If you’re a certified drone pilot flying under FAA Part 107, staying legal doesn’t stop after you pass your test. You’re required to renew your certification every 24 months to maintain your commercial flying privileges.
Here’s everything you need to know about renewing your Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate—including when, how, and what to expect.
1. When Do You Need to Renew?
The FAA requires all commercial drone pilots to complete recurrent training every 2 years (24 calendar months) to keep your Part 107 active.
- You can complete the renewal before your current certificate expires
- There is no penalty for renewing early—and it’s recommended
Example: If your certificate was issued on June 15, 2023, you must complete renewal by June 30, 2025.
2. What’s the Renewal Process?
Good news: you no longer need to retake the in-person test.
The FAA now offers a free, online recurrent training course through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam).
Here’s how it works:
- Go to the Federal Aviation Administration
- Create an account or log in
- Search for “Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent Training”
- Complete the online course (takes about 2–3 hours)
- Pass the online quiz at the end (multiple choice)
Once passed, you’ll receive a certificate of completion—keep this for your records and submit it if needed.
3. What’s Covered in the Recurrent Training?
The recurrent course focuses on key knowledge areas like:
- Airspace classifications and restrictions
- UAS weather and flight performance
- Operating near airports or people
- Night operations and recent rule updates
- Safety procedures and risk mitigation
Even if you’ve flown regularly, it’s a great refresher—and now includes new rules like flying over people and vehicles.
4. What Happens If You Forget to Renew?
If your certification expires:
- You cannot legally fly for commercial purposes until you complete the recurrent training
- You may be subject to fines, penalties, or denial of insurance claims if caught flying commercially without a current Part 107
Your license number doesn’t change—but your status becomes inactive in the FAA system until you renew.
5. How AND Helps You Stay Compliant
Aero National Drones is built to protect both you and your clients—so we take certification seriously.
Here’s what we do:
- Show your Part 107 status on your profile
- Encourage pilots to upload their recurrent training certificate
- May flag expired certifications to keep the platform safe and professional
Soon, AND will send automated reminders before your renewal date—so you never miss a deadline.
Put This Into Practice
Renewing your Part 107 isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about staying legal, professional, and trusted.
With the FAA’s streamlined online course and AND’s support tools, staying compliant is easier than ever.
Need to renew?