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Drone Authority
Commercial drone pilot launching an aircraft on a jobPART 107 · sUAS

Federal rules · In depth

FAA Part 107, explained

The main FAA operating rule for most small commercial and government drone work, and the certificate required to act as remote pilot in command.

All drone laws

Part 107 is the FAA rule most pilots use for commercial and other non-recreational small-drone flight. The Remote Pilot Certificate lets you act as remote pilot in command under that rule. It is the starting credential, not blanket permission for a flight: registration, Remote ID, airspace, temporary restrictions, location permission, and operation-specific conditions still apply.

Key facts

Who it's for
Most non-recreational small-drone operations
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)

A certificate is not flight clearance

Before each job, work the location and operation separately. Check airspace and temporary restrictions, confirm registration and Remote ID, and use the appropriate standing rule, authorization, or waiver for the mission.

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. 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. 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. 3

    Pass the knowledge test

    The FAA matrix lists 60 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes and a 70% passing score. Unscored validation questions may also appear in some administrations.

  4. 4

    Complete the TSA background check

    Apply for the certificate through IACRA. The TSA runs a Security Threat Assessment on every applicant.

  5. 5

    Receive your certificate

    A temporary certificate is available once vetting clears; the permanent card follows by mail. Keep it accessible when you fly.

Test this conceptPractice Part 107 rules and certification scenarios

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.
Rule into decisionCheck a people or moving-vehicle operationAircraft category is only one gate. Work the assembly, sustained-flight, site, notice, Remote ID, and vehicle conditions together.Open decision lab

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. Waiver paths can include beyond visual line of sight, multiple aircraft, altitude, weather minimums, moving-platform limits, and operations over people or moving vehicles that do not fit a standing category. Operational waiver applications now use the FAA Aviation Safety Hub. Controlled-airspace access remains a separate LAANC or FAA authorization process.

Open the complete waiver and advanced-operations guide

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 July 2026; verify at faa.gov/uas. Educational, not legal advice.