What is Drone Pilot Ground School?

Join 80,000+ Successful Students. Become an FAA-Certified Drone Pilot!

Launch your drone career with the #1 online test prep course in the industry. Pass the Part 107 exam on your first try – Guaranteed.

“I found the course very well planned. The material was easy to digest, and I never felt overwhelmed. The quizzes were great for reinforcement, and the review at the end of each section made great study guides.”

Chas

Pennsylvania

“I highly recommend Drone Pilot Ground School for anyone who wants to learn at their own pace, get helpful feedback on any questions they have, and get great extra tips and tools to help pass this exam. Thanks to you, I passed with a score of 90!”

Caitlin

California

“I had a fantastic experience with Drone Pilot Ground School. The training was clear, easy to follow, and kept my attention the entire time. The lessons were engaging, not dry or overwhelming, and the videos and graphics made the concepts much easier to understand.”

Maria

Delaware

This course was great. I've been flying for about 4 years, and this course will help me refine my photo and video work. There are some new techniques that I learned that I can't wait to try!

What a very comprehensive and well presented presentation on the ins and outs of taking and editing of still and video images. I can not think of anything that you did not discuss. Well done!!

The Part 107 drone license is required by the FAA for all non-recreational flights:

WHAT YOU GET FROM THE #1 FAA DRONE TEST PREP COURSE

Pass the Part 107 Test with Ease – 80+ engaging video lessons covering all 120+ FAA test topics. Updated, clear, and easy to follow.
Step-by-Step Guidance – We walk you through registration, test scheduling, and everything in between.
Personal 1:1 Support – Weekly study sessions and direct access to our Success Coach to keep you on track.
Real-World Flight Skills – Bonus lessons on pricing your services, airspace research, and mission planning.
Ongoing Pilot Support – 100+ FAQ and expert advice even after you’re certified.

HOW IT WORKS

1 Study with Drone Pilot Ground School

Most of our students spend 15-20 hours over 2-3 weeks going through our online self-paced lessons and practice tests.

2 Pass the FAA Exam

You’ll get 2 hours to take the 60-question, multiple-choice test, and you’ll find out right there if you pass or fail.

3 Get Your FAA License

After passing your test, complete a 15-minute online application at home. Get your temporary certificate within 4-6 business days, and you’re legal to fly commercially!

Full Curriculum

Learn at your own pace with 5.5 hours of step-by-step video lessons, plus exercises, quizzes, and resources that turn 15–20 hours of study into real-world knowledge for your Part 107 exam.

Welcome to Drone Pilot Ground School

1.1 6 Quick-Start Tips
1.2 Download Your PDF Test Supplement
1.3 Daily & Weekly Study Plans

1.4 Meet Your Instructor and Success Team

1.5 Common Drone Industry Terms (Glossary)

1.6 Need Help? Contact Us.

Drone Rules and FAA Regulations

2.1 Intro to Part 107 Regulations
2.2 Crew Member Definitions

2.3 Registering Your Drone

2.4 Reporting an Accident or In-Flight Emergency

2.5 Operating Limitations: Height, Speed, Minimum Visibility and Cloud Clearance

2.6 Required Documents and Flight Logging

2.7 Flying From a Moving Vehicle

2.8 Flying Over People

2.9 Flying Visual Line-of-Sight

2.10 Alcohol, Drugs and Physiology

2.11 Alcohol, Drugs and Physiology

2.12 Key Takeaways & Flash Cards

Night Operations Training

3.1 Anti-Collision Lighting and Civil Twilight Hours
3.2 Night Ops Environment & Best Practices
3.3 How Your Eyes Function at Night

3.4 Understanding Visual Illusions

3.5 Key Takeaways & Flash Cards

National Airspace System (NAS)

4.1 Class B Airspace
4.2 Class C Airspace
4.3 Class D Airspace
4.4 Class E Airspace
4.5 Class G Airspace

4.6 Special Use Airspace

4.7 Military Training Routes (MTRs)

4.8 TFRs and NOTAMs

4.9 Key Takeaways & Flash Cards

Reading Sectional Charts

5.1 What’s a Sectional Chart?

5.2 Latitude and Longitude

5.3 VFR Checkpoints

5.4 Notification Boxes

5.5 MSL vs. AGL

5.6 Airport Icons and Data

5.7 Isogonic Lines

5.8 Maximum Elevation Figures

5.9 Victor Airways

5.10 Advanced Sectional Chart Interpretation

5.11 Key Takeaways & Flash Cards

Airport Operations

6.1 Reading a Chart Supplement

6.2 Runways and Traffic Patterns

6.3 Right of Way

6.4 Towered vs. Non-towered Airports

6.5 Airport Signs and Markings

6.6 Key Takeaways & Flash Cards

Weather and Micrometeorology

7.1 Standard Conditions and Density Altitude

7.2 Wind and Currents

7.3 Moisture, Fog and Frost

7.4 Reading a METAR Report

7.5 Reading a TAF Report

7.6 Operating in Extreme Weather

7.7 Clouds, Ceilings and Visibility

7.8 Stable vs. Unstable Air (Understanding Air Masses)

7.9 Key Takeaways & Flash Cards

Drone Flight Operations

8.1 Hazardous Flight Operations

8.2 Emergency Operations

8.3 Lost Link Procedures

8.4 LiPo Batteries

8.5 Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)

