Quick answer: A good Part 107 study guide covers five areas: the Part 107 rules, airspace and charts, weather, loading and performance, and operations, including decision-making and airport procedures. The FAA test has 60 questions, a 2-hour limit, and a 70% passing score. Study from the FAA's ACS and AC 107-2A, then drill practice questions.
A note on this guide: it's a study aid, not legal advice, and it doesn't guarantee a passing score. We check it against FAA sources, but the FAA's current documents always win. If something here disagrees with them, go with the FAA and let us know.
FAA Study Guide
Sixty questions, two hours, and a sectional chart that looks like someone spilled a box of crayons on a map of your county. That's the Part 107 knowledge test. This Part 107 study guide is the outline we point people to at the counter, updated for the rules as they stand in September 2026.
Use it to organize your prep, then check the details against the FAA's own material. Rules change, and a study guide from last year can quietly send you in with an out-of-date answer. We've marked every regulation with its section number so you can look it up.
What's on the Part 107 test in 2026?
FAA-S-ACS-10BAs of Sep 2026Source: FAA
The Part 107 knowledge test, which the FAA calls the Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) exam, covers regulations, airspace, weather, loading and performance, and operations. You take it in person at an FAA-approved PSI testing center with a government-issued photo ID. The FAA's certification page lists the full set of topics, from crew resource management to night operations.
| Test detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Scored questions | 60, multiple choice |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Where | FAA-approved PSI testing center |
| Fee | About $175 (confirm with PSI when you book) |
| If you fail | Retest after 14 calendar days (14 CFR 107.71) |
| After you pass | Results reach IACRA within about 48 hours |
The FAA's September 2026 testing advisory says that beginning October 26, 2026, the UAG test will include image-based questions that aren't in the printed test supplement, drawn from current sectional and other charts. Memorizing figure numbers from the supplement won't be enough. Learn to read any chart, not just the ones in the book.
What study materials should you use for the Part 107 test?
Start with the FAA's own documents, because the test questions are written from them. Third-party courses help, but they're built on the same sources.
- The Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-10B). This is the list of what the test can ask you.
- Advisory Circular 107-2A, the FAA's plain-language guide to Part 107. It reflects the 2021 updates for night flying, operations over people, and Remote ID.
- The FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22). It's still useful for weather, charts, and decision-making, but it dates from August 2016, so check anything regulatory against AC 107-2A.
- The current text of 14 CFR Part 107 on eCFR.
- A current sectional chart for your area. Practice finding airspace, airports, and obstacles on it until it stops looking like crayons.
Which Part 107 numbers do you need to memorize?
14 CFR Part 107As of Sep 2026Source: eCFR, FAA
These are the numbers that show up again and again on the test. If you only make one flash card deck, make it this table.
| Rule | The number |
|---|---|
| Small unmanned aircraft weight (107.3) | Less than 55 lb at takeoff, including everything on board |
| Maximum altitude (107.51) | 400 ft AGL, or within 400 ft of a structure and no more than 400 ft above its top |
| Maximum groundspeed (107.51) | 87 knots (100 mph) |
| Minimum visibility (107.51) | 3 statute miles from the control station |
| Cloud clearance (107.51) | 500 ft below, 2,000 ft horizontally |
| Alcohol (91.17) | 8 hours bottle to throttle; BAC below 0.04% |
| Accident reporting (107.9) | Within 10 calendar days: serious injury, loss of consciousness, or more than $500 in damage to other property |
| Night lighting (107.29) | Anti-collision lights visible for at least 3 statute miles |
| Civil twilight (107.29) | 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset (Alaska differs) |
| Minimum age (107.61) | 16 years old |
| Knowledge recency (107.65) | Within the previous 24 calendar months |
| Retest after failing (107.71) | 14 calendar days |
| Category 1 weight (107.110) | 0.55 lb or less |
| Category 2 impact limit (107.120) | Less than 11 ft-lb of kinetic energy |
| Category 3 impact limit (107.130) | Less than 25 ft-lb of kinetic energy |
| Registration (Part 48) | $5 per drone, valid 3 years |
What does Part 107 cover, subpart by subpart?
14 CFR 107.1 to 107.205As of Sep 2026Source: eCFR
Part 107 has five subparts, and the test pulls from all of them. Here's what each one does.
Subpart A, General. Applicability, definitions, falsification, inspection, and accident reporting. Part 107 covers registration, certification, and operation of civil small drones in the U.S. Under 107.1, it does not apply to air carrier operations, recreational flying under 49 U.S.C. 44809, operations under a Section 333 or 49 U.S.C. 44807 exemption, or Part 91 operations with an airworthiness certificate. You must show your certificate and ID on request to the FAA, NTSB, TSA, or law enforcement, and report qualifying accidents through FAADroneZone or your local FSDO.
