Part 107 Recurrent Training: How the 24-Month Clock Works

Two years. That is how long the FAA lets your aeronautical knowledge sit on the shelf before it wants a refresh. Most pilots find out about Part 107 recurrent training the same way: a client's safety manager asks for proof of currency, and the pilot realizes their test date is older than their phone.

The good news is that staying current is free, online, and takes an afternoon. The bad news is that nobody sends you a reminder. Here is how the clock works and what to keep in your flight bag.

What is Part 107 recurrent training?

14 CFR 107.65As of Sep 2026Source: eCFR, FAA

It is the FAA's free online course that renews your aeronautical knowledge currency for another 24 calendar months. Under 14 CFR 107.65, you cannot act as remote pilot in command unless, within the previous 24 calendar months, you passed the initial knowledge test, completed recurrent training, or (for certificated manned pilots with a current flight review) completed the Part 61 version of the training.

Before April 2021, staying current meant a second proctored test at a testing center. The FAA replaced that with online courses on the FAA Safety Team site when the night operations and operations over people rules took effect. As of September 2026, the rule text in 107.65 has not changed since then.

Does a Part 107 certificate expire?

As of Sep 2026Source: FAA

No. The card itself is permanent unless the FAA revokes it. What expires is your currency. The FAA's own FAQ on certificate expiration puts it plainly: the certificate stays valid, but you have to update your knowledge within 24 calendar months to keep using it.

Completing the course does not get you a new plastic card, either. The FAA confirms in a separate FAQ that no new certificate is issued. Your proof is the course completion certificate, and you are expected to keep a copy.

How does the 24-month clock actually count?

It runs in calendar months, which means it ends on the last day of the month, not on the anniversary. Pass your initial test on March 3, 2025, and you are current through March 31, 2027. Finish recurrent training on September 28, 2026, and you are good through September 30, 2028.

The clock resets from whichever qualifying event is most recent. Take the course early and you simply start a fresh 24 months from that month. There is no penalty for being early, only for being late.

Which recurrent course should you take?

14 CFR 107.65As of Jun 2026Source: FAA

Take ALC-677 unless you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate with a current flight review. As of the FAA's June 2026 update to its Become a Drone Pilot page, both courses are free and hosted on FAASafety.gov.

Retaking the initial test does satisfy 107.65, but paying to sit in a testing center when a free online course does the same job is a hobby, not a plan.

How do you complete Part 107 recurrent training?

Create a FAASafety.gov account and work through the course on the ALC-677 course page. Use the same name you used on your FAA records so the paperwork matches. Pilots commonly report finishing in about two hours, and you can stop and pick it up later.

Recurrent training, in order

1. 1Log in to FAASafety.govCreate an account if you don't have one. Match the name on your remote pilot certificate.
2. 2Enroll in ALC-677 (or ALC-515)Pick the course that matches your pilot history.
3. 3Work through the modules and final questionsSelf-paced. You can review the material as you go.
4. 4Download the completion certificateThis is your proof of currency. Save a PDF and print a copy.
5. 5Set the next reminderPut a date two or three months before the new deadline on your calendar.

The course content covers the same ground as the initial test, updated for the 2021 night operations and operations over people rules. If you want a refresher before you start, our Part 107 study guide walks through the knowledge areas.

What happens if your Part 107 currency lapses?

14 CFR 107.6514 CFR 107.7Source: eCFR

You cannot fly under Part 107 until you complete recurrent training again. Your certificate is still valid, so there is no new test or new IACRA application. You take the online course, download the certificate, and your 24 months start over.

The risk is the gap. Any paid flight you make while lapsed is a Part 107 flight by a pilot who doesn't meet 107.65, and 14 CFR 107.7 requires you to make required records available to the FAA on request. Keep the completion certificate with your remote pilot certificate and ID, on paper and on your phone. It is also the first thing an enterprise client's safety team tends to ask for, right after your insurance paperwork.

Currency is also a good excuse for a gear check. If you are renewing your knowledge, it's a fine time to confirm your aircraft still meets Remote ID and still fits the jobs you're quoting. Our enterprise drones are sorted by the work they do, if you're due for an upgrade as well.

If you just passed and are still sorting out the first week, our post on what to do after passing Part 107 covers IACRA, registration, and LAANC. If you are still deciding whether this is a career, start with how to become a commercial drone pilot.

Frequently asked questions