What are the basic eligibility requirements to get a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate?

To be eligible for a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, an applicant must be at least 16 years old, be able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and be in a physical and mental condition that does not interfere with safe drone operation. The applicant must also pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test administered at an FAA-approved testing center and successfully complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security background check, as required under 14 CFR Part 107.

How do you get a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate if you already hold a manned aircraft pilot certificate?

If you already hold at least a recreational pilot certificate or higher issued under 14 CFR Part 61 and have completed a flight review within the preceding 24 months, you may complete the free FAA Part 107 online training course (ALC-451) at FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) rather than taking the knowledge test at a testing center. After completing the online course, you still apply for the Remote Pilot Certificate through IACRA and must pass the TSA security vetting process before the certificate is issued, as outlined in 14 CFR 107.61.

Why is there a TSA security vetting requirement for the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate?

The TSA security vetting requirement exists because unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating commercially under Part 107 could pose a potential security risk if operated by individuals on relevant security watch lists. Per 14 CFR 107.59, the FAA will not issue a Remote Pilot Certificate to an applicant who does not successfully pass the TSA background check. This vetting process helps ensure that commercial drone operations are conducted by individuals who do not present a threat to national security or the safety of the national airspace system.

Remote Pilot Certificate Requirements and Eligibility

The FAA's Part 107 rules govern the commercial operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in the United States. At the center of those rules is the Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating — the credential every person who operates a drone for non-recreational purposes must hold. Understanding the eligibility requirements, the application process, and the ongoing responsibilities that come with the certificate is essential both for passing the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test and for operating safely and legally from day one.

This article walks through each requirement in plain language, explains the reasoning behind the rules, highlights the numbers and timelines the FAA knowledge test loves to test, and flags the most common mistakes new applicants make.

Who Needs a Remote Pilot Certificate

Under 14 CFR Part 107, any person who acts as the remote pilot in command (RPIC) of a small unmanned aircraft for purposes other than purely recreational flight must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate with an sUAS rating. The RPIC is the individual who has final authority and responsibility for the operation — even if a separate visual observer or a person manipulating the controls is present. If you are being paid to photograph real estate, inspect infrastructure, or conduct any other commercial UAS operation, you need this certificate before the first flight.

Purely recreational flyers who operate only under the community-based organization (CBO) safety guidelines permitted by 49 U.S.C. § 44809 do not need a Part 107 certificate, but they must pass the TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) instead. Part 107, however, is required for everything else — and many recreational pilots choose to obtain it anyway because it grants more flexibility.

Eligibility Requirements

Part 107.61 establishes four core eligibility criteria for an initial Remote Pilot Certificate:

Age: The applicant must be at least 16 years old at the time of application. There is no upper age limit.
English language proficiency: The applicant must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. Limited exceptions exist if a medical condition prevents the applicant from speaking English, but the FAA must be notified, and appropriate operating limitations will be placed on the certificate.
Mental and physical fitness: The applicant must not know or have reason to know of any physical or mental condition that would interfere with safe operation of the small UAS. Importantly, unlike manned aviation, there is no FAA medical examination or medical certificate required for Part 107. The pilot makes a self-assessment of fitness before each flight.
Knowledge test: The applicant must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test for sUAS (knowledge test code UAG for initial applicants). The test is administered at FAA-approved testing centers and consists of 60 questions drawn from the Part 107 knowledge areas. A passing score is 70% or higher (answering at least 42 of 60 questions correctly). The test result is valid for 24 calendar months for the purpose of applying for the certificate.

The Application and Security Vetting Process

Once an applicant passes the knowledge test, the next step is submitting an application through the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) system at iacra.faa.gov. The applicant creates an account, enters the knowledge test ID number, and completes the online form. No visit to an FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) is required for most applicants.

After the IACRA application is submitted, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) conducts a security threat assessment on every applicant. This background check is a legal requirement under Part 107 and cannot be waived. The FAA will not issue the certificate if the TSA identifies a disqualifying security concern. Applicants should be aware that this vetting step can add time to the process — the FAA advises that certificate issuance typically takes up to 10 business days after the application is complete, though it can occasionally take longer.

