Part 107 is the FAA rule that governs commercial drone flight: any time you fly a drone for a business purpose. The path to compliance is a single credential: the Remote Pilot Certificate. Pass one knowledge test, clear a background check, and you are cleared to operate under a clear set of standing rules. This is the breakdown of who needs it, how to get it, and what the rules actually require once you have it.
Key facts
- Who it's for
- Commercial / business drone operations of any kind
- Minimum age
- 16 years old
- The test
- Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an FAA testing center
- Background check
- TSA Security Threat Assessment (all applicants)
- Cost
- About $175 for the knowledge test; certificate issue is free
- Validity
- Certificate does not expire; recurrent training every 24 months
- Drone registration
- Required for every drone, regardless of weight ($5, 3 years)
- Altitude ceiling
- 400 ft AGL (or within 400 ft of a structure)
Do you need Part 107?
The line is purpose, not payment. If a flight furthers any business or commercial interest, it is a Part 107 flight, even if no one pays you directly.
Needs Part 107
- Paid aerial photography or video
- Real-estate listing footage (even your own)
- Roof, tower, or infrastructure inspections
- Monetized YouTube or social content
- Mapping, surveying, or agriculture
Recreational instead
- Flying purely for personal enjoyment
- No business or compensation involved
- Following a community-based safety code
Recreational flyers use the Section 44809 exception and the free TRUST test instead.
How to get the certificate
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Be at least 16, able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and in a physical and mental condition to fly safely.
- 2
Get an FTN and schedule the test
Create an IACRA profile for an FAA Tracking Number, then schedule the Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an FAA-approved testing center (about $175).
- 3
Pass the knowledge test
60 multiple-choice questions covering regulations, airspace, weather, loading, and operations. You need 70% to pass.
- 4
Complete the TSA background check
Apply for the certificate through IACRA. The TSA runs a Security Threat Assessment on every applicant.
- 5
Receive your certificate
A temporary certificate is available once vetting clears; the permanent card follows by mail. Keep it accessible when you fly.
The core operating rules
The certificate is the entry fee. These are the standing rules you fly under once you hold it.
- 01Visual line of sight
- Keep the drone within your unaided visual line of sight at all times (corrective lenses are fine, binoculars are not). Beyond-line-of-sight needs a waiver; the broader Part 108 framework is still in rulemaking.
- 02Daylight and twilight
- You may fly at night, but the drone needs anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles, and the night-operations knowledge area is part of the test.
- 03One drone at a time
- A single remote pilot may not operate more than one drone at once.
- 04Speed and weight
- Max groundspeed 100 mph; the drone must weigh under 55 lbs including payload.
- 05No flying over people
- Flying over people or moving vehicles is prohibited unless the operation meets one of the four Operations Over People categories.
- 06Right of way
- Yield to all crewed aircraft; never interfere with manned aviation.
- 07No careless operation
- No flying from a moving vehicle (except sparsely populated areas), no impaired operation, no dropping objects to create a hazard.
Recurrent training keeps you current
The certificate itself never expires, but your privileges lapse if you skip recurrent training. Complete the free online recurrent course within every 24 calendar months. There is no longer a paid recurrent test; it is an online training module.
Waivers extend what you can do
Several Part 107 rules can be waived if you show the FAA you can fly that operation safely. The most-requested waivers cover operations over people, beyond visual line of sight, and operations from a moving vehicle. Apply through the FAADroneZone portal; expect the review to take time.
Tool
Do I need a license?
Answer two questions and find out exactly what the FAA requires.
Related rule
Airspace & LAANC
Where you can fly, the 400 ft ceiling, night, and over-people categories.
Sources
Rules current as of June 2026; verify at faa.gov/uas. Educational, not legal advice.