Home Part 107 Exam Cost
Part 107 Exam Cost: Self-Study vs. a Paid Course
A focused total for the exam itself — testing, training, materials, and what happens to your total if you need a retake — with self-study and paid-course costs compared side by side.
On this page: Exam cost calculator · Retake risk · Renewal / recurrent training · FAQ
Quick answer
So how much does Part 107 cost? Knowledge Testing Centers currently charge approximately $175 per attempt. Add a $99–$300 prep course and you're commonly at $274–$475 total, or as little as $175–$220 if you self-study using free FAA materials plus a few study aids. The calculator below adds one thing most cost pages skip: what your total looks like if you need to retake the exam.
This page stays focused on certification cost specifically, and assumes you're taking the standard knowledge test. Already Part 61-certified? The Drone Pilot License Cost Calculator accounts for the exam waiver, plus the broader picture of a drone, insurance, software and business setup.
Comparing courses?
Drone Pilot Ground School↗ runs $299 with a pass guarantee — enter that in the calculator above to see exactly what it adds to your total versus self-studying.
Why retake risk belongs in this calculation
Most Part 107 cost breakdowns quote a single exam fee and stop there. In practice, the exam has a real failure rate, and a failed attempt doesn't just cost time — it costs approximately another $175 at current testing-center pricing, plus a mandatory 14-day wait before you can retest. That's a genuine, easy-to-underestimate cost, which is why this calculator lets you model more than one attempt directly instead of treating the exam fee as a single one-time line item.
This is also the core argument for a paid course: it's not really about convenience, it's about shifting the odds. If a $99–$300 course meaningfully improves your chances of passing on the first attempt, it can end up cheaper in expectation than self-studying and needing a retake — even though the sticker price looks higher upfront. The side-by-side comparison above is built to make that trade-off visible rather than asking you to just take it on faith.
Part 107 renewal cost: recurrent training is $0
If you're searching for the Part 107 renewal cost, the key distinction is that the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate itself does not expire. What you must keep current is your aeronautical-knowledge recency. To continue operating under Part 107, complete the appropriate FAA online recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months.
The FAA's recurrent training is offered at no cost, so you do not pay another $175 knowledge-test fee every two years. Most Part 107 certificate holders use the FAA's Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent course (ALC-677); Part 107 pilots who also hold an eligible Part 61 certificate with a current flight review use the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent course for Part 61 pilots (ALC-515). After completion, the FAA does not mail a new Remote Pilot Certificate — keep the course-completion record as proof that your knowledge currency is current.
Current requirements: see the FAA's Remote Pilot guidance↗. This recurring $0 training requirement is separate from the initial exam and from optional paid prep courses.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Part 107 exam cost?
FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Centers currently charge approximately $175 for the initial knowledge test. That's per attempt — if you don't pass, you pay the applicable testing-center charge again for the retest, with a mandatory 14-day wait between attempts. The calculator above lets you model more than one attempt so you can see that risk in dollar terms, not just as a warning. One exception: if you already hold a current Part 61 pilot certificate with a flight review in the last 24 months, the FAA lets you skip this exam entirely via a free online course instead.
What is Part 107 training cost, separate from the exam fee?
Training cost refers to a prep course, if you choose to use one — typically $99–$300 online. It's entirely separate from the testing-center fee (currently approximately $175), which you pay regardless of how you prepared. The FAA also provides free study materials, so training cost can legitimately be $0 if you self-study.
What is Part 107 course cost typically, and is it worth it?
Most online Part 107 prep courses cost $99–$300. Whether it's worth it comes down to retake risk: a course is designed to improve your odds of passing on the first attempt, and a failed attempt means paying the testing-center fee again plus a two-week wait. If a course meaningfully reduces your chance of needing a retake, it can pay for itself even before accounting for the time saved.
How much does it cost to renew Part 107?
The Remote Pilot Certificate itself does not expire, so there is no paid certificate-renewal fee. Instead, Part 107 pilots must complete the appropriate FAA online recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months to maintain aeronautical-knowledge currency. The recurrent training is free, and the FAA does not issue a new certificate afterward — keep your completion record as proof of currency.
How is this different from the Drone Pilot License Cost Calculator?
This page stays narrowly focused on certification itself — testing, training, materials and retake risk. The Drone Pilot License Cost Calculator covers the same certification costs plus the broader picture of becoming business-ready: a drone, insurance, software and business setup. Use this page if you just want a certification total; use that one if you want to see your full startup budget.