There is no such thing as a drone photography license. The term gets thrown around in forums, in YouTube titles, and on photography blogs, but the actual document the FAA issues is the Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small UAS Rating, commonly called Part 107. Any drone flight that produces a commercial outcome (paid photography, paid video, paid mapping, paid anything) requires Part 107. The certificate is straightforward to earn for anyone willing to study airspace, weather, and regulations for a few weeks. This guide walks through what the test actually covers, how to prepare, what it costs, and what the certificate unlocks once you have it.
The legal trigger: when do you need Part 107?
The FAA distinguishes recreational flight from commercial flight based on purpose. Recreational means flying for personal enjoyment with no commercial benefit. Commercial means any flight where the resulting imagery, data, or service produces compensation or business value.
You need Part 107 if you:
- Sell photos or video to a real estate agent.
- Shoot a wedding for payment.
- Document construction progress for an architect.
- Inspect a roof, tower, or solar array for a contractor.
- Map a property for a surveyor.
- Cover a news event for a publication.
- Create promotional content for any business, including your own.
You do not need Part 107 if you fly:
- For personal enjoyment with no resulting sales or business use.
- In an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) for hobby flying.
- Indoors (FAA jurisdiction stops at the wall).
The boundary is the purpose, not the camera. A 200-dollar Mini drone shooting a 5-second wedding clip for a friend in exchange for dinner requires Part 107. The dinner counts as compensation under the FAA’s definition.
What the Part 107 test covers
The 60-question multiple choice exam draws from six knowledge areas:
- Regulations. Parts of 14 CFR 107 that govern small UAS operations. Operating rules, registration, marking, and certification requirements.
- Airspace classification. Class A through G airspace, controlled versus uncontrolled, special use airspace, and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
- Weather. METAR and TAF interpretation, cloud cover, wind, visibility, and aviation weather sources.
- Loading and performance. Center of gravity, weight and balance, and how each affects flight.
- Operations. Airport operations, radio communication procedures, runway markings, and emergency procedures.
- Sectional chart reading. Identifying airspace, obstacles, restricted areas, and navigation features.
The two areas that most candidates underestimate are weather (METARs and TAFs are unfamiliar to non-pilots) and sectional charts (the symbology is genuinely complex). Spend half your total study time on these two areas.
How to study
Three paths work for most candidates:
Free path. Download the FAA’s Remote Pilot study guide (FAA-G-8082-22). Read the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual chapters on airspace and weather. Practice METAR and TAF decoding on AviationWeather.gov. Take free practice tests from Pilot Institute and 3DR. Cost: zero dollars. Time investment: 25 to 35 hours.
Paid course path. Buy the Pilot Institute Part 107 course (170 dollars), the King Schools course (199 dollars), or the Drone Pilot Ground School from UAV Coach (299 dollars). All three include video lectures, practice tests, and a pass guarantee that refunds the test fee if you fail. Cost: 170 to 299 dollars. Time investment: 15 to 20 hours.
Hybrid path. Combine the FAA’s free study guide with a 30-dollar practice test pack from Test Prep Plus. Use the practice tests to identify weak areas and focus your reading there. Cost: 30 dollars. Time investment: 18 to 25 hours.
The paid courses are not better than the free path in absolute terms. They are more efficient. If your time is worth more than 10 dollars per hour, the paid course pays itself back.
Booking the test
Find a PSI testing center near you at faa.psiexams.com. There are around 700 centers nationwide, mostly inside community colleges and adult learning centers. Book online, pay 175 dollars, and select a date 1 to 4 weeks out (most centers have appointments within 7 days).
Bring a government-issued photo ID. Bring your FAA Tracking Number (FTN) from IACRA (the FAA’s airman registration system). Without the FTN, the testing center cannot register your result and you would have to retake the exam.
The test itself runs 2 hours maximum. Most candidates finish in 60 to 90 minutes. The 60 questions are multiple choice with 4 options each. Score is calculated immediately on submission.
After you pass
Pass the exam and you receive a temporary certificate from IACRA within 48 hours. The permanent plastic certificate arrives by mail 6 to 8 weeks later.
To complete the certification, submit FAA Form 8710-13 through IACRA. The form requests biometric verification through the Department of Justice (TSA background check). Approval takes 2 to 14 days for most candidates. Once approved, you can legally fly commercially.
Register the drone you intend to use at FAADroneZone (5 dollars, valid 3 years). Label the airframe with the registration number. Make sure the drone broadcasts Remote ID (most post-2022 drones do this automatically).
