In order to be able fly a drone in any commercial capacity you are required to first obtain your Part 107 License from the FAA. In order to do this you must be at least 16 years old, be able to read, speak, write, and understand English, be physically and mentally capable of flying a drone, and you must pass the FAA's aeronautical knowledge exam "Unmanned Aircraft General - Small (UAG)". There is a $175 fee in order to take this knowledge test.
- Once on the website, click "Register" in the top right of the home page
- Select the "Applicant" role to apply for a new certificate, then agree terms of service and continue.
- Ignore the Certificate Information section unless you already have an existing FAA certificate number from a previous certification
- Enter all personal information. Enter this exactly as it appears on your personal ID, as this will be used to verify your identity when taking your test. This information needs to be accurate and consistent
- Select your security questions and answers, then create your username and password for login.
- Click "Register"
- IACRA will display your FTN as well as email it to you. Save this number in your personal notes as it will be important for completing the rest of your license process.
Once you have obtained your FTN you are able to sign up for the FAA's knowledge exam. If you are a Lucid customer we will have provided you with a coupon code in order to access
Drone Pilot Ground School, a prep course with a 99% success rate in helping pilots pass their Part 107 test on the first try. It is not mandatory to take this course prior to attempting the test but it is
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. There is roughly 6 hours of video lectures and several practice tests to complete. It is recommended that you score at least a 90% on their practice tests before attempting the knowledge exam.
In order to sign up for the Part 107 Knowledge Exam you will schedule an appointment at an
FAA testing center.
- Create an account for the PSI exams website using your FTN acquired from IACRA
- Once you have created an account and signed in, scroll down to the bottom of the exam selection list and select "Unmanned Aircraft General - Small (UAG)".
- Confirm that this in fact the test you wish to take and continue.
- If this is your first attempt at the Part 107 exam enter a value of 1 in the "Number of Exam Attempts"
- Select "Signed Score Report" for the authorization category and hit continue
- Select any necessary accommodations you may need for the testing environment and hit continue
- Find the closest testing center to you and schedule your test.
- Enter your payment information and finish scheduling your test!
On the day of your test you will want to show up to your testing center roughly 20 minutes early so they have time to process your information. Make sure you have your proper identification with you. If you are a US citizen you can use your driver's license, passport, military ID, alien residency card, or a US government ID. If you are not a US citizen you will need to bring your passport and a valid driver's license/permit or an "identification card issued by any government entity".
You will be given 2 hours to take the test, and it is a 60 question multiple choice test with 3 responses per question. A passing score is a 70%, meaning you will need to answer at least 42 questions correctly to pass. You are allowed to bring in a basic calculator and a magnifying glass to assist on the test. They will take your phone for the duration of the test. You will be given a scratch sheet of paper and pencil as well as a Testing Supplement packet containing various charts and other resources.
The FAA provides basic breakdown of the testing material in the following manner
- Regulations 15-25%
- Airspace & Requirements 15-25%
- Weather 11-16%
- Loading and Performance 7-11%
- Operations 35-45%
Once you have completed and passed your test you will receive a 17 digit knowledge test exam ID. Keep this ID as will need it to complete your application. It may take up to 48 hours for the FAA to process your test results, but once this is done you will need to return to the
IACRA website in order to complete the FAA form for a remote pilot certificate.
- Log into the IACRA website
- Click on "Start New Application"
- Application Type - "Pilot"
- Certifications - "Remote Pilot - Initial"
- Other Path Information - "Small Unmanned Aircraft System"
- Click on start application.
- Fill out the entirety of the application, entering your Test Exam ID in the Basis of Issuance section
- Submit your application
A confirmation email will be sent to your email following your completion of a TSA background check. This email will provide instructions for printing your temporary Part 107 certificate, and your permanent license will be mailed to you.
Congratulations! You are now a licensed drone pilot! Make sure you have keep your license on you any time you are flying your Lucid drone in a commercial setting.