When you already fly drones for enjoyable, 2025 is perhaps the proper yr to show that interest right into a money-making enterprise. However earlier than you can begin accepting paid gigs, you’ll want a industrial drone license — formally known as a Distant Pilot Certificates beneath the Federal Aviation Administration’s Half 107 rules.
To earn it, it’s essential to move the Aeronautical Data Take a look at, extra casually often called the Half 107 take a look at. This take a look at is your ticket to flying drones legally for industrial functions within the U.S.
However make no mistake: passing it isn’t straightforward with out prep. I most likely would have scored a 20% given I had no prior aviation background. You’ll be examined on airspace classifications, climate patterns, sectional charts, and extra — topics that almost all hobbyists haven’t studied earlier than.
Earlier than taking the take a look at, I used one course Drone Pilot Floor College (which is definitely a choose on this information!), and handed the Half 107 take a look at with a rating of 90% (something 70% or greater is a passing rating). Since then, I’ve reviewed almost a dozen different Half 107 programs.
There are many good choices (and lots of are extra reasonably priced than Drone Pilot Floor College, the course I used). With my greater than 10 years of expertise masking the drone trade, I’ve reviewed the top-rated Half 107 prep programs of 2025 based mostly on price, precise consumer expertise, move ensures, teacher background and extra.
Listed here are Drone Woman’s high Half 107 on-line take a look at prep programs of 2025:
Choosing the perfect Half 107 on-line take a look at prep course for you:
One of the best Half 107 programs, side-by-side
I’ll dive deep into these later, however right here’s a fast overview of all my picks and why:
Greatest Half 107 on-line course general (most assets, reside help, and many others): Drone Pilot Floor College
Drone Pilot Floor College is probably the most complete Half 107 prep course, providing:
- 350+ apply questions
- 17-page cram sheet
- Limitless 1:1 teacher help
- Reside Zoom classes (elective)
- Lifetime entry
Whereas barely dearer than our worth choose, Drone Launch Academy, Drone Pilot Floor College is a longtime participant. It’s the most important of all of the Half 107 take a look at prep applications, for good cause. In reality, I (Sally, the Drone Woman!) used Drone Pilot Floor College as my solely technique of learning. And sure, I handed the take a look at on my first strive.
The corporate additionally repeatedly presents up updates based mostly on the ever-changing FAA guidelines. For instance, there’s now an easy-to-access PDF file about guidelines round flying drones over folks. It additionally covers updates round Distant ID.
Move fee assure: When you fail your take a look at, Drone Pilot Floor College covers your testing charge (usually $175) in the event you additionally move certainly one of their apply exams with a rating higher than 85%. It additionally guarantees to refund the complete price of your Drone Pilot Floor College course in the event you fail.
Plus, they provide a strong scholarship program the place you could possibly enroll (and get your take a look at charge coated) at no cost.
Greatest Half 107 on-line course on a funds: Drone Launch Academy
Drone Launch Academy presents nice worth with out chopping corners:
- 200 apply questions
- 75-page downloadable e-book
- On-line group and podcast
- Lifetime entry
At $199, it’s $100 cheaper than my high choose, Drone Pilot Floor College. And whereas it has a smaller buyer base, its move fee is an extremely excessive 99.02%. It’s not simply the $100 cheaper price ticket that makes this an incredible worth. When you fail your in-person examination, Drone Launch Academy pays so that you can retake it. That’s an $150 worth in itself, on high of a course refund (a further $199 worth).
The course wins with its examination simulator that has a take a look at financial institution of greater than 550 apply questions. Combining that with the mini quizzes all through the course, and you possibly can take greater than 700 apply questions in the event you wished to do all of them.
There’s a little bit of inconsistency within the high quality of their movies, however it’s not essentially a foul factor. It’s clear their content material (reminiscent of filming high quality and on-camera presenters) has improved over time so it feels unfair to ding them on that. However, it doesn’t take a movie critic to identify which movies had been made early on.
Taught by former Air Power pilot John Peltier, this course is obvious, concise, and direct. It consists of:
- 35 brief movies
- 36 quizzes
- Cash-back move assure
- Non-obligatory reside chat with Peltier himself
I take into account FAA Half 107 Distant Pilot Take a look at Prep Course to be a no-nonsense on-line coaching program that features brief movies, frequent quizzes, and easy textual content that cuts straight to the purpose. Peltier is a former Air Power pilot who even served because the “Chief of Courseware” throughout his final project within the Air Power. He wrote all academic materials for F-15E coaching squadrons all through the USAF — so he is aware of a factor or two about writing a number of alternative questions.
