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

How to Pass the Part 107 Test on Your First Try

The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is required for anyone who wants to fly a drone commercially in the United States. Whether you plan to shoot real estate photos, inspect cell towers, map agricultural fields, or deliver packages, you need this certificate. The good news: the test is completely passable with the right preparation. The pass rate hovers around 90% for well-prepared candidates, and most people can study and pass within 2 to 4 weeks.

This guide covers everything you need to know -- what the test is, how to register, what topics appear, how to study efficiently, mistakes to avoid, and what to expect on test day.

What Is the Part 107 Test?

The Part 107 test, officially called the "Unmanned Aircraft General - Small (UAG)" exam, is a 60-question multiple-choice knowledge test administered by the FAA through PSI testing centers across the country. You have 2 hours to complete it. The passing score is 70%, meaning you need at least 42 correct answers out of 60.

The test covers regulations, airspace, weather, operations, and performance specific to small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) weighing under 55 pounds. It does not require any flight time or practical demonstration -- it is purely a written knowledge exam.

Once you pass, you receive your Remote Pilot Certificate, which is valid for 2 years. To renew, you complete an online recurrent knowledge test through the FAA's IACRA system rather than returning to a testing center.

How to Register for the Part 107 Test

The registration process is straightforward but involves a few steps:

1. Create an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) at the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) website at iacra.faa.gov
2. Schedule your exam through PSI Exams (psiexams.com) -- search for the "UAG" exam
3. Choose a testing center and date that works for you -- there are hundreds of locations across the US
4. Pay the $175 testing fee (this is the standard fee as of 2026 and is non-refundable)

You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID to the testing center. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. No personal items are allowed in the testing room -- the center provides scratch paper and a basic calculator. You will also receive a testing supplement with sectional chart excerpts and airport diagrams needed for certain questions.

The 5 Topic Areas on the Part 107 Test

The FAA organizes the test into five knowledge areas. Understanding what each covers -- and how heavily it is weighted -- is critical for efficient study.

1. Regulations (15-25% of Questions)

This section covers the rules that govern commercial drone operations under 14 CFR Part 107. Key topics include:

• Operating limitations: Maximum altitude of 400 feet AGL, maximum groundspeed of 100 mph (87 knots), daylight operations (or civil twilight with anti-collision lighting), visual line of sight requirements
• Remote pilot responsibilities: Pre-flight inspection requirements, crew roles (remote pilot in command, visual observer, person manipulating the controls), reporting accidents to the FAA within 10 days if there is serious injury or property damage exceeding $500
• Airspace authorization: Where you can and cannot fly without prior authorization, how to obtain airspace authorization through LAANC or DroneZone
• Waivers: What provisions can be waived (night operations used to require one, but no longer do post-2021 rule update), how to apply for a waiver through FAA DroneZone
• Registration requirements: All drones weighing between 0.55 lbs (250g) and 55 lbs must be registered with the FAA, display the registration number on the aircraft, and have Remote ID capability

Study tip: Read Part 107 of the Code of Federal Regulations directly. It is only about 15 pages long and is written in relatively plain language. Many test questions are pulled almost verbatim from the regulatory text.

2. Airspace Classification and Operating Requirements (15-25% of Questions)

This is often the most challenging section for people without an aviation background. You need to understand the National Airspace System (NAS).

• Class A (Alpha): 18,000 feet MSL and above -- not relevant to drone operations, but know it exists
• Class B (Bravo): Surrounds the busiest airports (think major hubs like LAX, JFK, ORD). Shaped like an inverted wedding cake. Requires ATC authorization to operate a drone
• Class C (Charlie): Surrounds medium-sized airports. Typically extends from the surface to 4,000 feet AGL with a 5 nautical mile radius inner core and a 10 nautical mile outer shelf. Requires ATC authorization
• Class D (Delta): Surrounds smaller airports with control towers. Typically extends from the surface to 2,500 feet AGL with a 4 nautical mile radius. Requires ATC authorization
• Class E (Echo): Controlled airspace that is not A, B, C, or D. Much of the US is Class E starting at either 700 feet AGL or 1,200 feet AGL. Operations below the floor of Class E do not require authorization
• Class G (Golf): Uncontrolled airspace. Typically below Class E. Most drone operations occur here. No ATC authorization needed

You also need to know about:

• Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs): Check NOTAMs before every flight
• Special Use Airspace: Restricted areas, prohibited areas, military operation areas (MOAs), warning areas
• Reading sectional charts: Identifying airspace boundaries, airport symbols, obstruction markings, and other features on the sectional chart excerpts provided during the exam

Study tip: Spend extra time learning to read sectional charts. At least 5-10 questions on the actual exam will reference the sectional chart supplement, and these questions are easy points if you know how to interpret the symbols.