Subpart B, Operating rules. The day-to-day rules. The remote pilot in command has final authority and must check the aircraft before each flight. No flying with a condition that interferes with safe operation. Keep visual line of sight with unaided eyes, corrective lenses excepted. No careless or reckless operation, no hazardous materials, and one drone per pilot at a time. You can fly from a moving land or water vehicle only over a sparsely populated area, and never while carrying someone else's property for pay. Flying from a moving aircraft is prohibited. Yield right of way to all aircraft. Transponders and ADS-B Out stay off unless the FAA authorizes them.
Subpart C, Remote pilot certification. Eligibility (16 or older, English proficiency, fit to fly), the knowledge test, test conduct and cheating penalties, the TSA security check, and recency. Cheating can cost you a year before you can apply for any certificate.
Subpart D, Operations over people. The four categories, declarations of compliance, and flight over moving vehicles. More on this below.
Subpart E, Waivers. You can apply for a certificate of waiver to deviate from the rules listed in 107.205, such as visual line of sight or operating multiple aircraft, if you can show the operation is safe. Some things can't be waived, including carrying hazardous materials.
How do operations over people work under Part 107?
14 CFR 107.39, 107.110 to 107.140As of Sep 2026Source: eCFR
You can fly over people who are directly participating, or who are under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle. Otherwise, the aircraft has to qualify for one of four categories. One detail older guides miss: since the 2021 update, Categories 1, 2, and 4 allow sustained flight over open-air assemblies only if the operation meets the Remote ID requirements. Category 3 doesn't allow it at all.
| Category | Aircraft requirement | Open-air assemblies |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 0.55 lb or less, no exposed rotating parts that would cut skin | Sustained flight only with Remote ID compliance |
| Category 2 | Under 11 ft-lb impact energy, no exposed lacerating parts, FAA-accepted declaration of compliance, labeled | Sustained flight only with Remote ID compliance |
| Category 3 | Under 25 ft-lb impact energy, no exposed lacerating parts, FAA-accepted declaration of compliance, labeled | Not allowed. Fly over people only in a closed or restricted-access site with notice, or without sustained flight over them |
| Category 4 | Airworthiness certificate under Part 21, operated within its flight manual limits, maintained per the rules | Sustained flight only with Remote ID compliance |
Manufacturers submit the declaration of compliance and means of compliance for Categories 2 and 3. If the label on an eligible aircraft goes missing, the remote pilot is responsible for relabeling it. Flying over moving vehicles follows similar rules: stay within a closed or restricted-access site with notice, or avoid sustained flight over the vehicles.
What airspace rules show up on the Part 107 test?
14 CFR 107.41, 107.43, 107.45, 107.47As of Sep 2026Source: eCFR, FAA
You need prior ATC authorization in Class B, C, and D airspace and in the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport. Class G needs no authorization. Expect several chart questions asking you to identify which class you're in and at what altitude.
| Airspace | Typical shape | Drone authorization? |
|---|---|---|
| Class B | Surface to 10,000 ft MSL around the busiest airports, layered like an upside-down wedding cake | Required |
| Class C | Surface to 4,000 ft above airport elevation around towered airports with radar approach control | Required |
| Class D | Surface to 2,500 ft above airport elevation around towered airports | Required |
| Class E surface area | Starts at the surface around some non-towered airports | Required |
| Class E elsewhere | Controlled airspace that usually starts at 700 or 1,200 ft AGL | Not required |
| Class G | Uncontrolled airspace from the surface up to the overlying Class E | Not required |
In practice, most pilots get authorization through LAANC, the FAA's automated system, which as of September 2026 covers 726 airports. Elsewhere, you request it through FAADroneZone. Also know these for the test:
- Don't interfere with operations or traffic patterns at any airport, heliport, or seaplane base.
- Prohibited and restricted areas need permission from the controlling agency.
- Check NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) and TFRs before every flight. The FAA restored the "Notice to Airmen" name in 2025, so you may see both versions in study material.
- Know special use airspace: prohibited, restricted, warning, MOAs, alert areas, and controlled firing areas, plus military training routes.
- Know airport sources: sectional charts, the Chart Supplement, ATIS, and CTAF or UNICOM at non-towered fields.
Do you need to know Remote ID for the Part 107 test?
