Meta Description: Complete FAA Part 107 drone license guide for 2026. Commercial requirements, test prep, Remote ID compliance, and practical steps to fly legally. Updated for 2026.
Bottom Line Up Front
If you want to fly a drone commercially in the United States in 2026, you need an FAA Part 107 drone license. There are no workarounds, no exemptions that sidestep certification, and no grace periods—operational since 2016, Part 107 remains the sole legal pathway for compensated drone work. The process takes most pilots 2-4 weeks of study and costs $175 for the knowledge test. Once certified, you must renew every 24 months, register your aircraft, and comply with Remote ID rules that became fully operational in 2024. That’s the entire answer in 60 words. Everything below explains how to execute it.
What Is FAA Part 107—and Why It Matters in 2026
FAA Part 107 is the federal regulatory framework governing commercial small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). Established in August 2016, Part 107 replaced earlier exemption-based frameworks with a streamlined certification pathway. By 2026, the regulation has accumulated significant amendment—Remote ID mandates, waiver expansion protocols, and recurring knowledge test updates—but the foundational requirement remains unchanged: no FAA Part 107 drone license, no legal commercial flight.
Commercial operations covered under Part 107 include any飞行 compensated, contracted, or conducted in connection with a business. Real estate photography, infrastructure inspection, agricultural mapping, wedding coverage, search and rescue support—if you’re getting paid (or hoping to get paid), Part 107 applies.
Part 107 Requirements for 2026: The Full Checklist
Eligibility
- Minimum age: 16 years old
- Language proficiency: Must read, speak, write, and understand English
- Physical requirement: No FAA medical certificate required for standard Part 107 operations
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident (or authorized alien)
The FAA Knowledge Test
The Aeronautical Knowledge Test (AKS-107) is a 60-question, computer-administered exam with a 2-hour time limit. As of 2026, the fee remains $175, payable to any FAA-approved testing center.
Test domains and approximate weight:
- Applicable regulations (15%): Part 107 rules, airspace classifications, temporary flight restrictions
- Airspace classification and requirements (15%): Class A through G, TFRs, controlled vs. uncontrolled
- Aviation weather sources and effects (12%): METARs, TAFs, weather patterns, density altitude
- Loading and performance (10%): Center of gravity, weight and balance, battery discharge rates
- Emergency procedures (8%): Lost link scenarios, emergency authority, incident reporting
- Crew resource management (8%): Communication protocols, risk assessment
- Radio communication procedures (8%): Phraseology, frequency selection
- Aeronautical decision-making (12%): IMSAFE checklist, risk mitigation
- Physiology and hypoxia awareness (4%): Health factors affecting flight
-器械 and aircraft maintenance (8%): Preflight inspection requirements
Passing score: 70% (43 correct answers out of 60)
Test prep resources: FAA’s free "Remote Pilot In-Command (Part 107) Sample Knowledge Test" on FAA.gov serves as a baseline diagnostic. The Drone U and Extreme Aerial Productions offer structured prep courses with practice exams calibrated to current FAA question banks.
Aircraft Registration and Remote ID Compliance
Drone Registration
All drones weighing 0.55 lbs (250g) or more must be registered with the FAA via the DroneZone portal. Registration costs $5 and is valid for 3 years. Registration marking (your FAA registration number) must be affixed to the aircraft in a visible location.
Critical update for 2026: Drones operated under Part 107 must display their registration number on an external surface—this requirement applies even to aircraft operated indoors when intended eventual outdoor commercial use is anticipated.
Remote ID
Remote ID became fully operational in 2024, and compliance is mandatory for all Part 107 operations in 2026. Your drone must broadcast:
- Your drone’s unique identifier
- Your drone’s latitude/longitude, altitude, and velocity
- Time mark
- Emergency status (if applicable)
Acceptable methods:
- Standard Remote ID: Built into the drone’s firmware (most DJI, Autel, and Skydio models manufactured post-2022)
- Remote ID broadcast module: External transmitter attached to the aircraft
- Area waiver: Available only where the FAA has approved dedicated droneportation operations
If your current aircraft lacks Remote ID capability, manufacturers like DJI offer firmware updates for many models. For legacy hardware, add-on broadcast modules from companies such as uAvionix provide compliant solutions.
Flight Rules: What You Can and Cannot Do Under Part 107
Allowed Operations
- Flight during daylight hours (civil twilight with anti-collision lighting compliance)
- Visual line of sight (VLOS) with the unaided eye
- Maximum altitude of 400 feet AGL (above ground level)
- Maximum groundspeed of 100 mph (87 knots)
- Operations from a moving vehicle only over a sparsely populated area (waiver required for most scenarios)
Prohibited Operations
- Flight over non-participating persons (without a waiver or compliant Category 2/3 aircraft)
- Operations in Class B airspace without authorization
- Flight beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without specific waiver approval
- Operations in controlled airspace without LAANC authorization
- Careless or reckless operation
Waivers and Authorizations
Part 107 waivers expand operational authority beyond standard rules. Common waivers include:
- Night operations: Eliminates daylight restriction with appropriate lighting
- BVLOS: Enables beyond-line-of-sight operations for infrastructure inspection
- Over people: Allows flight over non-participants with approved aircraft categories
- Higher altitudes: Extends ceiling above 400 ft AGL for specific operations
- From moving vehicles: Authorizes in-motion launches in non-populated areas
Waiver applications submit via the FAA DroneZone portal. Processing times vary from 30-90 days. Do not operate under waived authority until written approval is received.
LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability): This automated system provides near-real-time authorization for controlled airspace operations below 400 feet. Providers include AUVA, AirMap, and Kittyhawk. LAANC does not replace waivers—it accelerates controlled airspace access.
Maintaining Your Part 107 License
Recurrency Requirements
Part 107 certification expires 24 months from the date of issuance. To renew:
- Complete the FAA’s online Part 107 Recurrent Training course (free via FAA.gov)
- Pass the 40-question online recurrency test with a 70% score
- Pay the $5 renewal fee
Note: The initial in-person knowledge test and the online recurrency test cover different question pools. Pilots who let certification lapse must retake the full $175 in-person exam.
How to Get Your FAA Part
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