The FAA Part 107 Drone test is hard. Don’t take it without studying because you will fail. That being said, it’s not rocket science. You can pass the test with flying colors if you know how to prepare. In this blog post, I want to share how I scored 93 percent on the drone exam with only a week’s worth of moderate studying. I also want to give you my personal notes (i.e. helpful tips and tricks) that will further improve your chances of success. Let’s hop to it!

First, let’s cover some of the basics…

Register Your Bird

Whether you’re a hobbyist or want to fly commercially, the first thing you’ll need to do is register your Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) A.K.A drone. Registration cost $5 (for now) and can be done directly through the FAA at: https://faadronezone.faa.gov/#/

Please note: there are lots of fake drone registration websites trying to overcharge you and/or steal your money! Before paying any sUAS registration fees, double check that the web address ends in: “faa.gov.”

Who Needs A Drone Pilot’s License?

Anyone who uses drones for commercial purposes (i.e. makes money from drone photos / videos) needs to get their FAA part 107 drone pilot’s license. This includes, but is not limited to: photographers, videographers, real estate agents, folks getting paid for surveillance and/or land surveys, people flying on search and rescue missions, and YouTubers (like myself) who run ads on their videos. Even if you don’t currently make money flying drones, but might accidentally churn a profit someday, it’s a good idea to get licensed, because if the FAA catches you slinging aerial photos without proper documentation, a hefty fee can ensue. Call me paranoid, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

How Does One Get An sUAS License?

In order to take the FAA drone test and get your license, you’ll need to first find an accredited knowledge-testing center. Luckily, there are lots of testing centers across the United States so chances are good that there’s one near you. Below, you’ll find two ways to schedule your exam.

The Old Way Of Doing It:

Visit: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/media/test_centers.pdf
Call: (800) 947-4228 or (800) 211-2754

The New Way Of Doing It:

Visit: http://catstest.com
Call: (844) 704-1487

Note: these folks manage the booking for the 700+ testing centers across the United States.

How Much Does The Test Cost?

The cost of the exam is about $150 (for now). If you fail on your first try, you can retest for no additional charge 14 days later. If you fail again, you’ll have to pay again.

Note: you’ll need to bring a valid form of U.S. government identification that shows your photo, date of birth, current physical address, and signature when you go to get tested. Acceptable forms of identification include state issued I.D., driver’s license, military identification card, residency card, and passport.

How To Study For The test / How Not To Study For The Test

Spoiler alert, I took a paid online course offered by Drone Pilot Ground School and it was worth every penny! Initially, I decided not to pay for anything as there are free FAA study guides online. I downloaded all the free material and then spent 40 bucks printing off hundreds of pages. After several long days of intense studying, I wanted to pull my hair out! The material was presented awfully! It came in stacks of densely packed, 10-point font. No pictures, not diagrams, nothing. It was dry, scattered, and confusing. Moreover, there was nobody to ask for help when I had questions. And I had LOTS of questions. As far as I’m concerned, I threw away $40 worth of paper and ink and killed a quarter of a tree for nothing. It was an epic fail.