How to Pass Part 107 on Your First Try (2026 Study Guide)

What Is Part 107 and Why Does It Matter?

The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is the federal license required to fly drones commercially in the United States. Without it, you cannot legally charge money for aerial photography, inspection flights, mapping, or any other drone-based service. The good news: with the right study plan, you can pass it on your first attempt.

The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You have two hours to complete it. You need a score of 70% or higher to pass — that means getting at least 42 out of 60 questions correct. The national pass rate hovers around 85-90%, which sounds high, but the 10-15% who fail usually made the same avoidable mistakes.

This guide gives you the exact study plan, topic breakdown, and strategies to pass Part 107 the first time you sit down at the testing center.

The 5 Core Topics and Their Weight on the Exam

Understanding what the exam actually tests is the single most important step. The FAA draws questions from five knowledge areas, but they are not weighted equally:

Key insight: Regulations and airspace alone account for 55-65% of the exam. If you nail those two topics, you are already most of the way to passing. Many candidates spend too much time on weather theory and not enough on the regulation details that dominate the test.

Your 2-Week Study Plan (Day by Day)

This plan assumes you can dedicate 1.5 to 2 hours per day. If you have more time, you can compress it. If you have less, stretch it to three weeks.

Week 1: Learn the Material

Day 1 — Regulations Foundations

Read 14 CFR Part 107 in full. Focus on operating limitations: maximum altitude (400 feet AGL), daylight operations, visual line of sight, and the requirement for a remote PIC. Take notes on the specific numbers — the exam loves testing exact values.

Day 2 — Regulations Deep Dive

Study registration requirements, accident reporting thresholds ($500 damage to persons or property, serious injury, loss of consciousness), and waivers. Know which rules can be waived and which cannot. Practice 50 regulation questions.

Day 3 — Airspace Classification

Learn the airspace system from Class A down to Class G. Memorize the floor and ceiling of each class, communication requirements, and which airspace requires prior authorization (LAANC or DroneZone). Draw the airspace diagram from memory at least three times.

Day 4 — Sectional Charts

This is where most candidates struggle. Learn to read sectional chart symbols: airports, airspace boundaries, obstacles, TFRs, and NOTAMs. Practice identifying airspace class from a sectional chart excerpt. The FAA will show you chart snippets and ask what airspace you are in.

Day 5 — Weather Basics

Study METARs, TAFs, and how to decode them. Understand stable vs unstable air, temperature inversions, wind shear, density altitude, and cloud formation. You do not need to be a meteorologist, but you need to decode a METAR and understand how weather affects drone operations.

Day 6 — Weather Applied

Focus on micrometeorology: how buildings, terrain, and bodies of water create local wind patterns. Study the effects of density altitude on drone performance. Practice 50 weather questions.

Day 7 — Loading, Performance & Operations

Study weight and balance concepts, center of gravity, and how payload affects flight time and performance. Review preflight inspection procedures, emergency procedures, and maintenance logging. This is the lightest topic but still worth 6-9 questions.

Week 2: Practice and Refine

Day 8 — Full Practice Test #1

Take a full 60-question practice test under timed conditions. Do not look anything up. Score yourself honestly. Identify your weakest areas.

Day 9 — Weak Area Review

Whatever you scored lowest on in the practice test, spend today reviewing that topic. Re-read the source material and do 50+ targeted questions.

Day 10 — Crew Resource Management & ADM

Study aeronautical decision-making models (IMSAFE, PAVE, 3P), crew resource management for multi-person drone operations, and risk assessment. This is the smallest section but the questions are free points if you have studied.

Day 11 — Full Practice Test #2

Take another full practice test. You should score above 80% at this point. If not, spend an extra day on your weak areas before moving forward.

Day 12 — Sectional Chart Intensive

The chart questions are the most commonly missed. Spend today doing nothing but chart-reading exercises. Practice identifying airspace, obstacles, airport information, and frequencies from real sectional chart excerpts.

Day 13 — Final Review

Review your notes, flashcard your weak areas, and take 30 quick-fire questions across all topics. Focus on the numbers: altitudes, distances, reporting thresholds, and time limits that the FAA loves to test.

Day 14 — Light Review and Rest

Do a light review of your notes in the morning. Do not cram. Get a good night of sleep. Your brain consolidates information during rest.

---

Ready to start practicing right now?