14 CFR Part 89As of Sep 2026Source: FAA
Yes. Remote ID was added to the test in April 2021, and it applies to nearly every registered drone. Under 14 CFR Part 89, there are three ways to comply: fly a Standard Remote ID drone with the broadcast built in, attach a Remote ID broadcast module, or fly without Remote ID only inside an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA), within visual line of sight. Remote ID also ties into operations over people, as the table above shows.
Which aeronautical knowledge areas does the test cover?
Everything below comes from the ACS. It's where most people lose points, because it isn't memorization. You have to apply it.
Weather. Know your sources (METAR, TAF, the Aviation Weather Center, and Flight Service at 1800wxbrief) and how to decode METAR and TAF reports. A METAR is an hourly surface observation; a TAF is a forecast for the area within 5 statute miles of an airport. Know how density altitude, wind, wind shear, microbursts, inversions, fronts, structural icing, and the three thunderstorm stages (cumulus, mature, dissipating) affect a small drone.
Loading and performance. Weight and balance, center of gravity, load factor in turns, and how heat, humidity, and altitude cut performance. High density altitude means less lift and shorter battery life, which is the test's way of saying Denver in July.
Decision-making and crew resource management. Use the IMSAFE checklist (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion), PAVE (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures), and the 3P model (Perceive, Process, Perform). Know the risk matrix, how to split tasks across the crew, and the five hazardous attitudes.
| Hazardous attitude | Antidote |
|---|---|
| Anti-authority: "Don't tell me." | Follow the rules. They are usually right. |
| Impulsivity: "Do it quickly." | Not so fast. Think first. |
| Invulnerability: "It won't happen to me." | It could happen to me. |
| Macho: "I can do it." | Taking chances is foolish. |
| Resignation: "What's the use?" | I'm not helpless. I can make a difference. |
Physiology. Hyperventilation, acute and chronic stress, fatigue, dehydration, heatstroke, over-the-counter medications, and how night vision and scanning techniques work.
Airport operations and radio. Towered versus non-towered airports, traffic patterns, CTAF and UNICOM procedures, aircraft call signs, and wildlife and tower hazards, including guy wires.
Maintenance and preflight. Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, following the manufacturer's instructions, keeping records, and a real preflight inspection. Expect a question or two on lithium battery fire risk. The test won't quiz you on our batteries page, but it will ask how to charge and store them safely.
How do you get and keep your certificate after the test?
14 CFR 107.61 to 107.65As of Sep 2026Source: FAA
After you pass, you apply for the certificate in IACRA on FAA Form 8710-13, clear a TSA background check, and print a temporary certificate. Our post on what to do after passing Part 107 walks through it step by step.
To stay current, you complete free online recurrent training within every 24 calendar months. There's no recurrent test anymore. The FAA retired it in April 2021. Most pilots take ALC-677 through FAASTeam. Pilots who hold a Part 61 certificate with a current flight review take ALC-515 for recurrent training, and ALC-451 for their initial training instead of the knowledge test. Our Part 107 recurrent training post covers how the 24-month clock works.
Is Part 108 on the Part 107 test?
PendingStatus as of September 2026
No. Part 108 is the FAA's proposed rule for routine beyond visual line of sight operations, proposed in August 2025. As of September 2026 it has not been published as a final rule, and the test is based on Part 107 as it stands. Study what's in effect today.
Practice quiz: can you answer these?
Try each one out loud in two or three sentences, then open it to check your answer.
1. When does a remote pilot have to report an accident to the FAA?
Within 10 calendar days, if the operation causes serious injury (AIS Level 3 or higher) or any loss of consciousness, or more than $500 in damage to property other than the drone, measured by repair cost or by fair market value if it's a total loss.
2. What does visual line of sight require, and where do corrective lenses fit?
The remote pilot in command, the visual observer if used, and the person at the controls must be able to see the aircraft throughout the flight with unaided vision. Glasses and contact lenses are allowed; binoculars and FPV goggles don't count.
3. What are the two main requirements for flying at night?
The remote pilot must have passed the initial test or completed the training or recurrent course that includes night operations (on or after April 6, 2021), and the drone needs anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision.
4. When can you fly from a moving vehicle?
From a moving land or water vehicle, only over a sparsely populated area and not while carrying another person's property for compensation or hire. Flying from a moving aircraft is prohibited.
5. What are the visibility and cloud clearance minimums?
At least 3 statute miles of flight visibility from the control station, and at least 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds.
6. How do the Category 2 and Category 3 impact limits differ?
Category 2 aircraft must not cause injury equal to or greater than 11 ft-lb of kinetic energy on impact. Category 3 raises that to 25 ft-lb, with tighter limits on where you can fly over people.
