How to Get Your Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate: FTN, PSI Test, IACRA and TSA Check

A Part 107 certificate comes from a chain of six steps, and the order matters: the FAA Tracking Number has to exist before you book, and the test result has to exist before you apply. Everything below follows the FAA's own sequence on its Become a Drone Pilot page, checked on October 27, 2026.

Who is eligible for a Part 107 remote pilot certificate

14 CFR 107.61 sets four conditions. You must:

• be at least 16 years old
• be able to read, speak, write and understand English (if a medical reason prevents one of these, the FAA may add operating limitations to your certificate instead of refusing it)
• not know, or have reason to know, of a physical or mental condition that would interfere with safe drone operation
• show aeronautical knowledge, which for most people means passing the initial knowledge test, "Unmanned Aircraft General – Small" (UAG)

There is no flight-hour requirement, no instructor endorsement and no FAA medical certificate. The FAA's testing matrix says the UAG test "requires NO instructor endorsement or other form of written authorization."

The age rule has two numbers. The FAA's testing matrix lists 14 as the minimum age to take the UAG test, while the certificate itself requires 16. The ACS says a passing test report is valid for 24 calendar months when you apply for the certificate, so a 14- or 15-year-old can test, then apply once they turn 16, as long as that falls inside the window. 14 CFR 107.67 makes the same link: your ID's date of birth must show you'll meet the age requirement before the test report expires.

Already a pilot? If you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (not a student pilot certificate) and have completed a flight review within the previous 24 months, you can skip the test and take the FAA's free online course ALC-451 instead. That route ends with an identity check in person, covered at the end of this guide.

Step 1: Get an FAA Tracking Number in IACRA

Create a profile in IACRA, the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application. The profile gives you an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). PSI's bulletin says applicants without an FTN should create one "PRIOR TO taking an FAA Airman Knowledge Test," and the FTN is printed on your test report. Keep your IACRA username and password: you'll use the same account in step 4.

Step 2: Book the UAG test with PSI

PSI Services runs the FAA's knowledge testing centers. You schedule at faa.psiexams.com, which is open 24 hours a day, or by phone at 844-704-1487. The FAA says testing centers charge about $175 for the test; the Part 107 test cost guide covers the fee and the cancellation rules that can cost you it.

Plan the booking around three PSI rules:

• Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours ahead. A voicemail doesn't count as a cancellation.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early. PSI recommends it for check-in. If you arrive late, you may not be admitted and may forfeit the fee.
• Bring proper ID. The FAA asks for a government-issued photo ID. PSI and the FAA's matrix require ID that is valid and current and shows your photo, date of birth, signature and physical residential address. These can come from more than one document. A P.O. box doesn't count as a residential address; if your ID lacks your current address, PSI lists alternatives such as a utility statement, a signed lease or a voter registration card.

Acceptable ID for U.S. citizens and resident aliens includes a U.S. state or territory driver's license or permit, a U.S. government or military ID card, a passport, or an alien residency card. Non-U.S. citizens need a passport plus a U.S. driver's license or another government-issued ID. An applicant under 18 without acceptable ID must come with a parent or legal guardian, who shows their own ID and attests to the applicant's identity.

Pick a date that leaves you real preparation time. If you'd like a dress rehearsal before the appointment, the 65-question timed Part 107 mock exam planned for launch runs to the same 2 hours as the real sitting.

Step 3: Pass the Part 107 knowledge test

The UAG test has 60 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored ones, a 2-hour limit, and a 70% passing score. You get a printed Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) before you leave. The format and passing score guide explains what 70% means in correct answers and what PSI lets you bring into the room.

Most of your effort goes here, not into the paperwork. If you're still deciding how to prepare, you can see how planned Part 107 prep spreads 850 questions across the five content areas, with Regulations getting the most.

Step 4: File FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA

Once you've passed, apply in IACRA:

1. Log in and choose "Start New Application."
2. Select Application Type "Pilot," Certifications "Remote Pilot," then "Other Path Information," then "Start Application."
3. Follow the prompts. When asked, enter the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID from your test report.
4. Sign the application electronically and submit it.

The FAA notes it "may take up to 48 hours from the test date" for your test to appear in IACRA, so a missing result the same afternoon isn't a problem.

Don't wait too long. The ACS says a passing test report is valid for 24 calendar months for this application. A paper Form 8710-13 is still allowed, but AC 107-2A and the ACS both say paper applicants who don't hold a Part 61 certificate get no temporary certificate, and paper processing is slower.

Step 5: Wait for the TSA check, then print your temporary certificate

AC 107-2A says the Airman Registry confirms your information with the Transportation Security Administration before it generates a temporary certificate. When vetting is complete, the FAA emails you instructions to print the temporary certificate from IACRA. None of the FAA pages checked for this guide gives a processing time for this step. If vetting isn't successful, AC 107-2A says no certificate is issued, and you can appeal to the TSA.

Under 14 CFR 107.64, a temporary certificate lasts up to 120 calendar days. It ends on its printed expiration date, when your permanent certificate arrives, or if the certificate is denied or revoked.

Step 6: Receive the permanent card, and carry it

The permanent certificate comes by mail "once all other FAA-internal processing is complete." Under 14 CFR 107.7, you must carry your certificate and ID when you exercise its privileges and show them on request to the FAA, the NTSB, the TSA or any federal, state or local law enforcement officer.

Two things are separate from the certificate:

• Drone registration. A drone flown under Part 107 must be registered in FAADroneZone. The FAA charges $5 per drone, valid for three years.
• Staying current. To keep using the certificate, you complete free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months. The Part 107 recurrent training guide shows how to count that deadline.

The Part 61 route with ALC-451

For Part 61 pilots with a current flight review, the FAA's steps are:

1. Log in to FAASafety.gov and complete course ALC-451, "Part 107 Small UAS Initial," which has no cost.
2. Complete Form 8710-13 in IACRA.
3. Meet a Flight Standards District Office, a designated pilot examiner, an airman certification representative or a certificated flight instructor to validate your identity. Bring Form 8710-13, proof of your current flight review, photo ID and the course completion certificate.
4. Receive a temporary certificate from the representative, then the permanent card by mail.

The FAA notes that flight instructors "cannot issue temporary certificates." They can process applications for applicants who don't want one, or, per the ACS, help you print it through IACRA after the FAA emails you. A Part 61 pilot may also take the UAG test instead of the course.

Your Part 107 timeline at a glance

The step that needs real time is step 3. Put your test date into the free Part 107 study planner to turn the weeks you have into a daily outline, and when you want more practice than the free set, compare the planned 30-, 90- and 180-day Part 107 access periods, which aren't on sale yet.