> Practice with 500+ Part 107 questions — [Start Free 3-Day Trial](/checkout?plan=monthly&coupon=PILOT50&focus=part107)

---

Topic-by-Topic Tips That Save You Points

Regulations: Memorize the Numbers

The FAA tests specific values. Know these cold:

• Maximum altitude: 400 feet AGL (or within 400 feet of a structure)
• Maximum speed: 100 mph (87 knots)
• Minimum visibility: 3 statute miles
• Cloud clearance: 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontally
• Accident reporting: within 10 days to the FAA
• Registration renewal: every 3 years
• Remote pilot certificate renewal: every 24 calendar months (recurrent test or training)

Airspace: Draw It Until You Can Do It Blind

Draw the airspace wedding cake diagram five times from memory. Label the floors, ceilings, and communication requirements for each class. On the exam, when they show you a sectional chart, mentally overlay this diagram.

Weather: Decode, Do Not Memorize

Do not try to memorize every possible METAR. Instead, learn the decoding system:

• Station identifier → Wind direction and speed → Visibility → Weather phenomena → Sky condition → Temperature/dew point → Altimeter setting
• Practice decoding 20 real METARs. After the 10th one, it becomes second nature.

Sectional Charts: Practice with Real Charts

Download the FAA sectional chart legend (it is free). Use real charts from SkyVector or the FAA website. Practice identifying the following: magenta vs blue airports, Class B shelves, Class D surface areas, MOAs, restricted areas, and obstacle heights (AGL vs MSL).

ADM: Apply Common Sense

ADM questions rarely trick you. They describe a scenario and ask what the safest decision is. The answer is almost always the most conservative option: delay the flight, land immediately, or get more information before proceeding.

The 7 Most Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Confusing AGL and MSL. The exam mixes above ground level and mean sea level. Obstacle heights on charts show both — the top number is MSL, the bottom (in parentheses) is AGL. Always check which one the question is asking for.

1. Forgetting LAANC for controlled airspace. You cannot fly in Class B, C, D, or surface E airspace without prior authorization. Many candidates know this in theory but miss it when the question is framed as a scenario.

1. Misreading sectional charts. The most missed questions involve identifying what airspace you are in from a chart snippet. Practice this extensively.

1. Rushing through the exam. You have two hours for 60 questions. That is two minutes per question. Use it. Read every question twice. Flag questions you are unsure about and come back to them.

1. Not studying METARs. At least 3-4 questions will require you to decode a METAR or TAF. Candidates who skip this topic give away easy points.

1. Over-studying weather theory. Weather is only 15-20% of the exam. Candidates who spend 50% of their time on weather physics are misallocating their study time. Regulations and airspace should get the majority of your attention.

1. Ignoring the practice tests. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions is the single most effective study method. It reveals your weak areas and builds test-taking stamina.

Exam Day: What to Expect

You will take the exam at a PSI testing center. Bring a government-issued photo ID. You are allowed to use a basic calculator and can request a testing supplement (which includes chart excerpts and legends). No phones, notes, or smartwatches.

The test is computer-based. You can flag questions and return to them. Your score appears on screen immediately after you submit.

If you pass, you will receive a temporary certificate within days via email. Your permanent card arrives by mail in 6-8 weeks. You can legally operate as a remote PIC with the temporary certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the Part 107 exam?

The exam is challenging but very passable with proper preparation. The national pass rate is 85-90%. Most people who fail either did not study enough or focused on the wrong topics. Two weeks of dedicated study is enough for most candidates.

How much does it cost to take the Part 107 exam?

The exam costs $175, paid directly to the testing center (PSI). There are no other fees to obtain the certificate. If you fail, you must wait 14 days before retaking the exam and pay the $175 again.

Can I study for Part 107 in one week?

Yes, but only if you can dedicate 3-4 hours per day. The material is not conceptually difficult — the challenge is volume. If you already have aviation knowledge (for example, you hold a private pilot certificate), one week is plenty. For complete beginners, two weeks is safer.

Do I need flight experience to pass Part 107?

No. The Part 107 exam is a knowledge test only. There is no practical flight test. You do not need any prior drone or aviation experience. The exam tests your knowledge of regulations, airspace, weather, and decision-making — all of which can be learned from study materials.

How often do I need to renew my Part 107 certificate?

Every 24 calendar months, you must complete recurrent training or pass a recurrent knowledge test. The recurrent training can be completed online for free through the FAA CATS system. If you let it lapse, you simply complete the recurrent training — you do not need to retake the full initial exam.

---

*Start your Part 107 prep today with [500+ practice questions and an AI tutor](/checkout?plan=monthly&coupon=PILOT50&focus=part107). Pass the first time or study until you do — for just $7.49/month.*