7. What is a declaration of compliance, and who submits it?
It's a record the manufacturer or applicant submits to the FAA certifying that an aircraft meets the Category 2 or Category 3 requirements for flight over people. The FAA must accept it before the aircraft can be used for those operations.
8. Who is eligible for a remote pilot certificate?
Someone at least 16 years old who can read, speak, write, and understand English (with limited medical exceptions), has no condition that would interfere with safe operation, and passes the knowledge test or, for Part 61 pilots, the FAA's online training.
9. How does the 24-calendar-month recency requirement work?
You can only act as remote pilot in command if you've passed the initial test or completed recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months. Today that means the FAA's free online course, ALC-677, or ALC-515 for Part 61 pilots with a current flight review. The recurrent test was retired in 2021.
10. What is ATC's main job, and why does it matter to drone pilots?
ATC prevents collisions and keeps traffic moving efficiently. That's why you need ATC authorization before flying in Class B, C, D, or surface-area Class E airspace.
Longer review questions
These don't have one right answer. Talk them through with a study partner or write a paragraph for each.
- Walk through the four categories of operations over people. What aircraft qualifies for each, and where can each one fly?
- Pick three decision-making tools, such as IMSAFE, PAVE, or the 3P model, and describe how you'd use each one before and during a real job.
- How do wind, temperature, density altitude, thunderstorms, and icing each affect a small drone's performance?
- What does the remote pilot owe the operation during preflight, and how does skipping it connect to accident reporting?
- Compare getting and keeping a remote pilot certificate with and without a Part 61 pilot certificate, including the initial and recurrent courses for each path.
Part 107 glossary
The terms below come up on the test and in FAA guidance. Grouped by topic so they're easier to study.
Rules and certification| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 14 CFR Part 107 | The FAA rules for operating and certifying civil small drones in the U.S. |
| Advisory Circular (AC) | FAA guidance on how to comply with a rule. Helpful, but not itself regulatory. AC 107-2A covers Part 107. |
| Airman Certification Standards (ACS) | The FAA document listing the knowledge and risk management standards for the Remote Pilot certificate. |
| Knowledge Test Report | The score report you get right after the test. It lists missed knowledge areas and has the exam ID you need for IACRA. |
| Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating | The FAA certificate you need to fly under Part 107. It doesn't expire, but your recency does. |
| Remote pilot in command (Remote PIC) | The certificated pilot with final authority and responsibility for the flight. |
| Person manipulating the flight controls | Someone other than the Remote PIC flying the drone under the Remote PIC's direct supervision, who can take over immediately. |
| Visual observer (VO) | A person designated by the Remote PIC to help see and avoid other aircraft and hazards. |
| Recurrent training | The free online FAA course (ALC-677, or ALC-515 for Part 61 pilots) required within every 24 calendar months. |
| Certificate of Waiver | FAA permission to deviate from specific Part 107 rules when the operation can be done safely under the waiver's terms. |
| Declaration of compliance (DoC) | A record certifying that an aircraft meets Category 2 or 3 requirements for flight over people. |
| Means of compliance (MoC) | The test, analysis, or inspection method used to show an aircraft meets the Category 2 or 3 design requirements. |
| Airworthiness certificate | An FAA certificate showing an aircraft meets requirements for safe flight. Required for Category 4. |
| Remote ID | The Part 89 requirement for drones to broadcast identification and location, through built-in equipment or a module. |
| FRIA | FAA-Recognized Identification Area, where drones without Remote ID can fly within visual line of sight. |
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Unmanned aircraft | An aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft. |
| Small unmanned aircraft | An unmanned aircraft under 55 lb at takeoff, including everything on board or attached. |
| Small UAS | The small unmanned aircraft plus its control station and communication links. |
| Control station | The interface the remote pilot uses to control the aircraft's flight path. |
| Corrective lenses | Glasses or contacts. The only vision aid allowed for visual line of sight. |
| Visual line of sight (VLOS) | Keeping the aircraft in sight with unaided vision, except corrective lenses, for the whole flight. |
| Condition for safe operation | The Remote PIC's duty to check the drone before each flight and stop flying if it becomes unsafe. |
| Careless or reckless operation | Flying in a way that endangers the life or property of another. Prohibited. |
| Emergency deviation | In an in-flight emergency, the Remote PIC may deviate from Part 107 as needed, and must report it if the FAA asks. |
| Operations over human beings | Subpart D's four categories for flying over people who aren't participating or sheltered. |
| Closed- or restricted-access site | A site where everyone is on notice that a drone may fly overhead. Needed for some Category 3 operations. |
