How To Get a Drone License From the FAA

By MATTHEW WEISSMAN

Wondering how to get a drone license? You’re in the right place! There are two main categories of drone operations. The first are recreational drone operators, who are people who are just flying for recreation, and not business. The second are commercial operators, who need to obtain a Part 107 certificate from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). I will take you through both.

For recreational flyers, you must register your drone with the FAA’s DroneZone system (costs $5) for all drones over 0.55 lbs and label them with the registration number. After this you should take the FAA’s TRUST safety test. It’s free and required in order to  Once you have registered your drone, you must submit a LAANC request to the FAA to authorize the flight you wish to take. This can be done through DroneZone, but I recommend using the Aloft Air Control app due to its ease of use and ability to see current flight restrictions in your area. When requesting a LAANC, you have to provide when, where, and how high you would like to fly. These requests are approved or denied almost instantly by the FAA.

For commercial flyers, it becomes more complicated. You have to obtain a Part 107 certificate test. In order to take the test you must make an account on the FAA’s IACRA system, “At least 16 years old, Able to read, write, speak, and understand English, and Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a UAS” (FAA). You must then register for a test at one of the FAA’s testing centers, once you have passed the test, the FAA will mail you a permanent card, similar to a pilot’s license. Once you receive your card, you will have to take online training classes every 24 months in order to keep your certificate. For more information, I linked the FAA’s page about the Part 107 certificate here.

I hope that this blog entry will help you out on your drone journey. Happy Flying!