Recurrency: every 24 months
Part 107 certificates do not expire, but you must complete recurrency training every 24 months. As of 2021, recurrency is a free online course through the FAA’s Air Safety Institute (managed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). The course takes 90 to 120 minutes and ends with a knowledge check. Pass and your currency clock resets.
Recurrency covers any rule changes since your last certification, plus refresher content on airspace, weather, and operational rules. Failing the knowledge check means retaking the in-person 60-question exam, which is rare.
Waivers: what Part 107 alone does not unlock
The base Part 107 certificate lets you fly during daylight or civil twilight, under 400 feet AGL, within visual line of sight, and away from uninvolved people. To go beyond those limits, you need a waiver.
Common waivers in 2026:
- Night operations (107.29). Anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles. Now granted as a blanket authorization to all Part 107 pilots since 2021, so technically not a waiver anymore.
- Operations over people (107.39). Requires the drone to meet Category 1, 2, 3, or 4 operations over people rules. Most prosumer drones meet Category 1 by being under 250 grams.
- Beyond visual line of sight (107.31). The hardest waiver to obtain. Requires a detailed safety case, a visual observer system, or a corridor agreement with the FAA. Currently granted to fewer than 100 operators nationwide.
- Operations from a moving vehicle (107.25). Granted for niche use cases like vehicle tracking or media coverage.
Waivers are submitted through FAA DroneZone. Approval times range from 30 days (night operations historically) to 180 days (beyond visual line of sight).
Insurance
Part 107 does not require insurance. The FAA does not regulate it. But every paying client will require proof of insurance, typically a million dollars of liability coverage. SkyWatch.AI offers on-demand hourly coverage starting at 12 dollars per flight. Annual policies through State Farm, Allstate, or Verifly run 600 to 2,000 dollars per year depending on aircraft and coverage.
Where Part 107 sits in your path
The certificate is the gating credential for any commercial drone work. Without it, no client should hire you and no Amazon Associates check for drone work is legitimate revenue. With it, you can legally fly any work that fits within standard Part 107 operations. Pair this guide with our drone classes by FAA rules and no-fly zones overview for the full picture.
Plan to earn it, plan to maintain it, and treat it as the same kind of professional credential a chef treats a food handler’s permit. It is the price of being legally in the business.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to study for the Part 107 exam?+
Plan for 15 to 25 hours of study spread over 2 to 4 weeks. The exam covers airspace classification, sectional chart reading, weather, regulations, drone operations, and emergency procedures. Most candidates with no aviation background take 20 hours and pass on the first try. Candidates with private pilot or sport pilot experience often pass with 8 to 12 hours of focused study because the airspace and weather sections overlap with their existing knowledge. The Pilot Institute course (170 dollars) and the King Schools course (199 dollars) are the two most popular paid prep options.
How much does the Part 107 cost end to end?+
The exam itself costs 175 dollars at a PSI testing center. Study materials run free (FAA's own study guide PDF) to 250 dollars (premium courses with practice tests and money-back guarantees). Total cost end to end runs 175 to 425 dollars depending on study approach. After certification, recurrency is free (online refresher every 24 months). Drone registration is 5 dollars per drone for 3 years.
Can I take the Part 107 test online?+
No. The initial Part 107 knowledge test must be taken in person at an FAA-approved PSI testing center. There are around 700 PSI centers nationwide. Recurrency (every 24 months) is now an online course through the FAA's website, free of charge. The shift to online recurrency happened in 2021 and remains in place in 2026. Initial certification still requires the in-person 60-question multiple choice exam, which takes around 90 minutes.
What is the passing score and what happens if I fail?+
The passing score is 70 percent (42 out of 60 questions correct). If you fail, wait 14 days and retake (you must repay the 175-dollar fee). The FAA publishes the test outline and sample questions, and the actual test pulls from the same question bank that prep courses use. First-time pass rate runs around 85 percent. Most failures happen because candidates skim weather (METARs and TAFs are heavily tested) or skip the sectional chart practice.
What can I do with Part 107 that I cannot do without it?+
Any drone flight that earns money requires Part 107. Real estate photography, wedding cinematography, inspection work, mapping, surveying, agriculture, journalism, and any client deliverable for compensation all require the certificate. Recreational flying (no commercial purpose, no compensation) only requires the TRUST test, which is free and takes 20 minutes. Part 107 also unlocks LAANC authorization for controlled airspace, night operations (with anti-collision lighting), and the ability to apply for waivers for beyond-visual-line-of-sight and flight over people.