Like Drone Launch Academy, John Peltier’s FAA Half 107 Distant Pilot Take a look at Prep Course additionally comes with a test-pass assure.
It’s additionally the most affordable of all of the programs on this information. Plus, there’s an choice to make it even cheaper. You possibly can pay $79 for entry to this system for simply 30 days (the $139 price ticket consists of lifetime entry). Assume twice earlier than enrolling within the $79 possibility, as you’ll seemingly wish to reference John Peltier’s FAA Half 107 Distant Pilot Take a look at Prep Course when it comes time to take your Half 107 recurrent take a look at. You could retake the recurrent take a look at each two years. But when cash is tight, then it’s an incredible possibility. (He does provide a separate renewal course for simply $49).
Get a clearer sense for Peltier’s model by studying his 5 Half 107 examination on-line ideas.
Peltier additionally presents tons of different programs that drone pilots might actually be thinking about. That features Fujifilm digital camera programs and a course on the right way to edit and handle photographs in Adobe Lightroom.
There are execs and cons of in-person vs on-line Half 107 courses. However the DARTdrones reside course would possibly present the perfect of each worlds.
The DARTdrones reside digital course presents:
- 8 hours of reside Zoom-based instruction
- 300 apply take a look at questions
- 50-page examine information
- Lifetime entry to on-demand course
You’ll get accountability, personalised Q&A, and follow-up supplies. The founder, Abby Speicher, appeared on Shark Tank, the place Mark Cuban invested within the firm.
- Value: $375
- Time: Two 4-hour days + ongoing entry
At $375, it’s pricier than the opposite picks, however it’s value it for sure studying kinds. You possibly can ask questions reside on the video chat system and work together backwards and forwards with the teacher, actually getting the chance to choose their mind.
What’s nice although is the course doesn’t finish when the Sunday afternoon ends. You’ll have ongoing entry to a 300+ take a look at query financial institution and a 50-page examine information. And sure, that $375 additionally consists of entry to DARTdrones’ full on-line Half 107 Take a look at Prep Course. That by itself prices $200.
DARTdrones additionally has workshops tailor-made to particular industries reminiscent of mapping and modeling, catastrophe response and inspections. And, its Aerial Pictures and Videography On-line Course is presently rated the highest general on-line drone picture course.
Greatest Half 107 on-line course for aspiring airplane pilots: Pilot Institute
Initially centered on crewed plane, Pilot Institute now presents:
- 15 hours of video
- 20 quizzes
- Lifetime entry
- Accredited coaching (IACET)
Pilot Institute has been providing programs to assist folks move their FAA Personal Pilot written exams lengthy earlier than Half 107 was even a factor. Sure, they provide different coaching programs on issues like checkrides and instrument scores. Plus, Pilot Institute is the one aviation coaching firm to be accredited by IACET, the Worldwide Accreditors for Persevering with Training and Coaching.
- Value: $249 for lifetime entry.
- Time wanted to finish: 15-20 hours
Pilot Institute may be very a lot embedded within the drone area. One of many cofounders Greg Reverdiau, was instrumental in getting the FAA to delay Distant ID enforcement.
Half 107 take a look at prep generally requested questions
What’s the Half 107 take a look at?
The FAA Half 107 take a look at is a 60-question a number of alternative examination masking drone rules, climate, airspace and extra. It’s required for all industrial drone operators within the U.S. beneath the Federal Aviation Administration’s Half 107.
What’s the move fee?
As of 2024, the common Half 107 take a look at rating was 79.95%, advert 84.2% of individuals handed.
What if I’m flying drones only for enjoyable?
You continue to have to move the TRUST examination — a a lot shorter, easier on-line take a look at for leisure pilots. Study the right way to take the TRUST examination right here.
How can I see if a drone pilot is licensed?
Browse the FAA’s public registry of Half 107-certifed distant pilots right here. That’s a step value taking earlier than hiring a drone pilot to do work so that you can guarantee they’ve the certification they declare. You’ll have the ability to see every pilot’s certificates and their ranking (together with that of yours really). Right here’s what it appears to be like like when your identify comes up within the database:
Do these programs educate the right way to fly drones?
No. These programs put together you for the data take a look at solely. For hands-on flight coaching, take into account an in-person drone course or an reasonably priced on-line course centered on flying.
Nevertheless, these programs are usually many lots of of {dollars}. When you’re on a funds, there are many wonderful on-line drone flying programs — a lot of which price lower than $100.
How did you examine to your take a look at, and did you go for a Half 107 on-line take a look at prep course? Depart a remark beneath! And completely satisfied flying!
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