You have put in the time learning to fly. You understand your aircraft, you know how to control it, and you are ready to take your skills to the next level. But before you can fly commercially as a drone pilot, there is one hurdle standing between you and your FAA Remote Pilot Certificate: the Part 107 written exam.
For many drone students, the knowledge test is the most intimidating part of the certification process. The material covers topics that feel far removed from the hands-on flying you have already been doing. Airspace classifications, weather interpretation, FAA regulations, radio communications, and more. The good news is that with the right preparation and the right resources, the Part 107 exam is very passable. This guide walks you through what to expect and how to study smart.
What Is the Part 107 Exam?
The FAA’s Part 107 regulations govern commercial small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) operations in the United States. To fly drones commercially, whether for photography, videography, mapping, inspection, agriculture, or any other paid or business purpose, you are required to hold a Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107.
To earn that certificate, you must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions, and you need a score of 70 percent or higher to pass. You have two hours to complete it, and it is administered at FAA-approved testing centers across the country.
The exam is not designed to trick you. It is designed to verify that you have a working understanding of the knowledge required to operate safely in the National Airspace System. The students who struggle are typically the ones who underestimate how much ground knowledge is actually tested, not just drone-specific rules, but broader aeronautical concepts that apply to all airspace users.
What the Exam Actually Covers
Understanding the scope of the exam is the first step toward preparing for it effectively. The FAA knowledge test for Part 107 draws from several subject areas, including:
Airspace classification and operating requirements. You need to know the difference between Class A, B, C, D, E, and G airspace, where drones are permitted to fly without authorization, and how the LAANC system works for airspace approvals in controlled areas.
Weather and atmospheric conditions. Questions on weather cover METARs, TAFs, density altitude, wind patterns, and how atmospheric conditions affect sUAS operations and safety.
FAA regulations for sUAS operations. This includes Part 107 rules themselves, including operational limitations, registration requirements, remote pilot responsibilities, waivers, and recurrency requirements.
Airport operations and airspace procedures. Even though drone pilots do not take off from runways, understanding how manned aircraft operate, how to read sectional charts, and how to identify airport traffic areas is essential knowledge for safe airspace integration.
Emergency procedures and crew resource management. The exam tests your understanding of how to respond to in-flight emergencies, loss of control link situations, and other operational contingencies.
Radio communications. Basic knowledge of aviation radio procedures and phraseology is included, particularly relevant when operating near towered airports.
The breadth of this material surprises many drone students. It is not enough to know the rules specific to drones. The FAA expects Remote Pilots to have a foundational understanding of the airspace they are operating in, the same airspace used by manned aircraft every day.
Building a Study Plan That Works
The students who pass the Part 107 exam on their first attempt are almost always the ones who studied consistently over time, not the ones who crammed the night before. A structured study plan makes a significant difference.
Start by giving yourself at least four to six weeks of dedicated preparation time. Break the exam topics into weekly focus areas so you are not trying to absorb everything at once. Spend time each day reviewing material, working through practice questions, and revisiting any topics where your practice scores are weak.
Practice questions are one of the most effective study tools available. Working through questions in the same multiple choice format as the actual exam helps you get comfortable with how the FAA phrases questions and teaches you to identify what is actually being asked. When you get a question wrong, do not just note the correct answer. Go back to the source material and understand why.
Online Training Resources for Part 107 Students
Structured online training is one of the most valuable resources available to drone students preparing for the Part 107 exam. Rather than navigating FAA publications and scattered study materials on your own, a well-organized course walks you through each knowledge area in a logical sequence, the way the material is meant to be learned.
Online training for drones gives students a structured path through every topic covered on the Part 107 knowledge test, with instruction from experienced aviation professionals who know how to break down complex concepts into clear, digestible lessons. Video-based instruction, practice questions, and topic-by-topic coverage make it easier to build confidence across the full scope of the exam, not just the sections that feel most familiar.
For drone students who are already enrolled in a training program, online resources complement hands-on instruction by reinforcing the ground knowledge component. Studying with a course designed specifically for the Part 107 exam means you are spending your study time on the right material, in the right format, and at a pace that fits your schedule.
FAA Resources You Should Know
In addition to structured training, the FAA publishes free resources that every Part 107 student should have bookmarked.
The FAA’s Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) covers airspace, procedures, and communications in detail. While it is written for manned aviation, the sections on airspace classification and weather services are directly relevant to the Part 107 exam.
The FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide is published specifically for Part 107 candidates and is available as a free download at faa.gov. It outlines the knowledge areas tested on the exam and provides supplementary explanations for core concepts.
The Aviation Weather Center at aviationweather.gov provides real-time weather data in the same formats tested on the exam, including METARs, TAFs, and graphical forecasts. Practicing weather interpretation with real data, rather than textbook examples alone, builds the kind of fluency the exam requires.
What to Expect on Test Day
The Part 107 knowledge test is administered at PSI testing centers located throughout the United States. You can find an approved testing center and schedule your exam through the PSI website. The current testing fee is $175, paid directly to PSI at the time of scheduling.
On test day, you are permitted to bring a plotter and an E6B flight computer, and you will have access to FAA-provided aeronautical charts and the supplement booklet used for chart interpretation questions. You will not have access to the internet or any study materials, so your preparation beforehand is everything.
After passing, you submit your application for a Remote Pilot Certificate through the FAA’s IACRA system. Once your background check clears, typically within a few weeks, your certificate is issued and you are authorized to fly commercially under Part 107.
Preparation Is the Difference
The Part 107 exam has a passing rate that reflects how seriously students prepare for it. Those who treat it as a straightforward checklist item often find themselves retaking it. Those who invest real study time, work through practice questions, and use structured resources consistently tend to walk out of the testing center with a passing score and the confidence that comes from being genuinely prepared.
If you are currently in a drone training program and building toward your Remote Pilot Certificate, the knowledge you develop for this exam is not just test preparation. It makes you a safer, more capable operator in the airspace, and that is exactly what the FAA intends.
