Airworthy PrepThe Part 107 knowledge test costs $175 per attempt, paid to PSI (the FAA’s testing company) when you book. That is the figure testing centers publish, for example Bridgewater State University’s testing center: “All FAA Exams cost $175,” paid before your appointment (Bridgewater State University, FAA knowledge exams, checked October 25, 2026). The FAA’s own pages do not print the fee, so confirm it on the PSI booking screen. Everything else the FAA requires, from your tracking number to the certificate itself, has no fee listed on the FAA’s pages. Registering a drone for Part 107 work costs $5.
The costs at a glance
| Item | Cost | Required? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAA Tracking Number (FTN) in IACRA | No fee listed | Yes | FAA, Become a Certificated Remote Pilot |
| Knowledge test (UAG) at a PSI testing center | $175 per attempt (confirm when you book) | Yes | Testing center fee pages; see below |
| Retake after a fail | Another test fee, after 14 days | Only if you fail | 14 CFR 107.71 |
| Remote Pilot Certificate (FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA) | No fee listed | Yes | FAA, Become a Certificated Remote Pilot |
| Drone registration for Part 107 | $5 per drone, valid 3 years | Yes, for each drone you fly under Part 107 | FAA, Register your drone |
| Recurrent training every 24 calendar months | Free online course | Yes, to stay current | FAA, Become a Certificated Remote Pilot |
| FAA study materials | Free | Optional | faa.gov |
| Paid prep course or practice test | $0 to about $300 | Optional | See our comparison |
The test fee in detail
You pay the test fee to PSI when you schedule, not on test day and not to the FAA. The FAA’s testing pages and the PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin (effective September 29, 2025) describe how to book but do not print a dollar amount, and PSI’s booking site shows the price only after you sign in.
The $175 figure comes from testing centers that publish it, such as Bridgewater State University (linked above). A Flying magazine report on PSI’s testing-center payments also describes the knowledge test fee as $175 (Flying, “PSI Fee Change Goes Into Effect on January 1”). We have not seen a different price, but we cannot confirm it from an FAA or PSI page, so check it on the booking screen.
How to book (and what each step costs)
- Get an FTN. Create a profile in IACRA, the FAA’s online application system. The PSI bulletin says applicants without one should establish an FTN “by creating a profile in” IACRA before testing (p. 2). No fee is listed.
- Book with PSI. Create an account at PSI’s FAA testing site, choose a center, date and time, and pay the test fee. You do not need an instructor sign-off: the PSI bulletin says the test “requires NO instructor endorsement” (p. 4).
- Take the test. 60 questions, 2 hours, 70% to pass (FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix, p. 15). You must be at least 14 to take it (Testing Matrix, p. 15).
- Apply for the certificate. In IACRA, complete FAA Form 8710-13 and enter the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID. The FAA says the result may take up to 48 hours to appear in IACRA. A TSA security check follows, then you print a temporary certificate, and the permanent one comes by mail (FAA, Become a Certificated Remote Pilot). No fee is listed for any of this.
Our guide on how to get a drone license walks through these steps in more detail.
What a retake costs
If you fail, you must wait 14 calendar days before retesting: an applicant “may not reapply for the test for 14 calendar days after failing” (14 CFR 107.71). A retake is a new test booking, so plan on paying the test fee again. When you retest, bring the failed test report: PSI says it must be given to the testing center before you retest, and no instructor sign-off is needed (PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, p. 4).
So the cost of failing once is the second test fee plus two weeks. That is the best reason to take a few full practice tests before you book.
Total cost: three examples
| Example | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Free FAA materials, pass first time, one drone | $175 test + $5 registration = $180 |
| A $29 practice test, pass first time, one drone | $29 + $175 + $5 = $209 |
| A $199 video course, fail once, then pass, one drone | $199 + $175 + $175 + $5 = $554 (less any guarantee refund) |
These use the $175 test fee above and the FAA’s $5 registration fee. Course prices are examples from our Part 107 prep comparison, checked October 25, 2026. Some course guarantees refund the test fee if you fail, with conditions, which would change the last line.
Costs after you pass
- Recurrent training is free. You must complete recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months to keep flying under Part 107. The FAA’s Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent course (ALC-677) is online and the FAA lists it as “(no cost)” (FAA, Become a Certificated Remote Pilot). See our recurrent training guide.
- Registration renews every 3 years at $5 per drone (FAA, Register your drone).
- Flying just for fun? You do not need Part 107. Recreational flyers take TRUST, which the FAA says is free: “All FAA-approved TRUST test administrators offer the test free” (FAA, TRUST).
How to spend less
- Study from the free FAA materials first: the Remote Pilot Study Guide, the Remote Pilot ACS and the FAA’s sample questions.
- Focus on the rules. Regulations is 48% of the test (PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, p. 4). Start with the regulations topic.
- Take a full timed practice test before you book. A $175 retake costs more than most practice tests. You can start with our free 10-question Part 107 mock, no sign-up, and the full Part 107 course is $29.
- Arrive on time. The PSI bulletin warns that if you arrive late you may forfeit your examination registration fee (p. 2).
How likely are you to pass first time?
In calendar year 2025 the FAA recorded 73,914 Part 107 (UAG) tests with a pass rate of 82.96% and an average score of 79.31% (FAA 2025 Airman Knowledge Test statistics). That counts tests, not people, so it includes retakes. Roughly 17 in every 100 tests taken were not passes, and each of those meant another test fee.
Common questions
How much is the Part 107 test?
$175 per attempt, paid to PSI when you book, as listed by testing centers on October 25, 2026. The FAA’s pages do not print the fee, so confirm it on the booking screen.
Does the FAA charge for the Remote Pilot Certificate?
The FAA’s step-by-step page for getting the certificate lists no fee for the IACRA application or the certificate.
How much does it cost to retake Part 107?
A retake is a new booking, so expect to pay the test fee again. You must wait 14 calendar days after failing (14 CFR 107.71).
Is the Part 107 recurrent training free?
Yes. The FAA’s online recurrent course (ALC-677) is listed as no cost, and you need it every 24 calendar months.
What is the cheapest way to get Part 107?
Study from the free FAA materials, pass first time, and register one drone: $175 plus $5, or $180 in total.