Drone Certifications: Every License and Course Explained (2026)

Search for “drone certification” and you will find dozens of courses, badges and “licenses”, some of them free and some costing thousands of dollars. Only two are required by the FAA in the United States, and which one you need depends on a single question: are you flying for fun, or for work?

This guide explains every drone certification that matters in 2026: the two FAA credentials, the training that keeps them current, the waivers that are often mistaken for certificates, and the industry certifications employers and clients actually ask for. It is written for security professionals, but the rules are the same for anyone.

Recreational or commercial: the question that decides everything

The FAA does not care which drone you fly. It cares why you are flying. A flight is commercial if it is for a business, a client, an employer, promotion, or any kind of payment, even in-kind payment. That includes a guard filming a client’s roof on shift, a private investigator documenting a scene for a case, and a business owner filming their own property for marketing.

If any part of the flight is for work, you need Part 107. If the flight is purely for fun, TRUST is enough. You cannot use a recreational certificate to make work footage legal after the fact.

Every drone certification at a glance

Certification	Who it is for	Cost	Required?
TRUST certificate	Recreational pilots	Free	Yes, for recreational flying
Part 107 remote pilot certificate	Anyone flying for work or business	$175 test	Yes, for commercial flying
Part 107 recurrent training	Part 107 certificate holders	Free	Yes, every 24 calendar months
Part 107 waivers	Operations outside the standard rules, such as beyond visual line of sight	No FAA fee	Only for those operations
AUVSI Trusted Operator Program (TOP)	Professional pilots who want a recognized industry credential	$649 (Level 1), $1,850 (Level 2)	No
sUAS thermography (Level 1)	Pilots doing thermal inspections	About $2,500	No
Manufacturer and platform training	Pilots of enterprise drones and docks	Varies	Sometimes required by employers

The TRUST certificate (recreational pilots)

TRUST stands for The Recreational UAS Safety Test. It is a short online course and test delivered for free by FAA-approved providers, and every provider issues the same certificate. You read short sections and answer questions; if you get one wrong, you are shown the correct answer. Nobody who completes the test fails it.

• Cost: free.
• Expiry: the certificate does not expire.
• What it allows: recreational flying only, generally at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, following the FAA’s recreational rules.
• What it does not cover: registration and Remote ID. Drones over 250 grams still need a $5 registration, and registered drones must broadcast Remote ID.

Keep proof of your TRUST certificate with you when you fly, either printed or on your phone.

The Part 107 remote pilot certificate (commercial pilots)

Part 107 is what most people mean by a “drone license”. It is the FAA certificate for flying small drones, under 55 pounds including payload, for any non-recreational purpose.

Who can get it

• You must be at least 16 to hold the certificate. You can take the test at 14, but the FAA will not issue the certificate until you turn 16.
• You must be able to read, write, speak and understand English.
• There is no medical exam, no minimum flight hours, no practical flight test and no citizenship requirement.
• The TSA runs an automatic background check, and some aviation-security history can lead to a denial.

The knowledge test

• Name: Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG).
• Format: 60 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, taken in person at an FAA-approved testing center with a government photo ID.
• Passing score: 70%, or 42 correct answers.
• Cost: $175 per attempt. If you fail, you wait 14 days and pay again.
• Topics: airspace and sectional charts, weather, loading and performance, emergency procedures, radio communication, airport operations and the Part 107 rules.

The FAA’s own study materials are free. A printed study guide is useful if you learn better on paper. Check price

How to get it, step by step

1. Create a profile in IACRA, the FAA’s online application system, to get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN).
2. Study, then schedule your knowledge test at an approved testing center.
3. Pass the test. Results are available immediately.
4. Complete FAA Form 8710-13 in IACRA using your FTN and your test results.
5. Wait for the TSA background check. A temporary certificate usually arrives by email within a few days to three weeks, and the plastic card follows by mail.
6. Register your drone with the FAA ($5, valid for three years) and make sure it broadcasts Remote ID.

Most people finish the whole process in two to three weeks after they start studying seriously.

What Part 107 lets you do

• Fly drones under 55 pounds for work or business.
• Fly up to 400 feet above ground level, within visual line of sight. Glasses are fine; binoculars do not count.
• Fly at night, if your drone has anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles and you have completed the updated test or recurrent training that includes night operations.
• Fly over people, within one of four FAA categories that depend mainly on the drone’s weight and certification.
• Fly in controlled airspace near airports only with FAA authorization, usually through the automated LAANC system.

Part 107 recurrent training: how you stay current

Your Part 107 certificate does not expire, but you can only use it if you are current. Since April 6, 2021, staying current means completing free online recurrent training on the FAA Safety Team website, FAASafety.gov, every 24 calendar months. There is no testing center and no fee. Remote pilots without a manned-aircraft certificate take course ALC-677; the FAA can renumber courses, so check the course name on the site.

If you miss the window, you are not stripped of your certificate, but you cannot fly under Part 107 until you complete the training. Download your completion certificate and keep it with you, because you must be able to show proof of currency if asked.

Waivers and BVLOS: not certificates, but often confused with them

A waiver is FAA permission to fly outside a specific Part 107 rule, such as flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), from a moving vehicle, or over people in ways the standard categories do not allow. Waivers are issued to a pilot or company for a specific operation, and the FAA takes roughly 90 days to review an application. There is no FAA fee.

