Part 107 Test Format, Passing Score and How to Get Certified
Last updated October 4, 2026
The Part 107 knowledge test (the FAA calls it Unmanned Aircraft General - Small, test code UAG) has 60 multiple-choice questions, you get 2 hours, and you need 70% to pass, which is 42 correct answers. You can take it from age 14, but you must be 16 to get the Remote Pilot Certificate itself. The biggest thing to know before you study: Regulations is now 48% of the test, about 29 of the 60 questions, under the current test specification (PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, effective September 29, 2025, p. 4).
The test at a glance
| Fact | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Unmanned Aircraft General - Small (UAG) | Testing Matrix, p. 15 |
| Number of questions | 60 scored | ACS, p. A-1; Testing Matrix, p. 15 |
| Time allowed | 2 hours | ACS, p. A-1; Testing Matrix, p. 15 |
| Passing score | 70% (42 of 60) | ACS, p. A-2; Testing Matrix, p. 15 |
| Question type | Multiple choice, one correct answer | ACS, p. A-1 |
| Unscored validation questions | 5, on top of the 60, time included | PSI bulletin, p. 4 |
| Biggest area | Regulations, 48% (about 29 questions) | PSI bulletin, p. 4 |
| Minimum age to take the test | 14 | ACS, p. A-2; Testing Matrix, p. 15 |
| Minimum age for the certificate | 16 | 14 CFR 107.61(a) |
| Instructor sign-off needed? | No, not to test or to retest | Testing Matrix, p. 15 |
| Wait after a fail | 14 calendar days | 14 CFR 107.71 |
| Passing result good for | 24 calendar months when you apply | ACS, p. A-5 |
Sources: the Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards, FAA-S-ACS-10B (the “ACS”, the FAA’s list of what the test covers), the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (revised September 25, 2026), 14 CFR part 107, and the PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin (effective September 29, 2025). PSI is the FAA’s testing company, and the FAA’s testing advisories point applicants to its bulletin.
What the questions look like
Every question is “objective, multiple-choice” with “a single correct response,” and each question stands on its own: getting one right never depends on another (ACS, p. A-1). The FAA’s own UAG sample questions (August 10, 2021) show three answer options, A, B and C, for each question.
You also get 5 “validation” questions on top of the 60, which the FAA uses to try out new items. They are not scored, and the 2 hours includes the time you spend on them (PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, p. 4; Testing Matrix, p. 2). Treat every question as if it counts.
Some questions refer to a figure, such as a sectional chart excerpt or a weather report. Those figures come from the Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement, FAA-CT-8080-2H, and the proctor gives you a copy at the test center (ACS, p. A-3).
The October 26, 2026 change
As of October 2026, the FAA says that beginning October 26, 2026, the UAG test “will include image-based questions not found in the test supplements,” using images from the latest sectional charts (Airman Testing Community Advisory, September 2026 Special Edition, p. 6). No date has been set for removing the supplement, and you keep access to it until then (same advisory, p. 5). So you need to read any current sectional chart, not just the supplement figures. Our guide to the October 2026 test changes has the details.
The five knowledge areas and their weights
The ACS splits the test into five Areas of Operation. The share of the 60 questions that comes from each is set in PSI’s test specification, “determined by the industry-wide job task analysis study completed in 2025” (PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, effective September 29, 2025, p. 4).
| Area | Share of the test | About how many of 60 | What it covers (ACS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Regulations | 48% | about 29 | General rules, operating rules, certification, waivers, operations over people, Remote ID |
| II. Airspace and operating requirements | 20% | about 12 | Airspace classes and special-use airspace, ATC authorizations, operations near airports, NOTAMs, lighting for night flight |
| III. Weather | 5% | about 3 | Weather sources and reports, effects of weather on the aircraft |
| IV. Loading and performance | 2% | about 1 | Loading, balance, center of gravity, performance data |
| V. Operations | 25% | about 15 | Radio procedures, airport operations, emergencies, decision-making, physiology, maintenance and inspection |
The topics come from the ACS task pages (ACS, pp. 2 to 19). The question counts are the percentages times 60, rounded.
The point to notice: Regulations is nearly half the test. The ACS appendix still prints older ranges (Regulations 15 to 25%, Weather 11 to 16%, Operations 35 to 45%, and so on; ACS, p. A-1), and study material written from those ranges puts Operations first. The bulletin is what the current test uses. Under it, Regulations alone (48%) outweighs Airspace and Operations combined (45%), and Weather plus Loading together come to only about 4 questions.
Who can get a Remote Pilot Certificate
To be eligible you must (14 CFR 107.61):
- be at least 16 years old,
- be able to read, speak, write and understand English,
- not know or have reason to know of a physical or mental condition that would interfere with safe drone operation, and
- pass the initial knowledge test (current part 61 pilots can do online training instead; see the last question below).
A drug conviction, or refusing an alcohol test, can be grounds for denying your application for up to 1 year (14 CFR 107.57 and 107.59).
How to get your Part 107 certificate, step by step
This is the path for someone who does not already hold a part 61 pilot certificate, from Advisory Circular 107-2A (AC 107-2A), chapter 6.
- Get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Create a profile in IACRA (the FAA’s online certification system, iacra.faa.gov). Everyone needs an FTN before taking any FAA knowledge test (AC 107-2A, para 6.6; Testing Matrix, p. 1).
- Book the test. Once you have your FTN, register and schedule with PSI, the FAA’s testing company, which runs the approved knowledge testing centers (AC 107-2A, para 6.6; ACS, p. A-2). You pay PSI when you book; check the current fee when you book.
