Note: This post reflects my personal experience taking the FAA Part 107 exam in 2022. Rules, test fees, and FAA guidance can change, so always check the FAA directly for the latest requirements and official study materials before booking your exam.
Buying a drone and realizing you can suddenly see the world from above is one of the coolest things about living in this era. Aerial perspective changes everything. What looks ordinary from the ground can feel completely different once you see it from above.
But once drones became more common, the FAA also stepped in more clearly around safety and commercial use. That is where Part 107 comes in.
What Part 107 Is
Part 107 is the FAA certification that allows you to operate a drone for non-recreational purposes in the United States. In simple terms, if you are flying a drone for work, for business, or for content that falls outside pure recreational use, this is the certification most people are talking about.
The FAA’s current framing is clear that almost all non-recreational drone flying falls under Part 107, and the FAA’s commercial operator page is still the best place to start for the official overview.
Does this really make sense?…not really..ish.
Who Needs a Part 107 Certificate
This is where a lot of people get confused.
A lot of drone owners assume that only full-time professionals need a Part 107 certificate, but the FAA’s non-recreational rules reach farther than many people expect. If your flying is tied to business, content creation, or other non-recreational purposes, Part 107 is usually the lane you are in.
That was the reality I had to face once I wanted to stop looking over my shoulder while using drone footage more seriously.
What You Need to Pass the Exam
To earn the certificate, you need to pass the FAA aeronautical knowledge test at an authorized testing center. The FAA’s official test framework still points applicants toward the Airman Certification Standards, the Remote Pilot Study Guide, and sample questions as the baseline study material.
What caught me off guard was how much of the exam extends beyond simply flying a drone. You are expected to understand topics like:
- weather patterns
- airspace classifications
- sectional charts
- METARs
- cloud types
- radio communication concepts
- operational rules and restrictions
That is why the exam feels intimidating at first. It is not just about drones. It is about learning the aviation framework around them.
What It Cost and How Long It Took
At the time I took the exam, here is what the process looked like for me:
- Exam fee: $175
- Location: FAA-authorized testing center
- Test duration: 2 hours
- My score: 80%
Because testing systems can change over time, I would not hard-code these details forever without checking the latest FAA and testing-center information first. The FAA testing pages and knowledge testing matrix are the better source for current exam structure and availability.
How I Studied
There are plenty of study options out there, both free and paid.
For me, I chose a paid course because I wanted something structured. I used Drone Pro Academy, and what helped most was not just the information itself, but the pacing and visuals. It gave me a clear place to work through the major concepts instead of piecing together random information from all over the internet.
That said, if I were telling someone how to approach this now, I would say start with the FAA’s own material first, then add outside resources to reinforce what you are learning. The FAA still recommends the ACS, study guide, and sample questions, so those should be your base.
Youtube Videos
There are so many Youtube videos out there that cover essentials for the test like Tony & Chelsea Northrup. But what I did was, I crammed videos of testimonials of people after they took the test and turned out, there were three questions I got the answer to from the morning of the test. Here is one video that helped me the morning of the test:
Youtube videos are a helpful piece to the puzzle!
Click here for the link to the practice exam show in the above image.
What to Expect on Exam day
Other than breaking the bank from the $175 test fee and storing all of your sh** including your phone in a bag/locker, anticipate these things:
- Read wording carefully in QUESTIONS….There are a lot of trick questions.
- Read wording carefully in ANSWERS….there are also a lot of trick answers (I.E.: MSL vs AGL)
- Chances are some questions were not even in study guides (WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEOS)
- The legend is low key your cheat book….For the exam, you are provided a pencil, basic calculator, dry erase marker, dry erase sheet, and a book with all the diagrams. However, in the beginning of the book is a legend. Which in fact may contain actual answers to questions.
DO:
1. Take your time
2. Read all questions thoroughly
3. Bookmark questions youʻre unsure of and come back to it.
4. Refer to the legend
5. Go to figures first, then read the whole question.
6. Use process of elimination for the answers where needed.
DONʻT:
….Basically the opposite of those above…
Final Thoughts
The FAA Part 107 exam felt intimidating going in, but it was absolutely passable with focused preparation.
More than that, the process actually taught me a lot. It gave me a better understanding of airspace, weather, and the wider rules that shape responsible drone use. That alone made the certification feel worth it beyond just checking a legal box.
I passed with an 80%, and the relief was real. At that point, it felt good knowing I had removed one of the biggest things standing between me and using drone footage more seriously in my work.
If you are planning to take the test, my best advice is simple: use the FAA’s material as your foundation, study with structure, and do not rush the exam when the day comes.
Earning my Part 107 certification ended up opening a whole new layer of how I document the world. Since passing, I’ve been able to capture aerial footage across places like Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, and Palau. Each location comes with its own set of rules, restrictions, and cultural considerations – though where the FAA operates. Yet having that certification gave me the confidence and awareness to approach drone work more responsibly wherever I go.
