Part 107 Recurrent Training: The Free Online Course Every 24 Months (2026)
By Renzo, CPL · Last updated: May 2026
To keep flying drones commercially, certificated remote pilots must complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months. The good news: since the FAA's April 2021 rule change, it's a free, online, self-paced course — no testing center, no proctor, and no fee. This guide explains who needs it, the ALC-677 course, the currency rules, what happens if you lapse, and the most common points of confusion versus the old recurrent exam.
1. What Recurrent Training Is
Holding an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107 is what lets you fly small drones for commercial purposes in the United States. But the certificate comes with an ongoing condition: currency. To exercise the privileges of your certificate, you must have completed an initial or recurrent training (or knowledge test) within the previous 24 calendar months.
Recurrent training is how you renew that currency. It's a free online refresher course hosted by the FAA that revisits the core knowledge areas — regulations, airspace, weather, operating rules, loading and performance, and emergency procedures — and incorporates any rule updates since you last trained. It's self-paced, takes most pilots a couple of hours, and ends with a completion certificate you keep as proof.
The critical distinction to understand up front: recurrent training is not the same as the initial knowledge test you took to get certified, and it's not a return trip to a PSI testing center. It also is not a renewal of the certificate itself — your physical certificate doesn't expire. What you're renewing is your legal ability to fly under Part 107. Most operators pair the cycle with an airframe refresh too — recent recurrents often coincide with upgrading to a current-spec drone like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro that already meets Remote ID requirements out of the box.
2. The 2021 Rule Change: Test Became Training
This is the single most important thing to know, because so much older advice online is now wrong. Effective April 6, 2021, the FAA eliminated the recurrent knowledge test and replaced it with free online recurrent training. The change came as part of the same rulemaking package that introduced Operations Over People, Operations at Night, and Remote ID requirements.
Before that change, staying current meant returning to a testing center every 24 months and paying for and passing a recurrent knowledge exam — much like the initial test. The FAA recognized this was costly and created friction without meaningfully improving safety for pilots who had already demonstrated competency, so it moved recurrency to a no-cost, online, self-paced training model.
Paid recurrent KNOWLEDGE TEST
Remote pilots had to return to a testing center every 24 months and pass a paid recurrent knowledge test (the UGR exam) to stay current.
Rule change takes effect
The FAA replaced the recurrent test with free online recurrent TRAINING as part of the broader Part 107 updates that also introduced Operations Over People and Remote ID.
Free online recurrent TRAINING
You complete a free, self-paced online course every 24 calendar months on the FAA's training site. No fee, no testing center, no proctor.
Watch out for outdated info
Any guide, forum post, or video that tells you to schedule a paid recurrent exam at a testing center is describing the pre-2021 system. There is no recurrent test fee today — recurrent training is free and online.
3. Who Needs Recurrent Training
Recurrent training applies to people who already hold a Remote Pilot Certificate and want to keep flying. Here's how the common situations break down:
You already hold a Remote Pilot Certificate
Recurrent TRAINING (ALC-677)
Complete the free online recurrent training course within 24 calendar months of your last initial or recurrent training/test to stay current.
You also hold a current Part 61 pilot certificate
Recurrent TRAINING (ALC-677), but a different course path
Part 61 certificate holders who are current take a recurrent training course tailored for them (historically ALC-515). Confirm the current course on the FAA's site, since course numbers can be updated.
You are getting certified for the first time
Initial knowledge TEST, not recurrent training
New applicants take the in-person UAG initial knowledge test at a PSI center. Recurrent training only applies after you already hold the certificate.
Your recurrent training has lapsed
Complete recurrent TRAINING to regain currency
If more than 24 months have passed, you are no longer current and must not fly under Part 107 until you complete the recurrent training. You do NOT have to retake the full initial test — completing the recurrent course restores currency.
4. Understanding the 24-Month Currency Rule
The rule is stated in terms of 24 calendar months. "Calendar month" matters: currency is measured to the end of the month, not the exact day. In practice, you remain current as long as you completed initial or recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months.
A simple way to think about it: the clock starts from your most recent qualifying training event. If you passed your initial knowledge test in, say, June 2025, you're current through roughly June 2027, and you'd complete recurrent training before then to extend it another 24 months. Each completed recurrent course resets the 24-month window.
A practical currency example
- Initial test passed: June 2025 → current for 24 calendar months.
- Recommended action: complete recurrent training a few weeks before currency would lapse (spring 2027), so there's no gap.
