Questions people ask
About the FAA drone test, and about our courses.
Do I need a license to fly a drone?
If you fly only for fun, you need the free TRUST certificate, not a license. If the flight is for any kind of work or business, you need a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, which means passing the FAA knowledge test.
How hard is the Part 107 test?
It's 60 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, and you need 70% to pass. The hard parts for most people are reading sectional charts and the exact numbers in the regulations. Both are very learnable with practice.
How much does it cost to get a Part 107 certificate?
The test is $175, paid to PSI when you book. Each drone you fly commercially is registered for $5 (good for three years). Recurrent training every two years is free. A prep course is optional.
How long should I study?
Most people do well with 15 to 25 hours over two to four weeks. Ground School includes a 2-week and a 4-week plan.
What changed on the test recently?
Since September 29, 2025, regulations are 48% of the questions and weather only 5%. From October 26, 2026, some questions use current sectional chart images that aren't in the printed testing supplement. Our courses are built for both.
Does the certificate expire?
No. But to keep using it you must complete the FAA's free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months. It's training, not a retest.
What's the difference between the three courses?
Practice Pass ($49) is timed practice exams and a cram sheet, for people who've already studied. Ground School ($149) is the full course: every lesson, the chart workbook and the certification walk-through. Commercial Pilot ($249) adds LAANC and waivers in practice, flight skills, and how to start a drone business.
Are the lessons video?
No. They're short written lessons with diagrams and chart images, so you can read them at your own pace, search them, and come back to a single fact in seconds. That's also why we cost less than the video courses.
Can I fly at night?
Under Part 107, yes, without a waiver, as long as your drone has anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles. The same lighting is required during civil twilight.
Can I fly near an airport?
In controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, and E at the surface) you need FAA authorization first. LAANC often grants it in near real time. Reading the chart to know when you need it is a big part of the test.
Still have a question?
Ask us. We'll answer, and if lots of people ask, it goes on this page.