How Much the Part 107 Test Costs, and What Else You Might Pay

The Part 107 test fee: about $175 per attempt

The FAA's answer to "How much does it cost to get a remote pilot certificate?" is one sentence: knowledge testing centers "charge approximately $175 to people seeking to take the initial aeronautical knowledge test." That fee goes to PSI Services, the FAA's testing vendor, when you schedule at faa.psiexams.com.

"Approximately" is the FAA's word, not a hedge added here. PSI sets the amount you see at checkout, so treat that screen as the final price on the day you book. As of October 27, 2026, the FAA's answer names only this test fee. It lists no separate charge for the IACRA application or for the certificate itself.

Every Part 107 cost in one table

PSI's bulletin lists no separate or reduced retest fee. The FAASTeam course pages for ALC-677, ALC-515 and ALC-451 each list "Cost: No." The FAA's registration page says Part 107 registration "costs $5 per drone and is valid for three (3) years," and a drone registered for recreational flying can't be flown under Part 107.

What a first certificate costs in practice

These are worked examples using the FAA's approximate fee, not quotes:

The difference between the first and third rows is the one cost you control most. If you'd rather spend on practice than on a second sitting, see the one-time prices planned for Part 107 prep: $19.99, $34.99 or $49.99. Checkout isn't open yet, so nothing can be bought today.

Part 107 renewal costs nothing

There is no recurrent test to pay for. The FAA retired the Unmanned Aircraft Recurrent (UGR) knowledge test on April 6, 2021 and replaced it with online training. Today you keep your privileges by completing ALC-677, or ALC-515 if you're a Part 61 pilot with a current flight review, within each 24 calendar months. Both courses are free. The Part 107 recurrent training guide explains how to count the deadline.

The certificate doesn't expire, so there's no reissue fee either. The FAA says completing the course doesn't produce a new certificate: you keep the course completion certificate as proof that you're current.

How not to lose the Part 107 test fee

PSI's bulletin lists the ways a booked test can be wasted:

• Late cancellation. You can cancel or reschedule if PSI receives your notice at least 24 hours before the test. A voicemail message isn't an acceptable cancellation: if you call (844-704-1487), speak to a customer service representative.
• No-show or late arrival. If you don't appear, or arrive after the start time, you may forfeit your chance to test. PSI recommends arriving at least 15 minutes early, and says late arrivals may forfeit the registration fee.
• Wrong ID or missing authorization. If you can't present proper identification, PSI treats it as a missed appointment. For a retest after a fail, that includes bringing the failed test report.

One case works in your favor: if severe weather or another emergency closes the test site, PSI reschedules you at no additional charge.

Each of these losses happens close to test day, from a wrong document to a rushed morning. Cram and Test Day, planned for full Part 107 prep, lay out your last few days and a calm checklist, and the format guide lists what PSI provides in the room.

Part 107 study materials: free and paid

The FAA's own preparation material is free to download: the Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards, the Remote Pilot Study Guide, AC 107-2A and the testing supplement used at the test center. PSI also offers a free sample test under "Exam Resources" at faa.psiexams.com.

Paid courses and question banks are optional. The free Part 107 practice questions give you 20 original questions with explanations, and the free study and retake planners need no account. To weigh whether more is worth paying for, check what full Part 107 prep planned for launch adds to the free tools, such as flashcards and a timed mock exam.

Budget for a possible retest

Most UAG tests end in a pass: the FAA's statistics for calendar year 2025 show an 82.96% pass rate. A retest still costs another fee and at least 14 calendar days. If it happens, the failed Part 107 test guide explains what to bring and how to use your test report, and the free Part 107 retake planner turns the topics you found hard into a schedule for the next attempt.