centers are located throughout the United States, often inside small airports, aviation schools, or professional testing facilities.
If you are ready to schedule, you can find official testing locations and register directly through the PSI FAA Airman Knowledge Testing page.
It is important to schedule only after you are consistently scoring well on full-length practice exams. The exam fee is non-refundable, and rescheduling can delay your certification.
What Is on the Part 107 Test?
The FAA Part 107 test includes:
65 multiple choice questions
2 hours to complete the exam
A minimum passing score of 70 percent
The exam covers several core knowledge areas:
Airspace classification
Sectional charts, which are aviation maps that show controlled and uncontrolled airspace
Weather reports including METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report, which shows current airport weather conditions)
TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, which provides forecasted weather conditions)
FAA regulations
Airport operations
Loading and performance
Emergency procedures
Aeronautical Decision Making, often shortened to ADM
Many students find the airspace and weather sections the most technical. You are expected to interpret real aviation charts and decode real weather reports, not just memorize definitions.
Is the Part 107 Test Hard?
The difficulty depends entirely on how you prepare.
Students who struggle usually rely only on videos or passive reading. Others practice random questions without ever taking a full-length timed simulation.
The FAA exam does not just test knowledge. It tests your ability to apply regulations, interpret sectional charts, and decode weather reports under time pressure.
That is why realistic practice exams matter.
How Many Times Can You Take the Part 107 Test?
If you fail the Part 107 test, you must wait 14 days before retaking it.
Each attempt costs approximately $175 depending on your testing center.
Failing is not catastrophic, but it is expensive and frustrating. It can also affect confidence. The better approach is to confirm you are ready before scheduling your exam.
What Score Should You Aim for Before Booking the Exam?
The FAA requires 70 percent to pass.
But 70 percent should not be your goal.
We recommend students consistently score at least 85 percent on full-length Part 107 practice exams before scheduling the real test. That number comes from real classroom experience. Students who score in the mid 80s or higher walk into the testing center calm and prepared. Students sitting around 70 percent often second guess themselves.
Seventy percent means you barely passed.
Eighty five percent means you understand the material.
That is why we built the 85 percent benchmark directly into our Part 107 Practice Test system. The Exam Readiness Tracker monitors your full-length test scores and confirms when you are consistently performing at or above that level. Instead of guessing when you are ready, you have measurable proof.
There is a big difference in how confident you feel walking into a PSI testing center when you know your scores are consistently strong.
The Best Way to Study for the FAA Part 107 Test
After teaching individual students and public safety agencies, here is what works consistently:
Learn the material in structured categories.
Practice with realistic FAA style questions.
Take full 65 question timed exams.
Identify weak areas and focus study time there.
There are several well-known Part 107 online courses available, including Pilot Institute, Sporty’s, and King Schools. These programs are primarily video-based training courses that walk you through the required knowledge areas and typically include practice quizzes or sample tests.
For many students, a structured video course is a helpful starting point. If you are disciplined with self-study and comfortable learning independently, that format can work well.
But not everyone learns best by watching videos alone.
Some students realize partway through self-study that they need more interaction, clearer explanations, or the ability to ask questions in real time. That is where in-person instruction can make a real difference. We run live Part 107 prep classes in Cleveland three to four times per year for students who prefer classroom learning and direct guidance through charts, weather interpretation, and regulations.
If you are local to Northeast Ohio and want live instruction, you can check our upcoming class dates on our site. We also wrote a detailed comparison of online versus in-person learning if you want to explore which format fits you best.
Regardless of how you learn the material, there is still a separate skill that determines success on test day: performing under exam conditions.
That is why we built our Part 107 Practice Test system specifically around realistic simulation and performance improvement. Instead of just offering additional practice questions, the system identifies weak categories, builds focused practice sessions around those areas, and links directly to targeted study guides tied to the exact topics you are missing.
Students can:
Take realistic 65 question timed simulations that mirror the FAA format
See category breakdowns to identify weak topics
Use a Focus on Weak Areas feature that automatically builds practice sessions around categories below 70 percent
Jump directly from missed questions into the relevant study material
View sectional charts and official FAA figures directly inside the testing interface
Track score trends over time and confirm consistent 85 percent readiness
The goal is not just to consume information. It is to practice in a way that measurably improves your score.
When students combine structured learning with focused exam simulation, their readiness becomes clear. And that clarity is what leads to confident performance at the testing center.
Try a Free 15 Question Part 107 Practice Test
If you are not ready to commit to a full practice exam, start with our free 15 question demo.
It works like a scaled-down version of the full simulator. You will experience FAA-style questions, view sectional charts and official FAA figures directly inside the test interface, and receive immediate explanations for each answer.
The demo allows you to:
Understand how Part 107 exam questions are structured
See how aviation charts are presented and interpreted
Get instant feedback on your performance
After finishing, you will see your score and topic breakdown.
If you decide to continue, the full system includes complete 65 question timed simulations, focused practice sessions built around weak categories, integrated study guides, and the Exam Readiness Tracker that confirms consistent 85 percent performance.
You do not need to commit immediately.
Start with the 15 question test drive.
See where you stand.
Then decide your next step.
👉 Try the Free 15 Question Part 107 Practice Test
For First Responders and Agencies
Departments training multiple drone pilots need more than just exam prep.
They often require structured classroom instruction, clear regulatory understanding, scenario-based discussion, and operational readiness guidance.
We provide nationwide Public Safety Agencies group instruction for Part 107 certification, DFR & Shielded Ops program consultation & documentation help, as well as basic and advanced scenario-based first responder drone training and program development support.
If you are coordinating drone training for a department, contact us directly to discuss group training options.
Final Advice Before You Schedule Your FAA Part 107 Test
Do not schedule your exam based on how confident you feel.
Schedule it when:
You can complete 65 questions comfortably within two hours.
You consistently score above 85 percent on full-length practice exams.
You understand why answers are correct, not just which ones are correct.
That is when you are actually ready.
And if you are unsure where you stand today, start with the free 15 question demo and measure your readiness before you spend money on the real exam.