Your FAA Remote Pilot Certificate has a 24-month shelf life—which means that drone pilots are required to complete the ‘free’ online Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent training course (ALC-677) every 24 calendar months to remain qualified to operate a UAS under part 107.
There is no penalty if your currency has expired and you do not have to take the initial test again but you’re not legal to fly under Part 107 until you complete the online recurrent training course.
Part 107 remote pilots who are also certificated with a current flight review under part 61:
- Complete the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent (ALC-515) online training course (no cost)
Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent Training Registration Steps
- First, create a free account over at FAASafety.gov
- Then, sign up to take this free online training: ALC-677: Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent
- The training takes about 2 hours — at the end of the course, you’re given 90 minutes to pass a short multiple-choice test (45 questions)
- You can take the exam as many times as you’d like and you may review the course material as you take the test.
- If you get wrong answers you will be brought back to the exam with the incorrect answers marked.
- You must correct your answers to 100% within one 90-minute session to pass the exam and access the Certificate of Completion.
After completing the online training course your certification will be renewed for 24 calendar months and you’re also qualified to fly at night if the need arises.
There are no updates required to the IACRA website and you’ll continue to use the original hard copy certificate. Keep the certificate of completion along with a photo ID with you when you’re flying as proof your certification training is current.
Questions? Let us know over at [email protected].
