Alright, pilot—so you’ve been buzzing around your neighborhood, chasing sunsets, filming cinematic b-rolls of your dog’s morning zoomies… and now you’re thinking, “Hey, I could actually make some cash with this.”
Good call.
But before you start slapping a price tag on your drone footage or offering aerial real estate shots, Uncle Sam wants a word. Specifically, the FAA. And what they want is for you to get that sweet, sweet Part 107 license.
Don’t panic—this guide will walk you through it like your favorite NPC with a tutorial level. No corporate mumbo jumbo. No acronyms thrown like ninja stars. Just straight talk, from one drone nerd to another.
🚀 What Even Is a Part 107 License?
Short version: It’s your golden ticket to fly drones commercially in the U.S.
Longer version (still fun): Part 107 is the FAA’s rulebook for non-hobbyist drone use, aka “I want to make money with my drone” mode. Whether you’re shooting wedding videos, inspecting roofs, or doing next-level TikToks for brands, you need this license.
Think of it like unlocking the Pro Tools in a game. You’re not just flying for XP anymore—you’re flying for real-world loot.
🎮 Step 1: Make Sure You Qualify (Yes, You Probably Do)
Before we dive into the deep end, here’s your pre-check checklist. You must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Be able to read, write, and speak English (yes, really)
- Be in physical and mental shape to safely fly a drone (if you can beat Elden Ring bosses, you’re probably good)
Still with me? Sweet. Let’s keep rolling.
📚 Step 2: Study… But Make It Fun
Here’s the deal: you will need to pass a knowledge test. But don’t sweat it—this isn’t college finals week.
The test covers stuff like:
- Airspace classes (imagine a 3D map of invisible zones)
- Weather (because wind goblins are real)
- Drone flight rules (so you don’t yeet your rig into a no-fly zone)
- Emergency procedures (like what to do if your drone tries to go full Skynet)
How to study without rage-quitting:
- YouTube: Look up “Part 107 crash course” (Ken Heron, Pilot Institute, and Tony & Chelsea Northrup are all solid)
- Apps: Try apps like UAV Forecast or B4UFLY to get a feel for real-world airspace stuff
- Online courses: There are paid options like Drone Pilot Ground School or Pilot Institute if you want to speedrun the learning
Treat it like grinding for a skill tree: the more you know, the more confident you’ll be.
🧠 Step 3: Schedule Your FAA Test
You’ve studied. You’ve watched enough airspace videos to make your eyeballs bleed. Time to hit the boss fight.
Here’s how:
- Create an account on the PSI Exams site (it’s the FAA’s testing partner)
- Schedule your test at a nearby FAA-approved center
- Pay the $175 test fee (yeah, it’s annoying—but so are loot boxes, and we still buy ‘em)
You’ll take the Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) exam. 60 multiple-choice questions. 70% to pass.
Pro tip: Bring a government-issued ID and arrive early. Nobody wants to speedrun a test on empty coffee and last-minute panic.
🧾 Step 4: Pass the Test and Get Registered
You passed? Let’s goooo. Cue the victory music.
Next steps:
- Log into the FAA’s IACRA system (think: DMV for drone pilots)
- Fill out your application
- Attach your test results
- Wait for your temporary certificate to arrive by email (usually within a week)
Once you get that, you’re officially licensed to chill… and charge.
🎯 Step 5: Register Your Drone(s) for Commercial Use
Even if your rig’s already registered for hobby use, you’ll need to register it again under Part 107. It’s $5 per drone, good for three years.
Go to faadronezone.gov, click “Fly sUAS under Part 107,” and follow the steps.
🧪 Bonus XP: Keep Your License Fresh
Your Part 107 certificate doesn’t last forever. Every 24 months, you’ll need to take a free online recurrent training to keep flying legally.
And no, it’s not another in-person test. Just an online refresh. More like checking your gear before a quest than starting from scratch.
🎥 Final Thoughts: You’re Officially a Drone Pro (Kinda)
Getting your Part 107 is like hitting prestige mode. You’ve proven you’re serious, and now the sky (literally) isn’t the limit.
Whether you’re diving into real estate gigs, mapping farmland, or just flexing buttery-smooth shots for clients—you’re doing it legit. That means more opportunities, more trust, and yeah, probably more gear upgrades (sorry wallet).
So go get certified. And when someone asks, “Wait, you can make money flying a drone?”—you can smile, flip your license, and say, “Damn right.”
Want more tips like this? Check out our Dronepreneurship section—it’s stacked with advice, inspo, and occasional memes. 🛸