8.6 Crew Resource Management (CRM)

8.7 PAVE, IMSAFE & DECIDE Models

8.8 5 Hazardous Attitudes

8.9 Radio Communications

8.10 UAS Loading and Performance

8.11 UAS Maintenance and Inspection

8.12 Preflight Checklist

8.13 Remote Identification (Remote ID)

8.14 Key Takeaways & Flash Cards

Practice Tests, Cram Sheet & FAA Exam

9.1 Unlimited Full-Length Practice Tests*

9.2 Cram Sheet // Am I Ready to Take the Test?

9.3 Getting Your FAA Tracking Number (FTN) and Booking Your Exam

9.4 Test Day Checklist

9.5 Using IACRA to Apply for Your Remote Pilot Certificate

9.6 Need a Certificate of Completion?

9.7 Learn How to Fly

Bonus Lessons

10.1 100+ FAQ in Knowledge Base

10.2 Top 15 Drone Training Exercises

10.3 Drone Services Pricing & Business Tips

10.4 Airspace Research & Mission Planning

10.5 Drone Photo & Video Tips

Getting Recertified // FAA Recurrent Knowledge Training

11.1 How to Renew Your FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Your Drone Pilot Ground School Instructor

Alan Perlman
Founder, UAV Coach

This course is taught by UAV Coach founder Alan Perlman. Alan started UAV Coach in 2014 with a focus on drone education and safety. For 3 years, he taught hands-on drone flight training classes while growing our program to 40 flight instructors nationwide. Alan is also the course instructor for Drone Pilot Ground School, our industry-leading Part 107 exam prep course that has trained 75,000+ people to pass the FAA knowledge test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate. Alan has a BA from Washington University in St. Louis. In his free time, he plays with his kids and dog and is always planning his next outdoor adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT THE COURSE

Do I need a drone license if I'm just flying for fun?

In the U.S., if you are flying a drone just for fun, you need to go through a free online training that takes about 30 minutes. Here’s more info on the FAA’s TRUST training.

Does my drone license need to be renewed?

Yes, to maintain your FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, you’ll need to go through a recurrent knowledge training every two years. This training is free and can be done from home.

How long does it take to get a drone license?

Most students use our self-paced course to study for about 15-20 hours over a couple of weeks. After passing the FAA exam, you’ll receive a temporary certificate within a few business days and your official certificate card in the mail 6-8 weeks later.

What's on the FAA drone certification exam?

The FAA’s drone exam has 60-multiple choice questions. There are over 120 concepts that the FAA can test you on in areas like FAA drone laws, weather & micrometeorology, emergency procedures, radio communications, and more.

How do I find my local FAA test center?

There are about 800 locations in the U.S. states and territories. Click here to find your local FAA drone testing center. You can search by zip code

How old must I be to take this test?

You must be at least 16 years old.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen?

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to get your FAA drone license.

Do I need to own or know how to fly a drone?

Interestingly enough, no. The FAA does not require that you demonstrate drone flight proficiency in order to get your drone license. If you or your team would benefit from in-person instruction, we offer hands-on drone flight training classes with experienced instructors.

How much does it cost to get a drone license?

The total cost of getting your drone license is relatively low — less than $500. The FAA test fee is $175. Then there’s your test preparation costs, and an additional $5 fee to register your drone.

What kind of drone jobs are available?

Drones are being used in a growing number of industries, from real estate and construction to insurance and infrastructure inspections. We highlight industries and specific opportunities where drone pilots can find jobs in our UAV Coach Drone Jobs Guide.

How much money can a certified drone pilot make?

Drones are used in so many industries with varying degrees of client outputs needed. What you can expect to make depends on whether or not you’re taking basic photos, helping to analyze more complex aerial data sets, doing technical inspection work with a thermal camera, able to work on a film set, etc. In this YouTube video, we go into more detail about how much drone pilots make, and how to get your own paying clients.

Do I need to buy drone insurance?

Insurance may not always be legally required, but if you’re flying a drone for any kind of non-recreational use, we’d recommend buying some. In our drone insurance guide, we break down the differences between liability and hull insurance and go over specific pricing.

PAYING FOR THE COURSE

How do we pay for our team to take the course?

Contact us at 888-626-1490 or enroll@uavcoach.com, and we’ll send an invoice to you and/or the appropriate person in your organization. We accept payments by credit card, ACH, PayPal and check.

Can you process purchase orders?

We’re happy to accept POs and can complete any vendor paperwork necessary.

My organization is tax-exempt - how can we sign up?

If your organization is tax-exempt, please email a copy of your state-issued tax-exempt form to enroll@uavcoach.com, including the number of people you wish to enroll.

We already signed up and paid tax even though we’re tax exempt - what can we do now?

Send a quick email, including a copy of your purchase receipt and your state sales tax exemption certificate, to enroll@uavcoach.com. A sales tax refund will be issued within 7 days.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

What do I do if I need help?

We’re here to help! For technical support as well as questions about the course content, email us at support@uavcoach.com. You can also leave us a voice message by pressing the “Ask a Question by Voicemail” button inside the course.

What if I’m unhappy with the course?

We want to hear from you. Email us at support@uavcoach.com and give us your feedback. If we can’t make it right, you can rely on our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.