This is changing. The FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule, published in August 2025, would replace most case-by-case BVLOS waivers with a standard approval path. The final rule went to White House review on July 10, 2026, and had still not been published in mid-October 2026. The FAA has said it hopes to publish by the end of 2026. Until it takes effect, routine BVLOS flights still need a waiver or an air carrier certificate.

Industry drone certifications worth knowing

Beyond the FAA, a handful of industry certifications show employers and clients that you have more than the minimum. None of them replaces Part 107; most require it.

AUVSI Trusted Operator Program (TOP)

Run by AUVSI, the drone industry association, TOP has three levels. All require a current FAA remote pilot certificate.

• Level 1 ($649): 14 online micro-courses. Aimed at standard operations without waivers.
• Level 2 ($1,850): Level 1 plus a one-day in-person course and a hands-on flight evaluation. Aimed at waivered work, visual observers, sensor operators and higher-risk jobs.
• Level 3: Level 2 plus more in-person training and a flight evaluation, for safety-critical and complex operations.

sUAS thermography certification

Thermal cameras are the most useful drone sensor for night security work and for roof, solar and electrical inspections. Thermography courses teach you how to capture and interpret thermal images correctly. One example: a four-day, in-person sUAS Thermography Level 1 course organized with the Infrared Training Center costs $2,500 per level.

Manufacturer and platform training

Companies that run enterprise drones or drone-in-a-box systems often require training on their specific platform. This is usually provided by the employer or the dealer that sells the system, and it matters more for the job than any general badge.

Public safety standards

Police and fire departments follow their own training standards, such as NFPA 2400 for fire service drone programs. These apply to agency pilots, not to private security.

Which drone certifications do security professionals need?

• Guards and supervisors who fly on shift: Part 107, plus a TWIC card for ports and refineries. That is what 2026 job postings asked for.
• Remote operators in a security operations center: Part 107 is required or strongly preferred. Platform training usually comes from the employer.
• Private investigators: Part 107 for any case work, plus a solid understanding of state drone surveillance laws. See drones for private investigators.
• Security company owners: Part 107 for every pilot, and a waiver strategy if you plan remote or BVLOS patrols.

Thermal training and AUVSI TOP are useful second steps once you are working. See drone security jobs and pay for what employers actually pay for these skills.

What drone certification costs

Item	Cost
TRUST certificate	Free
Part 107 knowledge test	$175 per attempt
Part 107 certificate fee	None
Recurrent training	Free, every 24 months
Drone registration	$5 per drone, every 3 years
Waiver application	No FAA fee
AUVSI TOP Level 1 / Level 2	$649 / $1,850
sUAS thermography Level 1	About $2,500

Many people also buy a small drone to practise on. Our best drones for security guide includes a budget trainer.

What happens if you fly commercially without a certificate

The FAA can issue civil penalties, and the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act raised the maximum to $75,000 per violation for unsafe or unauthorized operations. Serious or repeated violations can lead to criminal charges. Footage from an illegal flight can also cause problems if it is ever needed as evidence or for an insurance claim.

Drone certifications outside the United States

• Canada: Transport Canada issues Basic and Advanced drone pilot certificates for drones from 250 grams to 25 kilograms. The Basic exam has 35 questions with a 65% pass mark; the Advanced exam has 50 questions with an 80% pass mark and requires an in-person flight review. Each exam costs CAD $10.
• United Kingdom: pilots of most drones need a free Flyer ID from the Civil Aviation Authority’s online test, and operators of drones with cameras need an Operator ID. Higher-risk flying requires further qualifications.
• Everywhere else: check your national aviation authority. Rules differ widely, and a US Part 107 certificate does not let you fly commercially in another country.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a certification to fly a drone?

Yes, in the United States. Recreational pilots need the free TRUST certificate, and anyone flying for work or business needs an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate. Drones over 250 grams must also be registered.

What is the difference between TRUST and Part 107?

TRUST is a free online safety test for hobby flying that nobody fails. Part 107 is a commercial certificate that requires passing a $175, 60-question knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center and a TSA background check.

How much does a drone certification cost?

TRUST is free. Part 107 costs $175 for the knowledge test, with no separate certificate fee. Recurrent training is free. Optional industry certifications range from about $649 to $2,500 or more.

How hard is the Part 107 test?

You need 70%, or 42 of 60 questions correct. Most people who study airspace charts, weather and the rules for a few weeks pass on the first try. If you fail, you can retake it after 14 days for another $175.

How long is a drone certification valid?

The TRUST certificate and the Part 107 certificate do not expire. Part 107 pilots must complete free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months to keep using the certificate.

Can I take the Part 107 test online?

No. The initial knowledge test is taken in person at an FAA-approved testing center. Recurrent training every two years is done online.

How old do you have to be to get a drone license?

You must be at least 16 to hold a Part 107 certificate, though you can take the test at 14. TRUST has no minimum age, but parents should supervise young pilots.

Do I need a drone certification for security work?

Yes. Any drone flight as part of a security job is commercial and needs Part 107. Some sites also require a TWIC card, and employers may add their own platform training.

Is a Part 107 certificate valid in other countries?

No. It covers flying in the United States. Other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, have their own certificates and rules.