A free course on getting your drone license
Five short videos on the FAA drone rules and the steps to a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. About eight minutes in all, with captions.
The FAA calls it a remote pilot certificate; most people call it a drone license. The course is made by Astral Pic, which matches clients with licensed drone pilots.
Check your email. We sent a link to .
Open it on this device to start the course.
It can take a minute or two to arrive. If you don’t see it, check your spam or junk folder.
You can ask for another link after a minute.
The Field Guide: what the five parts cover
About eight minutes in all. Every part has captions and a text version. Watch them in order or one at a time; the course remembers where you stopped.
| Part | What it covers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Who’s up there | Who flies below 400 feet and which rulebook each one uses: flying for fun, Part 107 for work, crop spraying and public agencies. | 1:06 |
| 2. Rulebook, weight, certificate | How to tell which rules apply to you, the two weights that matter, and the steps to a remote pilot certificate. | 1:47 |
| 3. Registration, airspace, no-fly places | Registering a drone, Remote ID, when you need permission to fly near airports, and places that are off limits. | 1:38 |
| 4. In the air, over people, waivers | The Part 107 flight limits, flying at night, the rules for flying over people, waivers, and the proposed rule for long-range flights. | 1:44 |
| 5. Paperwork, penalties, do and don’t | What to carry, what clients ask for, accident reports, penalties, and a short list of dos and don’ts. | 2:10 |
| All five | 8:25 |
Recorded October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules change; check faa.gov before you book the test.
The FAA’s steps to a remote pilot certificate
To fly a drone for work you need the FAA’s remote pilot certificate. These are the FAA’s steps for a first-time applicant. The course explains the rules behind them.
Check that you are eligible
You must be at least 16 to hold a remote pilot certificate. You must be able to read, speak, write and understand English, and have no physical or mental condition that would stop you flying safely. You do not need an FAA medical certificate.
Get an FAA Tracking Number
Create a profile in IACRA, the FAA’s online application system. It gives you an FAA Tracking Number (FTN), which you need before you book the test.
Pass the knowledge test
Book the Part 107 test (the FAA code is UAG) at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center, and bring government-issued photo ID. The FAA says testing centers charge about $175. The test has 60 multiple-choice questions, you get up to two hours, and you need 70% to pass. If you fail, you can retake it 14 days later; bring the failed test report.
Starting October 26, 2026, the test will include image-based questions from current FAA charts that are not in the printed test supplement.
Apply on FAA Form 8710-13
In IACRA, fill in Form 8710-13 and enter the 17-digit exam ID from your test report. Your result can take up to 48 hours to appear in IACRA. A passing test report can be used for this application for 24 calendar months.
Clear the TSA check and print your temporary certificate
The TSA runs a security background check. When it is done, the FAA emails you instructions for printing a temporary certificate from IACRA. It is valid for up to 120 calendar days while your permanent certificate is on its way.
Stay current every 24 months
The certificate does not expire. To keep flying as remote pilot in command, complete the FAA’s free online recurrent training (ALC-677 on FAASafety.gov) at least once every 24 calendar months, and keep the completion certificate as proof.
Already a pilot? If you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (not a student certificate) and a current flight review, you can take the FAA’s free online course ALC-451 instead of the knowledge test, then apply through an FAA Flight Standards office, a designated pilot examiner, an airman certification representative or a flight instructor.
Only flying for fun? You need the FAA’s free recreational test (TRUST), not this certificate.
Sources, read in October 2026: FAA, Become a Certificated Remote Pilot (updated June 9, 2026); FAA drone FAQ on the cost of the test; FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (revised September 25, 2026); FAA Airman Testing Community Advisory, September 2026; 14 CFR Part 107, Subpart C; FAASafety.gov ALC-677. Rules change; check faa.gov before you book.
How it works
No password and no app. Your progress is saved to a free account made from your email.
Enter your email
Add your first name if you like. We email you a sign-in link.
Open the link
It creates your free account, signs you in and opens the course.
Watch the five parts
In order, or one at a time. The course remembers which parts you finished and where you stopped.
Plan your next step
The course ends with the FAA’s steps to a remote pilot certificate, listed on this page too, and how to apply to fly with Astral Pic once you have it.
Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes. No card, no trial, nothing to buy. We made it because Astral Pic needs more licensed drone pilots, and some people who watch it will want to fly with us. You do not have to.
Do I need a password?
No. The link we email you signs you in and sets up a free Astral Pic account, which is how the course remembers which parts you have watched. To pick up on another device, ask for a new link from the course page.
What if the email doesn’t arrive?
It usually arrives within a minute or two. If you don’t see it, check your spam or junk folder. Each link works once; if yours has expired or was already used, ask for a new one from the course page.
Can I open the link on another phone or computer?
Yes. If you open it on a different device from the one where you asked for it, we ask you to type your email again before signing you in. That check makes sure the link signs in the person it was sent to.
Will this course get me my license?
No. It is a plain-language overview of the rules and the steps. Unless you already hold a manned-aircraft pilot certificate and a current flight review, to fly for work you must pass the FAA knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center, which the FAA says costs about $175. Then you apply on FAA Form 8710-13 and clear a TSA security check. The test has 60 questions across 13 knowledge areas, and this course is not a full test-prep course.
Who is the course for?
Anyone thinking about flying a drone for pay: real estate, roofing, construction or events. You must be at least 16 to hold a remote pilot certificate. If you only fly for fun, you need the FAA’s free recreational test (TRUST) instead. Parts 1 and 2 explain the difference.
I already have an Astral Pic account. What do I do?
Log in first, then come back to this page and start the course. You won’t need an email link. If you use the email link instead, you may need to reset your password afterward.
What do you do with my email?
We use it to send the sign-in link, to keep your progress, and to see how people find the course. We do not sell it, and our analytics tools never receive it. If you tick the box and then open the link, we may email you about pilot work with Astral Pic; otherwise we will not send you marketing email. If someone else entered your address, ignore the email: we delete requests nobody confirmed after 90 days. Details are in our privacy policy.
Can I fly for Astral Pic after the course?
Yes, once you hold your certificate. We are recruiting founding pilots. Pilots are independent businesses, not employees: they choose their own jobs and see the pay before they accept. To apply you need a Part 107 certificate, a registered drone with Remote ID and at least $1 million of liability insurance. Jobs open city by city. If there are no jobs near you yet, apply anyway, save your profile, and we will email you when jobs open in your area. Drone pilot jobs explained.
Start the course
Free, about eight minutes, no password.