Once approved, the FAA issues a temporary Remote Pilot Certificate electronically through IACRA. This temporary certificate has the same legal standing as the permanent plastic card that arrives by mail a few weeks later. Pilots may legally fly under Part 107 as soon as they have the temporary certificate in hand — they do not need to wait for the plastic card.

Certificated Pilots: An Alternate Pathway

Applicants who already hold a pilot certificate issued under 14 CFR Part 61 (Private, Commercial, ATP, etc.) and who have completed a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months may take an abbreviated online training course instead of the full 60-question knowledge test. This pathway — often called the Part 61 pilot online course — is available through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) WINGS program or another FAA-approved online training provider. Upon completion, the Part 61 pilot applies through IACRA and still undergoes TSA vetting, but avoids the testing-center knowledge exam. This provision recognizes that certificated pilots already possess a foundational understanding of airspace and aviation safety.

Certificate Duration, Recency, and Renewal

A Remote Pilot Certificate with an sUAS rating does not expire — once issued, the certificate itself remains valid indefinitely, similar to other FAA airman certificates. However, the recurrent knowledge requirement under Part 107 means that to legally act as RPIC, the pilot must have passed either the initial or a recurrent knowledge test within the preceding 24 calendar months. If that 24-month window lapses, the certificate is still valid on paper, but the pilot is no longer legally current to serve as RPIC until passing the recurrent test (knowledge test code UAR).

The recurrent test is also 60 questions and also requires a score of 70% or higher. Its content is updated periodically to reflect changes in regulations, airspace, and technology. Pilots who are current under the Part 61 alternate pathway must also complete recurrent online training every 24 calendar months to maintain recency.

Why These Requirements Matter

The minimum age of 16, the English language requirement, and the knowledge test all exist to ensure that every RPIC has the cognitive maturity, communication ability, and situational awareness needed to operate safely in the National Airspace System. Drones operating under Part 107 share airspace with manned aircraft, and a single error in judgment — flying too high, entering controlled airspace without authorization, or losing situational awareness — can create a genuine midair collision hazard. The TSA security vetting adds a national security layer, acknowledging that a small UAS can be misused.

The self-certification of physical and mental fitness before each flight is a significant responsibility. Unlike manned aviation, there is no AME (Aviation Medical Examiner) standing between an unfit pilot and the cockpit. The FAA places the burden squarely on the RPIC to ground themselves when impaired by fatigue, medication, illness, or emotional stress. This mirrors the IMSAFE personal minimums concept used in manned aviation, and it is just as important in the UAS world.

Key Numbers and Rules

Minimum age: 16 years old
Knowledge test questions: 60 questions
Passing score: 70% (42 of 60 correct)
Test result validity for application: 24 calendar months
Recency requirement: Knowledge test or recurrent training within the preceding 24 calendar months
No FAA medical certificate required — self-certification of fitness before each flight
TSA security vetting: mandatory for all applicants, no exceptions
Temporary certificate: legally valid immediately upon electronic issuance through IACRA
Certificate itself: does not expire, but recency must be maintained

Common Test Traps

Confusing certificate validity with recency. The certificate never expires, but if your knowledge test is more than 24 calendar months old, you are not legally current to act as RPIC. The FAA test will present scenarios where a pilot has a valid certificate but has lapsed recency — the answer is that the pilot cannot legally fly as RPIC.
Assuming no background check is needed. TSA vetting is mandatory. Many students overlook this step or assume it only applies to foreign nationals. It applies to everyone.
Forgetting the 16-year minimum age. Part 107 sets the minimum at 16, not 17 or 18. Some students confuse this with private pilot minimums (17) or sport pilot minimums (17). For Part 107 only, it is 16.
Misidentifying who needs a Part 107 certificate. The RPIC needs the certificate. A visual observer or person manipulating the controls at the direction of a certificated RPIC does not need a certificate — but the RPIC must always be present, alert, and in command.
Treating the temporary certificate as inferior. The temporary certificate issued through IACRA is fully valid. Pilots do not need to wait for the plastic card before conducting Part 107 operations.