- After recurrent: the 24-month window resets from the new completion date.
- Repeat every 24 months for as long as you fly commercially.
Pro tip
Set a calendar reminder for 22 months out. Completing the free course a little early never hurts your currency — and it guarantees you never accidentally fly out of currency, which would be a Part 107 violation.
5. The ALC-677 Course, Step by Step
For remote pilots who do not hold a current Part 61 pilot certificate, the recurrent training course is ALC-677, "Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Recurrent." It lives on the FAA's FAASTeam training site (faasafety.gov). Here is how to complete it:
Create or log into a FAASTeam account
Go to faasafety.gov and sign in (or register a free account). This is the FAA's safety education portal that hosts the online recurrent training courses.
Find course ALC-677
Search the course catalog for ALC-677, the Part 107 sUAS Recurrent course. If you also hold a current Part 61 certificate, look instead for the Part 61 recurrent course path and confirm the correct course number on the site.
Work through the modules
The course is divided into modules covering regulations, airspace, weather, operations and procedures, loading/performance, and emergency considerations, with knowledge checks embedded throughout. It's self-paced — you can stop and resume.
Complete the knowledge checks
Unlike the initial exam, these are built into the training rather than a separate proctored test. Answer the embedded questions to progress through the course material.
Download your completion certificate
When you finish, the system issues a training completion certificate. Save and/or print it. This is your evidence of currency — keep it with your records.
Want to walk into recurrent training sharp?
Brushing up on airspace, weather, and the regs before the course makes it faster and more useful. Our free Part 107 practice test is a quick way to refresh the same knowledge areas the recurrent training reviews.
6. Initial Certification vs. Recurrent: Common Confusion
This topic generates more confusion than almost any other corner of Part 107. Let's clear up the myths directly:
"I have to retake the $175 exam every 2 years."
No. Since 2021 there is no recurrent EXAM. You complete free online recurrent TRAINING. The $175 fee only applies to the one-time initial knowledge test.
"My certificate expires after 24 months."
Your Remote Pilot Certificate does not expire. What lapses is your CURRENCY. Without current recurrent training you can't exercise Part 107 privileges, but the certificate itself remains valid — completing the training restores your ability to fly.
"Recurrent training is a test I can fail."
The recurrent training is a course with knowledge checks built in, not a pass/fail proctored exam. You work through the material and the embedded questions; there's no separate score that bars you from finishing.
"I need to go to a testing center for recurrent."
No. Recurrent training is 100% online and self-paced on the FAA's FAASTeam training site. No appointment, no proctor, no travel.
"Recurrent training costs money."
It is free. The FAA hosts the course at no charge. That's the whole point of the 2021 change — to remove the cost and friction of staying current.
| Attribute | Initial test | Recurrent training |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $175 (PSI) | Free |
| Where | In person, PSI center | Online (FAASTeam) |
| Format | 60-question proctored exam | Self-paced course + knowledge checks |
| When | Once, to get certified | Every 24 calendar months |
| Proctor | Yes | No |
| Course / exam code | UAG | ALC-677 (non-Part 61 holders) |
Keep Your Part 107 Knowledge Sharp
Currency is more than ticking a box every 24 months. Rotate's 500+ practice questions and flashcards keep airspace, weather, and the regs fresh — whether you're prepping for the initial exam or staying current.
7. What Happens If You Lapse
Suppose life got busy and your recurrent training slipped past the 24-month mark. What now? The key reassurance: a lapse does not invalidate your certificate and does not force you back to the in-person initial test.
While lapsed: do not fly under Part 107
Once you're past 24 calendar months without current training, you are no longer current and may not exercise your Remote Pilot privileges. Flying commercially during a lapse would be a regulatory violation.
To fix it: complete the recurrent training
Simply complete the free online recurrent training course. Upon completion you regain currency and can fly again. You do NOT have to retake the $175 in-person initial knowledge test — the recurrent course is the path back to currency.
Your certificate stays valid
The Remote Pilot Certificate itself does not have an expiration date the way a driver's license does. A lapse affects your currency (ability to fly), not the existence of the certificate. That's why recovering is as simple as retraining.
8. Recordkeeping & Documentation
Because recurrent training is self-administered online, the burden of proof shifts to you. The FAA expects remote pilots to maintain documentation showing they completed initial or recurrent training within the prior 24 calendar months and to be able to present it on request.
Save your completion certificate
When you finish the online course, download the training completion certificate. Store a digital copy in the cloud and consider a printed copy in your drone case (alongside the registration card).
