Step-By-Step Guide to Taking the Part 107 Drone License Exam (Feb. 2020)
Once you have chosen the right drone, it is very important to figure out where, when, and what missions you can legally fly to avoid large fines, and ensure safety.
Until August 29, 2016 the rules and regulations in the U.S. were mostly unstructured in terms of the legality of flying UAV’s. Since then, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made many strides in making flying drones legal and far safer. Even now, although these regulations bring a solid structure to the drone arena, we receive many questions on whether the average drone operator needs an FAA Part 107 license or not.
The Next Step in Flying Drones Commercially
Okay, -you’ve taken a look at the regulations and decided you want to become a commercial drone pilot to start making some money and helping people with this awesome technology. How do you start the process of receiving your Remote Pilot Airman Certificate?
Getting Started with the Part 107 Test
To qualify to become a Part 107 pilot, you must:
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Be at least 16 years old
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Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English (Exceptions may be made if you are unable to meet one of these requirements for a medical reason, such as hearing impairment.)
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Be in a physical and mental condition to safely operate a small UAS
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Pass the initial Aeronautical Knowledge Exam at an FAA-approved Knowledge
Testing Center
Passing the Aeronautical Knowledge Test
To receive a Part 107 license, the FAA requires all pilots to first pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test. The exam is a 60-question, multiple-choice test with three answer options (A, B, C). Some questions will require you to reference airspace maps and weather charts that are provided by the FAA testing center.
To pass you must receive a score of 70% or better. In other words, you have to get 42 out of the 60 questions right to become an FAA pilot.
Here is a breakdown of the questions by category:
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Regulations: 15%-25%
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Airspace & Requirements: 15%-25%
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Weather: 11%-16%
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Loading and Performance: 7%-11%
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Operations: 35%-45%
Total: 60 Questions
Please, please, please don’t read this and think, “Oh, this might be too hard for me.” IT’S REALLY NOT THAT HARD.
Using the Altitude University Part 107 Training Course or any other online training course allows you to breeze through the studying in nearly 10 hours. I know you have put that amount of time into a test or big project at some point in your life, and we bet you didn’t come out of that event being a Certified FAA Drone Pilot. It is worth it.
High-Level Overview of AU's Online Part 107 Test Prep Course: The Ultimate Review
The Altitude University Online Part 107 Course is a test prep course aimed to help drone enthusiasts pass the exam and acquire their FAA Remote Pilot's Certificate (better known as Part 107 License) that will allow you to legally make money flying drones.
The program has been created by Brandon Trentalange who is one of the most popular entrepreneurs in the drone industry. He has over 6+ years of experience flying drones as a professional drone pilot, has consulted top corporations like NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Syngenta, and helped over 2,000+ drone operators start a career in the industry.
Taking the Test
1. Register your UAV
The FAA requires that all drones greater than .55 pounds and less than 55 pounds be registered with the FAA and given a registration number. You can do this by either registering online or using a paper-based registration process.
UAV’s that are not flown as model aircraft must be registered individually by the owner. Each registration is only $5 so it won't break the bank to be an aerial pilot. Find out more about registering your drone HERE.
Friendly Reminder: You must have the FAA registration certificate in your possession when flying, and are required to show it to any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer upon request.
2. Study the Material
Wake up, lace-up, and put the work in as an investment in yourself and your future. There are a wide variety of powerful training courses out there to teach you the material you need to know, but at the end of the day, however you decide to study, make the commitment and put in the time to become an FAA-licensed drone pilot.
3. Apply to a Local Testing Center / Schedule Your Exam
Once you feel you have the material down, the next step is to schedule an appointment with a Knowledge Testing Center.
You’ve completed the course! Now, it's time for you to sign up for IACRA, and then schedule your Airman Knowledge Test at an FAA-approved Testing Center.
Starting on January 13th, 2020 drone enthusiasts who are in the process of acquiring an FAA Drone License (Remote Pilot Certificate) will need to register on the IACRA website. Registering for IACRA will provide you with a unique FAA tracking number that is required before scheduling your exam at an approved FAA Testing Center.
Essentially, the FAA has added one more step to the process for applicants. This is not too complicated, and I’ll walk you through the exact steps on how to do this below.
1. Registering as an Applicant in IACRA
- Click the 'Register' link near the top right of the IACRA home page.
- There are many different roles in IACRA, but you must use the "Applicant" role to apply for a new certificate or to modify an existing certificate.
- Check the 'Applicant' box, then agree to the Terms of Service (TOS) and continue.
- On the IACRA User Profile Information page, please enter all the information.
- If you don't have an existing certificate, leave that section blank.
- Use your full legal name, including any suffix.
IMPORTANT NOTE : This name must match the name on your Knowledge Test (if test was required). - Please enter a valid email address. IACRA will use it for important notifications.
- Create a user name and strong password. Please remember your password.
- Click Register.
- If there is any required information missing, there will be error messages.
- IACRA will display your FTN (FAA Tracking Number). Please write this number down; it will also be emailed to you. This number is your unique identifier, and for most application types you must provide it to your Instructor and/or Certifying Officer to complete an application.
- If you start an Airman application, additional personal information will be required (residential address, height, weight, etc.)
TO SIGN UP PLEASE USE THE LINK BELOW
IACRA Registration Link: https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx
2. Scheduling Your Exam
This is an updated list of commercial testing center locations and contact information. This list replaces all previous versions. Applicants may contact the following central registration numbers for additional information or to schedule testing appointments:
Airman Knowledge Testing (AKT) Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) Holders
Computer Assisted Testing Service - 1-800-947-4228
PSI / LaserGrade Computer Testing 1-800-211-2753
Visit the link below to schedule your exam - https://faa.psiexams.com/FAA/login
Here is a link to a listing of testing centers: http://candidate.catstest.com/sitesearch.php
4. Prove Your Identity
The testing facility will require you to bring proper identification. Prior to scheduling, please ensure you clarify what is required at your specific testing center.
5. Pay the Fee
The cost of the test will most likely be $150, which will be paid to the testing center, either online or by phone.
6. Pass with Flying Colors
You now have all the information for moving from a drone hobbyist to becoming a Certified FAA commercial pilot.
Congratulations! You are now one step closer to legally flying your drone for commercial applications. Whether you are flying for real estate, media, construction or any other commercial industry, receiving your drone license is a huge first step in any professional pilot’s flying career.
7. Receive Your Hard-Earned Drone License
Once you have taken and passed the exam, you are still not technically a licensed drone pilot. Not to worry, the next step is very simple.
Once you have registered, the web-based certification/rating application ensures you meet the requirements and electronically submits the application to the FAA's Airman Registry.
Within 10 days, your application should be validated and will allow you to print out your temporary drone license, which is valid for 120 days. All you have to do now is wait for your real drone license to come in the mail.
8. Maintain Your Part 107 Status
Once you have passed the exam, registered with the IACRA, and received your physical Part 107 Certificate, you are now a commercial drone pilot. From here, you are free to fly drones for commercial applications and are responsible to operate under the Part 107 guidelines outlined throughout the exam.
Make sure to always keep your license with you when operating your UAV. Be sure to stay on top of your renewal, which happens every 2 years.
9. Now You Know What It Takes
So, there it is! The complete cheat sheet on how to become an FAA Part 107 licensed pilot. The merits of drone technology are endless and we are just at the brink of unleashing this technology to assist hundreds of commercial industries.
Join Altitude University today! We are currently offering our Online Part 107 Test Prep Course for 35% OFF (Limited Time Only) Sign Up Today!
Fly Safe!! - Brandon
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