FAA Part 107 — Remote Pilot
The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is required for all commercial drone operations in the US. It’s a written-test-only certification — no flight hours required.
Requirements
Section titled “Requirements”- Age 16+
- English proficiency
- Pass 60-question FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test (70% passing = 42/60 correct)
- Apply via FAA IACRA system
- TSA security vetting (background check)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Knowledge test (PSI testing center) | $175 |
| Renewal (every 24 months) | Free — online recurrent course |
| Optional prep courses | $50-$300 |
Study Resources
Section titled “Study Resources”- FAA Recurrent Course ALC-677 — free, also used for renewal
- Pilot Institute Part 107 Course — comprehensive paid course
- The Drone U Guide
- UAV Coach Certification Guide
Military Pathways
Section titled “Military Pathways”- No direct equivalency for military UAS operators — FAA determined military training is too inconsistent across branches for blanket credit
- Part 61 pilots exempted: Military pilots with manned aircraft credentials skip the written test entirely
- DoD UAS operations under military COAs are exempt from Part 107 during active duty; Part 107 is needed for civilian/commercial work
- Funding: GI Bill reimburses the $175 exam fee via VA Form 22-0803
Advanced Operations
Section titled “Advanced Operations”- Night operations: No longer require a waiver — need anti-collision lighting and airspace authorization
- Operations over people: Category compliance or waiver required
- BVLOS: Currently requires waiver; FAA proposed Part 108 rulemaking (August 2025) creating a dedicated BVLOS framework
- Waiver applications
Drone Insurance
Section titled “Drone Insurance”Commercial Part 107 operations typically require liability insurance. Costs and recommendations from the community:
| Coverage | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hobbyist liability | $300-$600 | Basic third-party coverage |
| Commercial ($1M coverage) | $600-$1,200 | Standard for contract work |
Providers:
- Skywatch AI — on-demand, hourly, monthly, or annual policies; pay-per-flight option
- BWI Aviation Insurance — traditional aviation underwriter
Free Veteran Training
Section titled “Free Veteran Training”- Chris Lewis Veteran Portal — a private ecosystem connecting veterans to commercial UAS opportunities with a free Part 107 curriculum for the veteran community
- Pilot Institute Part 107 Course — comprehensive paid course (frequently runs military discounts)
- VA reimburses the $175 exam fee via VA Form 22-0803
Career Outlook (2026)
Section titled “Career Outlook (2026)”The commercial drone market is projected at $54.6B by 2030 (10.6% CAGR).
| Specialization | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level Part 107 pilot | $40,000-$60,000 | Cert is now baseline — specialization needed |
| Infrastructure inspection | $80,000-$110,000 | Bridges, power lines, pipelines |
| Agriculture / precision ag | $60,000-$90,000 | Growing fast |
| LiDAR / mapping / surveying | $70,000-$90,000 | GIS skills add premium |
| Public safety / SAR | Variable | Often contract-based |
| Part 107 + clearance + GIS | $90,000-$130,000 | Defense contractors, federal agencies |
Best MOS fit: 15-series (Aviation), 35-series (Intel/imagery), any with security clearance
Certification Stacking
Section titled “Certification Stacking”Part 107 alone is a commodity. Stack it:
- Part 107 + Secret clearance + GIS/LiDAR = drone analyst ($90k-$130k)
- Part 107 + agriculture background + precision ag = ag drone pilot ($60k-$90k)
- Part 107 + thermography cert + inspection = infrastructure inspector ($80k-$110k)