Keep your AKTR and certificate handy
Retain your original Airman Knowledge Test Report from the initial exam and keep your Remote Pilot Certificate accessible when operating.
Note the completion date
Record the exact completion date so you can calculate your next 24-month deadline and set a reminder well in advance.
Have it available while flying
When operating commercially, you should be able to present evidence that you hold the certificate and are current if an FAA representative or law enforcement asks.
9. Staying Current the Easy Way
The whole point of the 2021 change was to make staying current painless. Here's a simple, repeatable routine that keeps you compliant with essentially zero stress:
- Set a 22-month reminder. As soon as you finish a training event, schedule a calendar alert ~2 months before the 24-month deadline.
- Refresh before you train. Spend an hour on airspace, weather, and the regs so the course is a quick confirmation rather than relearning. An ASA Remote Pilot Test Prep on the shelf and a current FAR/AIM cover the whole syllabus.
- Complete ALC-677 early. Finishing the free course a few weeks early never hurts your currency and removes any risk of an accidental lapse.
- File the completion certificate. Save it the moment you get it, and log the new completion date.
- Repeat. Two years later, do it again. That's the entire maintenance cycle.
Related reading
If you're still working toward your initial certificate, start with our Part 107 cost & scheduling guide and test locations guide. For the rules the recurrent course touches on, see our Remote ID guide and LAANC guide.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Is Part 107 recurrent training free?
Yes. Since the FAA's April 2021 rule change, Part 107 recurrent training is a free online course. There is no testing fee and no testing-center visit. The only fee in the entire Part 107 process is the one-time $175 PSI fee for the initial knowledge test you took to get certified.
How often do I need to do Part 107 recurrent training?
Every 24 calendar months. To exercise the privileges of your Remote Pilot Certificate, you must have completed an initial or recurrent training (or knowledge test) within the previous 24 calendar months. Many pilots simply repeat the recurrent course a few weeks before their currency would lapse to keep an uninterrupted record.
What is the ALC-677 course?
ALC-677, 'Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Recurrent,' is the FAA's free online recurrent training course for remote pilots who do not hold a current Part 61 pilot certificate. It's hosted on the FAA's FAASTeam training site (faasafety.gov). You work through modules covering regulations, airspace, weather, operations, and emergency procedures, with knowledge checks along the way, and receive a completion certificate at the end.
Did the recurrent KNOWLEDGE TEST go away?
Yes. Before April 2021, remote pilots had to return to a PSI testing center every 24 months and pass a paid recurrent knowledge test. The FAA eliminated that requirement and replaced it with free online recurrent training. If a source mentions a recurrent test fee, it's out of date.
What happens if my recurrent training lapses?
If more than 24 calendar months pass without completing recurrent training, you are no longer current and may not operate under Part 107 until you complete the recurrent training course. Importantly, you do NOT have to retake the full in-person initial knowledge test — finishing the free online recurrent course restores your currency.
Do I keep a record of my recurrent training?
Yes. When you complete the online course you receive a training completion certificate. You should retain it (digitally or printed) as evidence that you are current, and be able to present it if asked. The FAA expects you to maintain documentation showing you completed initial or recurrent training within the prior 24 calendar months.
I'm a Part 61 pilot — do I take the same recurrent course?
Not exactly. Remote pilots who also hold a current Part 61 certificate and meet a current flight review take a recurrent training course tailored for Part 61 holders rather than the standard ALC-677 path. Course numbering can be updated by the FAA, so verify the correct current course on the FAA's training site for your situation.
Does recurrent training cover Remote ID and operations over people?
The recurrent training is kept aligned with current Part 107 rules, which now include Remote ID and the Operations Over People / Operations at Night provisions introduced alongside the 2021 changes. While the depth varies, staying current through the recurrent course is part of keeping up with the regulatory landscape. For a deep dive, see our dedicated Remote ID guide.
Related Guides
Part 107 Test Cost & Scheduling
The $175 fee, IACRA + PSI registration, and retake rules for the initial exam.
Part 107 Test Locations
Find one of the ~700 PSI testing centers near you.
Remote ID Guide
The drone broadcast-ID rule introduced alongside the 2021 Part 107 changes.
Free Part 107 Practice Test
Realistic practice questions to keep your knowledge current.
Stay Sharp Between Recurrent Cycles
Recurrent training is free, but real currency is knowing the material cold. Rotate's practice tests, flashcards, and tracking keep your Part 107 knowledge current all year — not just every 24 months.
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