The Part 107 exam is the gateway to every dollar you'll make as a commercial drone pilot — and the good news is it's very passable with focused study. Here's the fast, realistic path.
What the exam actually is
The FAA "UAS – Initial" knowledge test is 60 multiple-choice questions, you need 70% to pass (about 42 correct), and you have 120 minutes at an approved PSI testing center. It costs ~$175.
What's actually on it (by weight)
- Regulations (~25%) — the Part 107 rules: altitude, speed, visibility, airspace authorization.
- Airspace & charts (~25%) — reading sectional charts, Class B/C/D/E/G, LAANC.
- Weather (~20%) — METARs, TAFs, density altitude, stability.
- Loading & performance, operations, and crew/physiology make up the rest.
The fast study plan (1–2 weeks)
- Learn the hard limits cold — 400 ft AGL, 100 mph, 3 SM visibility, 500 ft below / 2,000 ft horizontal from clouds. These are free points.
- Drill airspace + sectional charts — this trips up the most people; practice reading the chart legend.
- Do practice questions daily — testing yourself beats re-reading. Aim for consistent 85%+ before you book.
- Book the test once you're scoring 85%+ — don't over-study past that.
Grab the free cheat sheet
We put the highest-yield facts and 20 practice questions into a free Part 107 Starter Pack — the exact cheat sheet that gets you exam-ready fast. It's free; go grab it.
After you pass
Passing is step one. Turning your certificate into paying clients is the real challenge — that's what the Drone Business Launch Kit is built for (contracts, pricing, and the playbook to land your first jobs).
Study aid only — confirm all rules against current FAA regulations.
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