Part 107 Test Cost Breakdown: Exam Fee, Course Costs, and Retake Fees
Starting a traditional business costs tens of thousands of dollars. Starting a drone business costs less than a car payment.
The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is the only legal requirement standing between you and paid commercial drone work — and the total investment to get certified is surprisingly reasonable. But "how much does it cost" isn't as simple as one number. There's the exam fee, your study materials, and the cost most people don't think about until it's too late: the retake fee.
Here's every dollar you need to budget for, and how to make sure you only spend it once.
The Fixed Cost: The Exam Fee ($175)
This is the one number that doesn't change. To sit for the FAA Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam, every candidate pays a $175 testing fee — no exceptions, no discounts.
A few things to know before you schedule:
The fee goes to PSI Services, the FAA's authorized testing provider — not directly to the FAA. You pay when you book your appointment online. And critically, this fee is per attempt. If you walk in underprepared and score a 68%, that $175 is gone. You pay it again for your next try.
That last point matters more than most people realize — and it's the strongest argument for investing in a proper study course.
The Variable Cost: Study Materials ($0 – $300)
This is where you have a real choice to make. You can prepare for free, or you can invest in a structured course. Here's the honest breakdown of both.
The free route ($0)
The FAA publishes a study guide. YouTube has tutorials. Reddit has forums full of people sharing tips. All of it is free, and some of it is genuinely useful.
The catch: the free resources are scattered, inconsistent in quality, and frequently outdated. The Part 107 rules changed with the full integration of Remote ID and the removal of the night operations waiver. A lot of free content online hasn't caught up. If you're piecing together your study plan from videos posted in 2021, you're studying for a different test.
The other hidden cost is time. Most people spend 30 to 50 hours trying to self-study their way to passing. That's a lot of hours hunting down the right information, verifying it's current, and hoping you haven't missed anything important.
The Red Raven Part 107 Course - Any Device, Anytime
A structured course ($100 – $300)
A good Part 107 prep course gives you a clear, logical path from zero knowledge to test-ready — typically in 10 to 20 hours. Everything is current, organized, and built around exactly what appears on the exam.
The Red Raven Part 107 Course is $99 during our launch special (normally $199) and includes a Pass Guarantee: if you take the course and don't pass, we cover your $175 retake fee. That guarantee isn't marketing language — it's us putting real money behind our confidence in the curriculum.
The Math of Failing
Here's the calculation most people don't run until after they've failed.
If you try to save money by skipping a course and fail the exam once:
Exam attempt 1: $175
Exam attempt 2: $175
Total: $350 — plus two weeks of waiting, because the FAA requires a 14-day gap between attempts.
If you invest in the Red Raven course and pass on your first try:
Course: $99
Exam: $175
Total: $274 — and you're certified and working immediately.
The "free" path that ends in a single retake actually costs more than the course. And that's before you factor in the two-week delay and the stress of failing.
The Best Number: Renewals Are Free
Once you pass, you never pay a testing fee again.
The old system required a full in-person recurrent test every 24 months — another $175. That changed. Keeping your Part 107 current is now completely free, done online through the FAA Safety Team website, and takes about 45 minutes.
Get certified once. Keep it current for free. That's the deal.
The Full Cost Summary
| Item | Free Route | Red Raven Course |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Fee | $175 | $175 |
| Study Materials | $0 | $99 |
| Study Time | 30–50 hours | 10–20 hours |
| Pass Guarantee | None | Yes |
| Risk of Retake | High | Low |
| Total (first try) | $175 | $274 |
| Total (one retake) | $350 | $274 |
If you pass on the first try going the free route, you spent less money. But you spent significantly more time, and you took on real financial risk. If you fail once — which 16% of test takers do — you've already spent more than the course costs.
Treat this like a business expense, because it is one. A $99 investment that gets you certified and earning is one of the best returns you'll find anywhere.
Ready to make sure you only pay once?
The Red Raven UAS Part 107 Course gives you everything you need to pass your first try — updated for 2026, built around real exam content, and backed by our Pass Guarantee.
If you don't pass, we cover your retake. That's how confident we are.
ENROLL NOW — $99 LAUNCH SPECIAL (Normally $199)
Watch: Red Raven Part 107 Course Overview
Links & Resources
FAA Part 107 Online Course & Test Prep: https://www.redravenuas.com/part107
How to Pass the FAA Part 107 Exam (Complete Guide): https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/pass-part-107-exam-2026
Part 107 Requirements: Who Needs It and How to Qualify: https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/part-107-requirements-guide
Understanding Airspace for the Part 107 Exam: https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/part-107-airspace
Part 107 Exam Cost FAQ (2026)
How much does the FAA Part 107 exam cost? The exam fee is $175 per attempt, paid to PSI Services when you schedule your appointment. This fee goes to the testing center, not directly to the FAA, and there are no discounts or waivers available.
What happens if I fail the Part 107 exam? You must wait 14 days before retaking it and pay the full $175 fee again. That means a single failed attempt brings your total cost to $350 — more than the cost of a prep course that could have helped you pass the first time.
Is the Part 107 renewal free? Yes. Keeping your Part 107 current is completely free. Every 24 months you complete a short online recurrency course through the FAA Safety Team website — no in-person test, no fee. It takes about 45 minutes.
How much does a Part 107 prep course cost? Courses typically range from $100 to $300 depending on the provider. The Red Raven UAS Part 107 Course is $99 during our launch special (normally $199) and includes a Pass Guarantee — if you take the course and don't pass, we cover your $175 retake fee.
Is it cheaper to study for free or buy a course? If you pass on your first try going the free route, you spend less money up front. But the free path carries real risk — if you fail once, you've already spent more than the course costs. Free resources are also frequently outdated, which increases that risk. A structured course saves you 20 to 30 hours of study time and removes the financial risk of failing.
What is the Pass Guarantee? The Red Raven UAS Pass Guarantee means that if you complete our Part 107 course and don't pass your exam, we reimburse your $175 retake fee. Pass Guarantee terms apply.
Do I pay the FAA directly for the Part 107 exam? No. You pay PSI Services, the FAA's authorized testing provider, when you schedule your exam appointment online. The FAA itself does not charge a fee for the knowledge test.
Are there any other costs involved in getting Part 107 certified? No. Beyond the $175 exam fee and optional study materials, there are no other costs. The FAA application process through IACRA is free, and the TSA security vetting happens automatically at no charge.
About Red Raven UAS
Red Raven UAS was founded by public safety and drone industry veterans who know what it takes to get certified and fly professionally. Our Part 107 online course was built by Derrick Ward — 35-year LAFD veteran and public safety UAS pioneer — and Michael Wilson, former Director at DJI. It cuts through the confusion of FAA manuals and scattered YouTube videos and gives you a clear, structured path to passing your exam on the first try — guaranteed. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced drone pilot finally going legit, we give you everything you need: study guide, practice tests, audio lessons, and an AI tutor available anytime. Pass the test, get your certificate, and start flying professionally with confidence.
Explore More
