The best Part 107 course is the one that gets you through the FAA's Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) knowledge test on the first try, and for most people that's a self-paced online course with lots of practice exams. You don't legally need any course. The FAA publishes free study material, and many pilots pass with it alone. Paid courses, in-person bootcamps and college drone programs add structure, practice tests and sometimes real flight training.
What every course has to prepare you for
The test is the same no matter where you study: 60 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours, 70% to pass, taken in person at an FAA-approved testing center. You must be at least 16. The FAA lists the topics:
- Part 107 regulations, limits and privileges
- Airspace classes and flight restrictions
- Aviation weather sources and weather effects
- Loading and performance
- Radio communication procedures
- Drugs and alcohol, decision-making and judgment
- Maintenance and preflight inspection
Most people struggle with sectional charts and METAR or TAF weather reports, so a course that drills those is worth more than one with polished videos. See how hard is the Part 107 test.
Your options
Free FAA material. The FAA's remote pilot study guide, the testing supplement with the charts used on the exam, and the Airman Certification Standards are all free on faa.gov. Add our Part 107 study guide and practice test. Good for disciplined self-learners.
Paid online ground schools. Companies such as Pilot Institute, Drone Pilot Ground School, Drone U and others sell self-paced video courses with quizzes and full-length practice exams. Many add business lessons or a pass guarantee. Compare current prices and refund terms on each site, since they change.
In-person bootcamps. One- to three-day classes run by flight schools and drone training companies. Useful if you learn better in a room with an instructor, and some include hands-on flying.
College programs. For a degree or certificate, look for schools in the FAA's UAS Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI), which recognizes accredited colleges that prepare students for drone careers.
How to choose
- Practice exams that mirror the real test, with chart excerpts from the FAA supplement.
- Updated content. Rules changed in 2021 (night flight, operations over people) and Remote ID became mandatory in 2024. Old courses miss this.
- Clear refund or pass-guarantee terms. Read the fine print: most guarantees refund the course, not the roughly $175 test fee.
- Instructor access. Email or forum support helps with chart questions.
- Flight skills or business modules only if you need them. The FAA test has no flying portion.
After the course
- Create an IACRA account to get your FAA Tracking Number.
- Book the UAG test at a testing center. The fee is covered on Part 107 cost.
- Pass, apply in IACRA, and register your drone for $5.
- Complete the free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
Already a certificated manned-aircraft pilot with a current flight review? You skip the test and take a free FAA online course instead. See Part 107 for private pilots.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Ready for the full picture? Start with our Part 107 guide, then pick a work drone with the drone finder.
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