To become a drone pilot in the US, you need a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA under Part 107. You must be at least 16, able to read, speak, write and understand English, and fit to fly safely. Then you pass the Unmanned Aircraft General, Small (UAG) knowledge test, apply through IACRA, clear a TSA security check, and complete free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
Flying a drone for work isn't the same as flying one for fun, and the FAA treats it differently. The good news is that the commercial certificate is within reach of most people, with no flight hours required. I read the FAA's own process page and the Part 107 rules on the eCFR in October 2026, and here's the route.
Drone pilot eligibility at a glance
| Requirement | First-time pilot | Existing Part 61 pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Age | At least 16 | Holds a pilot certificate under 14 CFR part 61 |
| Test or course | Pass the UAG knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center | Complete the free Part 107 Small UAS Initial (ALC-451) online course |
| Other condition | Read, speak, write and understand English; fit to fly | Flight review within the previous 24 months |
| Application | FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA | FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA, then an identity check |
| Staying current | Recurrent training every 24 calendar months | Recurrent training every 24 calendar months |
How to become a drone pilot, step by step
- Get an FAA Tracking Number. Create an Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) profile before you register for the test.
- Book your knowledge test. Schedule it at an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center and bring government-issued photo ID.
- Pass the UAG test. Topics include regulations, airspace classification, weather, loading and performance, emergency procedures, radio communication, the effects of drugs and alcohol, airport operations, maintenance and night operation.
- Apply in IACRA. Complete Form 8710-13 and enter the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID. The FAA says it may take up to 48 hours from your test date for the result to appear.
- Clear the TSA check. You'll get an email once the TSA security background check is done, with instructions to print a temporary certificate.
- Wait for the permanent card. It arrives by mail once the FAA finishes processing. Keep your certificate easily accessible whenever you fly.
If you already hold a manned pilot certificate, you skip the test: you take the free ALC-451 course, apply in IACRA, then validate your identity with an FAA Flight Standards District Office, a designated pilot examiner, an airman certification representative or a certificated flight instructor. Bring your completed Form 8710-13, proof of your current flight review, photo ID and your online course completion certificate. The FAA says the permanent certificate then arrives by U.S. mail within several weeks.
Small mistakes that slow your certificate down
- Booking the test before you have an FTN. The FAA says to create your IACRA profile and get your FAA Tracking Number first.
- Forgetting ID. Bring government-issued photo ID to the testing center.
- Filing too early. Your 17-digit exam ID may take up to 48 hours to show in IACRA, so don't panic if it isn't there on test day.
- Expecting a temporary certificate from a CFI. On the Part 61 route, the FAA notes that certificated flight instructors can't issue temporary certificates, though they can process your application.
- Leaving the certificate at home. It must be easily accessible during every flight.
Keeping your certificate current
This is the part new pilots forget. To keep operating under Part 107, you must have completed recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months. The FAA offers it online at no cost: the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent (ALC-677) course for any certificate holder, or ALC-515 if you're also a Part 61 pilot with a current flight review. Put a reminder in your calendar the day you qualify.
The flight rules you'll work under
Passing the test is only half of it. Part 107 sets hard operating limits, and clients will expect you to know them:
| Rule | Limit under 14 CFR 107.51 and 107.31 |
|---|---|
| Maximum groundspeed | 87 knots (100 miles per hour) |
| Maximum altitude | 400 feet above ground level, unless within a 400-foot radius of a structure and no higher than 400 feet above it |
| Minimum visibility | 3 statute miles from the control station |
| Distance from clouds | At least 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally |
| Line of sight | You (or a visual observer) must be able to see the drone throughout the flight |
The visual line of sight rule is stricter than it sounds. It means unaided vision apart from corrective lenses, so you need to see the aircraft well enough to know its location, altitude and direction and to spot other traffic.
Drones are used on planning projects too, so see how to become an urban planner.
Turning the certificate into work
The certificate is what lets you fly under the Small UAS Rule for work, so get it before you take on any client. If mapping interests you, my round-up of the best drone mapping software shows the tools surveyors and builders use, and if you'd like to fly with a pilot in the seat, my guide on how to become a pilot covers the manned route.
My verdict
For a first-time pilot, the Remote Pilot Certificate comes down to a knowledge test, an application and a security check. Book the UAG test, study the airspace and weather sections hardest, and file in IACRA the moment your result appears. Then treat the free recurrent course as non-negotiable, because a lapsed currency means you can't legally fly for work.
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Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a drone license?
The FAA says you must be at least 16 years old to become a certificated remote pilot under Part 107.
Do you need flight hours to become a drone pilot?
No. First-time pilots pass the UAG knowledge test instead. Existing Part 61 pilots with a current flight review take the free ALC-451 online course.
How often do drone pilots need to renew?
You must complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months. The FAA offers the ALC-677 and ALC-515 recurrent courses online at no cost.
What is the UAG test?
It's the FAA's initial aeronautical knowledge test for first-time remote pilots, called Unmanned Aircraft General, Small. You take it at an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center.
How high can a commercial drone fly?
Under 14 CFR 107.51, no higher than 400 feet above ground level, unless it's within a 400-foot radius of a structure and no higher than 400 feet above it.
