Remote Pilot (Drone) Training Materials

The Part 107 exam is moderately challenging but very passable with focused study, and roughly 85 to 88 percent of first-time candidates pass. Most people find airspace classification, sectional chart reading, and weather interpretation the hardest topics. A current study guide and timed practice tests make the difference between a confident pass and a retake.

The Part 107 knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 120-minute time limit. You need to answer 70 percent correctly, which is 42 of the 60 questions, to pass. Each question has three answer choices, and the exam covers regulations, airspace, weather, loading and performance, and operations.

Most candidates need roughly 15 to 20 hours of focused study to prepare for the Part 107 exam. A typical plan combines a study guide, structured review of the FAA knowledge areas, and several timed practice tests. Existing Part 61 pilots usually need far less time because much of the airspace and weather material is already familiar.

To earn a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate you pay the FAA knowledge test fee at an approved testing center, pass the aeronautical knowledge exam, and register your drone with the FAA. The main thing you control is your study materials, so a current guide is the best investment toward a first-attempt pass.

Part 107 remote pilots must complete recurrent training every 24 months to keep flying commercially. The recurrent training is now a free online course through the FAA, with no in-person renewal exam required. Keeping your knowledge current also helps you stay safe and compliant as regulations and airspace rules change.

No. Pilots who already hold a Part 61 certificate and have a current flight review can take a shorter, streamlined online training course instead of the full Part 107 knowledge test. The same ASA and Gleim study materials reinforce the unmanned-specific topics, such as drone regulations and operations, covered on that path.