When you already fly drones for enjoyable, 2025 could be the right 12 months to show that passion 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, you should cross the Aeronautical Data Check, extra casually generally known as 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 the majority hobbyists haven’t studied earlier than.
Earlier than taking the take a look at, I used one course Drone Pilot Floor Faculty (which is definitely a decide on this information!), and handed the Half 107 take a look at with a rating of 90% (something 70% or increased 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 inexpensive than Drone Pilot Floor Faculty, the course I used). With my greater than 10 years of expertise masking the drone business, I’ve reviewed the top-rated Half 107 prep programs of 2025 based mostly on value, precise person expertise, cross ensures, teacher background and extra.
Listed below are Drone Lady’s high Half 107 on-line take a look at prep programs of 2025:
Selecting the very best Half 107 on-line take a look at prep course for you:
The most effective 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:
Finest Half 107 on-line course general (most assets, stay help, and so forth): Drone Pilot Floor Faculty
Drone Pilot Floor Faculty is probably the most complete Half 107 prep course, providing:
- 350+ follow questions
- 17-page cram sheet
- Limitless 1:1 teacher help
- Reside Zoom periods (elective)
- Lifetime entry
Whereas barely dearer than our worth decide, Drone Launch Academy, Drone Pilot Floor Faculty is a longtime participant. It’s the largest of all of the Half 107 take a look at prep packages, for good cause. In actual fact, I (Sally, the Drone Lady!) used Drone Pilot Floor Faculty as my solely technique of finding out. And sure, I handed the take a look at on my first strive.
The corporate additionally constantly 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.
Cross price assure: When you fail your take a look at, Drone Pilot Floor Faculty covers your testing price (usually $175) in case you additionally cross one in every of their follow exams with a rating larger than 85%. It additionally guarantees to refund the complete value of your Drone Pilot Floor Faculty course in case you fail.
Plus, they provide a strong scholarship program the place you might be able to enroll (and get your take a look at price lined) without spending a dime.
Finest Half 107 on-line course on a funds: Drone Launch Academy
Drone Launch Academy presents nice worth with out reducing corners:
- 200 follow questions
- 75-page downloadable e-book
- On-line neighborhood and podcast
- Lifetime entry
At $199, it’s $100 cheaper than my high decide, Drone Pilot Floor Faculty. And whereas it has a smaller buyer base, its cross price 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 can pay 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 follow questions. Combining that with the mini quizzes all through the course, and you might take greater than 700 follow questions in case you needed 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 evident, concise, and direct. It consists of:
- 35 brief movies
- 36 quizzes
- Cash-back cross assure
- Non-obligatory stay chat with Peltier himself
I contemplate FAA Half 107 Distant Pilot Check 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 task 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 Check 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 may 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 probably need to reference John Peltier’s FAA Half 107 Distant Pilot Check 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 supply a separate renewal course for simply $49).
Get a clearer sense for Peltier’s fashion by studying his 5 Half 107 examination on-line suggestions.
Peltier additionally presents tons of different programs that drone pilots may actually be thinking about. That features Fujifilm digicam programs and a course on methods to edit and handle images in Adobe Lightroom.
There are professionals and cons of in-person vs on-line Half 107 lessons. However the DARTdrones stay course may present the very best of each worlds.
The DARTdrones stay digital course presents:
- 8 hours of stay Zoom-based instruction
- 300 follow 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.
- Worth: $375
- Time: Two 4-hour days + ongoing entry
At $375, it’s pricier than the opposite picks, however it’s price it for sure studying kinds. You may ask questions stay on the video chat system and work together backwards and forwards with the trainer, actually getting the chance to select 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 Check 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 Images and Videography On-line Course is presently rated the highest general on-line drone photograph course.
Finest Half 107 on-line course for aspiring airplane pilots: Pilot Institute
Initially targeted 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 cross their FAA Non-public 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.
- Worth: $249 for lifetime entry.
- Time wanted to finish: 15-20 hours
Pilot Institute could be very a lot embedded within the drone house. 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 cross price?
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 must cross the TRUST examination — a a lot shorter, less complicated on-line take a look at for leisure pilots. Study methods 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 price taking earlier than hiring a drone pilot to do work so that you can guarantee they’ve the certification they declare. You’ll be capable to see every pilot’s certificates and their score (together with that of yours really). Right here’s what it appears like when your identify comes up within the database:
Do these programs educate methods to fly drones?
No. These programs put together you for the data take a look at solely. For hands-on flight coaching, contemplate an in-person drone course or an inexpensive on-line course targeted on flying.
Nonetheless, these programs are typically many tons of of {dollars}. When you’re on a funds, there are many wonderful on-line drone flying programs — lots of which value lower than $100.
How did you examine on your take a look at, and did you go for a Half 107 on-line take a look at prep course? Depart a remark under! And comfortable flying!
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