| Sparsely populated area | An area with few or no people. Required for flying from a moving land or water vehicle. |
| Carriage of property | Allowed for pay under Part 107 if it stays within one state, isn't from a moving vehicle, and involves no hazardous materials. |
| Anti-collision lighting | Required at night and in civil twilight; visible for at least 3 statute miles. |
| Civil twilight | 30 minutes before official sunrise and 30 minutes after official sunset, except in Alaska. |
| Night | The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the start of morning civil twilight. |
| Groundspeed | Speed relative to the ground. Part 107 caps it at 87 knots (100 mph). |
| Flight visibility | How far you can see and identify prominent objects from the control station. Minimum 3 statute miles. |
| Transponder and ADS-B Out | Must be off on Part 107 drones unless the FAA authorizes otherwise. |
| Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) | A 1 to 6 injury severity scale. Level 3 or higher counts as serious injury for accident reporting. |
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| National Airspace System (NAS) | The network of U.S. airspace, navigation facilities, services, and rules. |
| Air Traffic Control (ATC) | Controllers who prevent collisions and keep traffic moving. |
| LAANC | Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. Automated ATC authorization through FAA-approved apps. |
| UAS Facility Map | A grid showing the maximum altitude the FAA may approve near an airport without further review. |
| NOTAM | Notice to Airmen. Time-critical information, such as closures and hazards, to check before every flight. |
| Temporary flight restriction (TFR) | A NOTAM that restricts flight in an area for a set time, often for security, disasters, or major events. |
| Prohibited area | Airspace where flight is banned for security or national welfare. |
| Restricted area | Airspace with hazards to non-participating aircraft, such as artillery fire. Needs permission from the controlling agency. |
| Warning area | Airspace offshore from the U.S. coast with activity hazardous to non-participating aircraft. |
| Military operations area (MOA) | Airspace that separates military training from IFR traffic. Use caution nearby. |
| Sectional chart | The VFR aeronautical chart showing airspace, airports, navigation aids, obstacles, and terrain. |
| Chart Supplement | The FAA directory of public-use airports, heliports, and seaplane bases (formerly the Airport/Facility Directory). |
| ATIS | A continuous recorded broadcast of weather, active runways, and other information at busier airports. |
| CTAF | Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, used for self-announcing at airports without an operating tower. |
| Traffic pattern | The standard path aircraft fly to arrive and depart. Drones must not interfere with it. |
| Flight Service | FAA-contracted service for weather briefings and flight planning (1800wxbrief). |
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| METAR | A routine hourly surface weather observation. A SPECI is issued for significant changes. |
| TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, covering the area within 5 statute miles of an airport. |
| Density altitude | Pressure altitude corrected for temperature. Higher density altitude means worse performance. |
| Wind shear | A sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. |
| Microburst | A strong, localized downdraft from a thunderstorm with dangerous wind shear. |
| Structural icing | Ice on the airframe, which needs visible moisture and a surface temperature at or below 0°C. |
| Center of gravity (CG) | The point where the aircraft's weight is considered concentrated. It affects stability and control. |
| Load factor | The load on the aircraft divided by its weight, in Gs. It rises in turns and raises stall speed. |
| Aeronautical decision-making (ADM) | A systematic approach to choosing the best course of action. |
| Crew resource management (CRM) | Using all available people, equipment, and information to fly safely. |
| Hazard | A condition, event, or circumstance that could lead to an undesired outcome. |
| Risk | A hazard's likelihood combined with the severity of its consequences. |
| Situational awareness | An accurate picture of everything affecting the flight, before, during, and after. |
| Hyperventilation | Breathing too fast or deeply, causing lightheadedness and other symptoms. |
| Fatigue | Tiredness that degrades attention, coordination, and judgment. |
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Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Part 107 test?
It's manageable with a few weeks of steady study. You need 70% on 60 questions, and most missed points come from charts, weather reports, and airspace.
How much does the Part 107 test cost?
About $175 at a PSI testing center. Confirm the current fee when you book.
Is there still a Part 107 recurrent test?
No. The FAA retired it in April 2021. You now complete free online recurrent training, usually ALC-677, within every 24 calendar months.
Can I take the Part 107 test online?
No, first-time applicants take it in person at an FAA-approved testing center. Part 61 pilots with a current flight review can complete online training instead.
What's the best free Part 107 study material?
The FAA's Remote Pilot ACS, Advisory Circular 107-2A, and the FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, plus a current sectional chart for practice.
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