3. Weather (11-16% of Questions)

You do not need to be a meteorologist, but you need a solid understanding of how weather affects drone operations.

• Weather sources: METARs (aviation routine weather reports), TAFs (terminal aerodrome forecasts), ATIS (automatic terminal information service), and how to decode them
• Cloud clearance requirements for Part 107: Minimum visibility of 3 statute miles from the control station, and stay at least 500 feet below clouds, 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds
• Atmospheric conditions: How temperature, humidity, and pressure affect air density and drone performance. Understanding density altitude and its effects on battery life and motor performance
• Wind: Effects of wind shear, turbulence near structures and terrain, microbursts, and how to assess wind conditions
• Hazardous weather: Thunderstorms, fog, icing conditions, and frontal systems. When to cancel or postpone operations
• METAR decoding: Know the standard format -- station identifier, date/time, wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature/dewpoint, altimeter setting

Study tip: Practice decoding at least 20 real METARs from aviationweather.gov. Once you understand the format, METAR questions become free points.

4. Loading and Performance (7-11% of Questions)

This section covers how weight, balance, and environmental conditions affect drone performance.

• Weight and balance: Center of gravity effects on stability, payload weight limits, how adding accessories or cargo changes flight characteristics
• Drone performance factors: How altitude, temperature, humidity, and wind affect battery life, motor efficiency, and maximum range
• Density altitude: Higher density altitude (caused by high elevation, high temperature, or high humidity) reduces lift and motor efficiency. Drones perform worse on hot days at high elevation
• Load factor: How maneuvering increases effective weight on the aircraft. Aggressive turns and banking increase load factor
• Performance calculations: Reading and interpreting basic performance charts if provided

Study tip: Focus on understanding the concepts rather than memorizing numbers. The test questions in this section are typically conceptual -- "What happens to drone performance when temperature increases at a high-altitude location?"

5. Operations (35-45% of Questions)

This is the largest section and covers practical operational knowledge.

• Pre-flight planning: Checking NOTAMs, weather briefings, airspace authorization, site surveys, emergency procedures
• Crew resource management (CRM): Communication between remote pilot in command and visual observers, task delegation, situational awareness, managing distractions
• Radio communications: You do not need to know how to talk on the radio for Part 107, but you should understand basic radio communication procedures in case you operate near an airport
• Airport operations: Understanding runway markings, taxiway markings, traffic patterns, and how manned aircraft operate in the vicinity of airports
• Emergency procedures: Lost link procedures, fly-away scenarios, battery failures, what to do if you lose visual contact with the drone
• Physiological factors: Effects of drugs and alcohol (8 hours bottle to throttle, 0.04% BAC limit), fatigue, stress, hypoxia (at altitude), and how they impair decision-making
• Aeronautical decision-making (ADM): Risk assessment models, hazard identification, the IMSAFE checklist (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Eating/Emotion), PAVE checklist (Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, External Pressures)
• Maintenance and inspection: Pre-flight checklist items, battery inspection, propeller condition, firmware updates, calibration

Study tip: This section is broad but most questions test common sense and basic safety principles. If you have any real-world drone flying experience, much of this will feel intuitive.

Your 2 to 4 Week Study Plan

How long you need depends on your background. If you already have aviation knowledge (private pilot, aviation enthusiast), 2 weeks is realistic. If drones and aviation are completely new to you, plan for 3 to 4 weeks.

Week 1: Foundations

• Read 14 CFR Part 107 in full (2-3 hours)
• Study airspace classifications and learn to identify them on a sectional chart (4-5 hours)
• Begin learning METAR and TAF decoding (2-3 hours)
• Take a diagnostic practice test to identify weak areas (1 hour)

Week 2: Deep Dive

• Study weather theory and practice decoding 20+ METARs (3-4 hours)
• Study loading, performance, and density altitude concepts (2-3 hours)
• Study operations, ADM, and CRM concepts (3-4 hours)
• Take 2-3 practice tests and review every wrong answer (3-4 hours)

Week 3: Reinforcement (if needed)

• Focus study sessions on your weakest areas identified from practice tests (4-5 hours)
• Practice sectional chart interpretation with timed exercises (2-3 hours)
• Take 2-3 more full practice tests under timed conditions (3-4 hours)
• Review all incorrect answers and create a personal "trouble spots" list (1-2 hours)

Week 4: Final Review (if needed)

• Review your trouble spots list daily (1 hour per day)
• Take 1-2 final practice tests -- aim for consistent 85%+ scores (2-3 hours)
• Light review of regulations and airspace the day before the test (1-2 hours)
• Do NOT cram the night before -- rest is more valuable at this point

Study Strategies That Actually Work

Active Recall Over Passive Reading

Do not just read study materials and highlight text. After reading a section, close the material and try to recall the key points from memory. Quiz yourself. Explain concepts out loud. This active recall technique has been proven by cognitive science research to be far more effective than re-reading.

