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Drone law

How much is a drone license?

FAA fees

About $175 for the Part 107 certificate; the recreational path is free plus a $5 registration. There are two paths, and the cost depends on which you need. To fly a drone for work or business you need an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107, and the main cost is the initial knowledge test at roughly $175, paid to the testing center. To fly only for fun you take the free Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) instead, so the recreational path has no paid license at all. Either way, most drones must be registered with the FAA for $5. The credential is formally a certificate, not a driver-style license. Every figure is attributed to the FAA or the Code of Federal Regulations, not a DEPLOY estimate.

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It depends on why you are flying. There are two paths, and only one has a real cost.

If you fly a drone for work or business, you need an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107. The main cost is the initial aeronautical knowledge test, which runs about $175, paid to an FAA-approved testing center when you schedule your appointment. The test is 60 multiple-choice questions and you need 70 percent to pass. You must be at least 16 years old (14 CFR 107.61) and clear a TSA security background check, and the FAA charges no separate fee for the certificate itself beyond the test.

If you fly only for fun, you do not take the Part 107 exam. You take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which is free through any FAA-approved administrator, and you carry proof when you fly. There is no paid recreational license.

Either way, most drones must be registered with the FAA for $5, valid for three years. Registration is required for any drone over 0.55 pounds, and for every drone flown under Part 107 regardless of weight.

One clarification: people say drone license, but the formal credential is a Remote Pilot Certificate. DEPLOY does not sell training and makes no recommendations; it cites the fee and links the source.

What it actually costs

Each entry is a real fee or requirement, attributed to the FAA page or CFR section it comes from.

The costs and requirements
  • The recreational test (TRUST) is free.

    If you fly only for fun, you do not take the Part 107 exam. You take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which is free through any FAA-approved administrator, and you must carry proof of completion when you fly. There is no recurring fee for TRUST.

    Recreational cost
    Jun 22, 2021 (as reported)
    FAA, Recreational Flyers
    FAA
  • The Part 107 knowledge test costs about $175.

    To fly a drone for work or business you need an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, and the main cost is the initial aeronautical knowledge test: roughly $175, paid to an FAA-approved testing center when you schedule. It is a 60-question multiple-choice exam requiring a 70 percent score to pass.

    Certificated cost
    Apr 6, 2021 (as reported)
    FAA, Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
    FAA
  • Registration costs $5 per drone.

    Most drones must be registered with the FAA for $5, valid for three years. Registration is required for any drone over 0.55 pounds (250 grams), and for every drone flown under Part 107 regardless of weight. This is separate from any test fee.

    Requirement
    Jan 1, 2019 (as reported)
    FAA, Register Your Drone
    FAA

The requirements at a glance

The same costs and rules as a dated list.

  1. Jun 22, 2021 (as reported)The recreational test (TRUST) is free.Recreational cost

    If you fly only for fun, you do not take the Part 107 exam. You take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which is free through any FAA-approved administrator, and you must carry proof of completion when you fly. There is no recurring fee for TRUST.

    FAA, Recreational FlyersFAA
  2. Apr 6, 2021 (as reported)The Part 107 knowledge test costs about $175.Certificated cost

    To fly a drone for work or business you need an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, and the main cost is the initial aeronautical knowledge test: roughly $175, paid to an FAA-approved testing center when you schedule. It is a 60-question multiple-choice exam requiring a 70 percent score to pass.

    FAA, Become a Certificated Remote PilotFAA
  3. Jan 1, 2019 (as reported)Registration costs $5 per drone.Requirement

    Most drones must be registered with the FAA for $5, valid for three years. Registration is required for any drone over 0.55 pounds (250 grams), and for every drone flown under Part 107 regardless of weight. This is separate from any test fee.

    FAA, Register Your DroneFAA
How we know this

Every cost and requirement on this page comes from the FAA's own certification and registration pages or the Code of Federal Regulations. Here are the sources behind each figure.

FAAFAAFAACornell Law (14 CFR)FAA

Every fee is attributed to the FAA or the CFR section that sets it. DEPLOY does not sell drone training and makes no recommendations.

Common questions

How much does a Part 107 drone license cost?
The main cost is the initial aeronautical knowledge test, about $175, paid to an FAA-approved testing center. The FAA charges no separate fee for the Remote Pilot Certificate itself once you pass the test and clear the TSA background check. Any test-prep course you choose is an extra, optional cost on top.
Do you need a license to fly a drone?
For commercial or work flying, yes: you need a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. For recreational flying, you do not need a paid license, but you must pass the free TRUST test and carry proof, and you must register the drone if it is over 0.55 pounds. So there is always a requirement, but only the commercial path involves a certificate exam.
Is the recreational drone test free?
Yes. The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) is free through any FAA-approved administrator, and it does not expire. You must keep proof of completion and show it if asked while flying. It is the recreational alternative to the paid Part 107 knowledge test.
How old do you have to be to get a drone license?
For a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate you must be at least 16 years old under 14 CFR 107.61. There is no minimum age set in the recreational TRUST rule, though a young flyer still has to follow the recreational requirements and, in practice, fly under adult supervision.
How much is it to register a drone?
Drone registration with the FAA is $5 and is valid for three years. Registration is required for any drone over 0.55 pounds (about 250 grams) and for every drone flown under Part 107 regardless of weight. It is separate from any test fee.
Is a drone license the same as a pilot license?
No. The drone credential is a Remote Pilot Certificate issued under Part 107, distinct from a manned-aircraft pilot certificate. It authorizes small drone operations under 55 pounds, not flying an airplane. People commonly call it a drone license, but the formal term is a certificate.

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