- Take the test. Bring valid government-issued photo ID (AC 107-2A, para 6.7.1). The ID must show your photo, signature, date of birth and a residential address, not just a PO box (14 CFR 107.67(b); Testing Matrix, p. 1).
- Apply on IACRA. Fill in FAA Form 8710-13 online. Choose Application Type “Pilot” and Certifications “Initial Remote Pilot,” then link your test result by selecting it or entering the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID. Sign electronically and submit (AC 107-2A, para 6.4.1).
- Security check. The TSA vets every applicant before a temporary certificate is issued (AC 107-2A, para 6.5).
- Print your temporary certificate. You get an email when it is ready and print it from IACRA (AC 107-2A, para 6.4.1). It lasts up to 120 calendar days, until the permanent certificate arrives (14 CFR 107.64).
How long your result lasts, and recurrent training
There are two separate clocks.
- Applying for the certificate: a passing test report is valid for 24 calendar months for your application (ACS, p. A-5).
- Staying current: to fly as remote pilot in command, you must have passed the initial test or completed recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months (14 CFR 107.65). Recurrent training is an online course on the FAA Safety Team site (faasafety.gov), not a second test. The old recurrent knowledge test was dropped on April 6, 2021 (FAA notice, Changes to Testing for a Remote Pilot Certificate, April 5, 2021).
“Calendar months” means the deadline runs to the end of the month. The FAA’s example: pass on September 13, 2020, and recurrent training is due by September 30, 2022 (AC 107-2A, figure 6-1).
A 2 to 3 week study plan
The plan follows the current weights, so Regulations gets the most days. Allow about an hour a day; take three weeks if the material is new, two if you already fly.
| Days | Focus | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 7 | Regulations: operating rules, certification, waivers, operations over people, Remote ID | The biggest area by far, 48% (about 29 questions) |
| 8 to 10 | Airspace and sectional charts | 20% (about 12 questions), and from October 26, 2026, the test can show images from the latest sectional charts |
| 11 to 14 | Operations: radio, airports, emergencies, decision-making, physiology, maintenance | 25% (about 15 questions) |
| 15 | Weather and loading and performance | Small areas, 5% and 2% (about 4 questions together); learn the basics of METARs, TAFs and center of gravity, then move on |
| 16 to 21 | Full 60-question timed practice tests, then review every wrong answer, going back to the rules first | Builds pacing for 2 hours and finds weak areas |
Book your test date before you start, so the plan has a deadline.
Try one: an original practice question
You passed the Part 107 initial knowledge test on March 10, 2026, and got your certificate. You have not done any training since. What is the last day you can act as remote pilot in command before you must complete recurrent training?
- A. March 10, 2027
- B. March 10, 2028
- C. March 31, 2028
Answer: C. 14 CFR 107.65 requires the initial test or recurrent training “within the previous 24 calendar months,” and calendar months run to the end of the month (AC 107-2A, figure 6-1). Option B forgets the calendar-month rule; option A uses 12 months.
Common mistakes
- Studying only the 2016 FAA study guide. The Remote Pilot Study Guide, FAA-G-8082-22 is dated August 2016. Operations over people, Remote ID and night operations were added to the test on April 6, 2021 (FAA notice, April 5, 2021). Check rules against 14 CFR part 107 and AC 107-2A.
- Studying from the old weights. Ranges from the ACS appendix give Weather and Loading far more time than their current 5% and 2% (PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, p. 4). Under-studying the rules costs the most points.
- Only learning the supplement figures. From October 26, 2026, chart questions can use images that are not in the supplement (ATCA September 2026, p. 6).
- Booking before getting an FTN. You need the FTN first (AC 107-2A, para 6.6).
Test-day logistics
- Bring acceptable photo ID. A parent or guardian can vouch for an applicant under 18 who has no acceptable ID (Testing Matrix, p. 1).
- The center offers a practice tutorial on the testing software before you start (ACS, p. A-3).
- You may use a simple or aviation calculator, plotter and protractor; you may not bring written notes. The proctor has the final say on aids (ACS, p. A-3).
- Mark hard questions for review and come back to them (ACS, p. A-4).
- You get a printed Airman Knowledge Test Report right away. It shows your score and the ACS codes of the questions you got wrong (ACS, pp. 1 and A-5).
Pass rates and test volume
In calendar year 2025 the FAA recorded 73,914 UAG tests, with a pass rate of 82.96% and an average score of 79.31% (FAA CY2025 Airman Knowledge Test statistics). Most people pass, but roughly one in six does not, and the average score sits less than 10 points above the pass mark.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Part 107 test?
60 scored questions in 2 hours (ACS, p. A-1). PSI’s bulletin adds 5 unscored validation questions on top, with their time included in the 2 hours (PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, p. 4).
What is the Part 107 passing score?
70%, which is 42 of the 60 questions (ACS, p. A-2).
What happens if I fail?
Wait 14 calendar days (14 CFR 107.71), bring your failed test report to the testing center, and retest. No instructor sign-off is needed (ACS, p. A-2; Testing Matrix, p. 15).
Does my Part 107 certificate expire?
The regulation sets a currency rule, not an expiry date: you must have passed the test or completed recurrent training in the previous 24 calendar months to act as remote pilot in command (14 CFR 107.65).
I already have a pilot certificate. Do I need the test?
Not if you hold a part 61 certificate (not student pilot) and are current on your flight review. You can complete the online Part 107 training at faasafety.gov instead, then apply through IACRA with a certifying official (14 CFR 107.61(d)(2); AC 107-2A, para 6.4.2).