Spaced Repetition

Review material at increasing intervals. Study airspace on Monday, then review it on Wednesday, then again on Saturday. Each time you successfully recall information after a longer gap, it becomes more permanently stored in long-term memory.

Practice Tests Are Non-Negotiable

Take at least 5 full practice tests before your real exam. After each test, review every single question you got wrong. Do not just check the correct answer -- understand why the correct answer is correct and why your choice was wrong. Keep a running list of topics you miss repeatedly.

Use the Sectional Chart Supplement

The FAA provides a testing supplement with sectional chart excerpts during the exam. Many study resources include these same supplements. Practice with them until you can quickly locate airports, identify airspace boundaries, read obstruction heights, and decode chart symbols.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring airspace questions during study. Airspace is the most failed topic area. Do not skip it because it seems complicated -- lean into it.
2. Not practicing with sectional charts. Real exam questions reference specific charts. If you have never looked at a sectional chart before test day, you will waste valuable time figuring out basic symbology.
3. Memorizing without understanding. The FAA writes questions that test understanding, not rote memorization. Knowing that Class B airspace exists is not enough -- you need to know its shape, dimensions, and what authorization is required.
4. Skipping weather decoding practice. METAR and TAF questions are easy points once you know the format. Without practice, they look like gibberish.
5. Underestimating the operations section. It covers 35-45% of the test. Many candidates spend too much time on regulations and airspace and not enough on operations, ADM, and CRM.
6. Not taking enough practice tests. One practice test is not enough. You need repeated exposure to different question phrasings and scenarios.
7. Cramming the night before. Your brain consolidates information during sleep. A well-rested brain performs significantly better on knowledge tests than an exhausted one full of last-minute facts.

Test Day Tips

Before You Arrive

• Confirm your testing center location and appointment time the day before
• Get a full night of sleep (7-8 hours minimum)
• Eat a balanced meal before the exam -- do not go in hungry or over-caffeinated
• Bring your government-issued photo ID and your FTN number
• Arrive 30 minutes early

During the Test

• Read each question carefully -- the FAA loves subtle wording differences
• Use the process of elimination. Even if you are unsure, eliminating one obviously wrong answer improves your odds significantly
• Flag difficult questions and come back to them. Do not spend 5 minutes on one question when there are 59 others
• Use all the time you need. You have 2 hours for 60 questions -- that is 2 minutes per question, which is plenty
• For sectional chart questions, take your time to carefully examine the chart supplement. The answer is almost always visible on the chart if you know where to look
• Double-check your answers if you finish early. Focus on questions you flagged or were unsure about

After the Test

• You receive a preliminary pass/fail result immediately at the testing center
• Your official score report arrives within a few days via email
• If you pass, complete your IACRA application to receive your temporary Remote Pilot Certificate
• Your permanent certificate arrives by mail in 6-8 weeks
• If you fail, you can retake the test after 14 days. Review your score report to identify weak areas and focus your study there

What Happens After You Pass

Passing the Part 107 test is just the first step. Once you have your Remote Pilot Certificate:

• You can legally fly drones commercially anywhere in Class G airspace without additional authorization
• For controlled airspace (B, C, D, and surface-level E), you need to obtain authorization through LAANC or FAA DroneZone before each flight
• Your certificate is valid for 24 calendar months. Before it expires, you must pass a recurrent knowledge test (available online for free through the FAA)
• You must maintain your knowledge of current regulations, as the FAA periodically updates Part 107 rules

The Bottom Line

The Part 107 test is not difficult if you prepare properly. With 2 to 4 weeks of focused study, a solid understanding of airspace and regulations, practice decoding weather reports, and at least 5 practice tests under your belt, you will walk into the testing center with confidence. The 90% pass rate for prepared candidates is not a coincidence -- it reflects the fact that this is a fair, passable exam that rewards genuine preparation.

Do not overthink it, do not underprepare, and do not skip practice tests. Follow this guide, put in the study hours, and you will pass on your first try.

*Ready to start studying? Our [Part 107 practice questions](/part-107) cover every topic area on the exam with detailed explanations for each answer. Start your free practice session today.*