You Passed the Part 107 Exam. Now What? Your Practical Guide to Getting Paid to Fly
The score shows "Pass" on the screen at the testing center. You pump your fist, head out to the parking lot, and text a few people who've been following along. And then you realize: nobody told you what happens next.
Passing the FAA Part 107 knowledge test — the exam that certifies you as a commercial drone pilot in the United States — is a genuinely big deal. But it's the starting line, not the finish line. Your certificate doesn't automatically appear in the mail. Clients don't come knocking. The path from "I passed" to "I got paid" has about seven distinct steps, and most new pilots figure them out the hard way, one expensive mistake at a time.
This guide shortcuts all of that.
Step 1: Apply for Your Actual FAA Certificate — Your Test Score Isn't Enough
Here's something almost nobody tells you before the test: passing the Part 107 knowledge exam doesn't automatically make you a certified drone pilot. You still have to apply for the certificate separately.
The FAA processes pilot certifications through a system called IACRA — the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application. Think of it as the FAA's online paperwork portal, the place where you officially request your Remote Pilot Certificate. After passing your knowledge test, log in and submit the certificate application instead of assuming the test result alone is enough.
Here's the process:
Go to iacra.faa.gov and create an account. During the application, you'll be asked for your Knowledge Test Exam ID — that's on the score sheet you received when you left the testing center, though it can take a little time after the test for the result to appear in IACRA. Fill out the application, sign it electronically, and submit it for FAA processing and the required TSA security background check.
Once approved, you'll receive instructions for printing your temporary certificate from IACRA. That temporary document is fully legal. You can fly commercial jobs with it right away while you wait for your permanent plastic card to arrive by mail.
Don't let this step sit. Every day you delay is a day you're not legally flying professionally.
Prefer audio? Listen to the full podcast below or open the episode page.
Step 2: Get Drone Insurance Before You Fly for Anyone
The FAA does not legally require insurance for most commercial drone operations. Your clients will.
Before you accept a single paid job, get insured. A drone weighing just a few pounds can cause thousands of dollars in property damage or serious injury if something goes wrong. Without insurance, every dollar of that liability comes from your pocket personally.
There are two types of coverage to understand:
Liability insurance covers damage your drone causes to someone else's property or to people nearby. This is the coverage clients care about. Most real estate agencies, construction companies, and event organizers require proof of at least one million dollars in general liability coverage before they'll book a drone pilot. Without it, you're locked out of professional work before you've even started.
Hull insurance covers damage to your drone itself — if it crashes, gets damaged in transit, or is stolen. It's not always required by clients, but if your drone is your primary business tool, it's worth considering.
For new pilots, a flexible monthly or on-demand policy from a provider like Thimble or SkyWatch AI is the easiest way to start. These services let you purchase coverage by the hour or month, which is ideal when you're still building a steady client base. As your business grows and you're flying regularly, an annual policy from a full aviation insurer often becomes more cost-effective.
Step 3: Set Up Your Business the Right Way
Flying commercially means you're running a business — even if it still feels like a hobby that happens to pay. Setting up properly now saves you legal and financial pain later.
Form an LLC. An LLC — a Limited Liability Company — is a legal structure that creates a separation between you personally and your drone business. If a client ever sues your business, your personal assets (your house, savings, car) have much greater protection than if you were operating as a sole individual. Filing an LLC varies by state but typically costs between $50 and $200. Your state's Secretary of State website is the place to start, or services like ZenBusiness can walk you through it.
Open a separate business bank account. Mixing personal and business finances is one of the most common mistakes new freelancers make — and it creates a nightmare at tax time. A dedicated business account takes fifteen minutes to open and makes your operation look professional to clients from day one.
Create a simple contract template. Before every paid job, you need a written agreement that covers what you're delivering, the timeline, the payment amount and terms, and a liability clause. Sites like Bonsai offer affordable contract templates built specifically for freelancers and creative professionals.
Track your expenses from day one. Your drone, insurance, airspace apps, memory cards, and travel to job sites are all legitimate business expenses that reduce your taxable income. Free tools like Wave or affordable ones like QuickBooks Self-Employed make this simple to manage.
Step 4: Build a Portfolio Before You Have Paying Clients
Nobody hires a drone pilot they can't evaluate. And you can't show work you haven't done yet. This is the classic new-pilot problem — you need clients to build a portfolio, but you need a portfolio to get clients.
The solution is simple: fly before you get paid.
Reach out to local real estate agents and offer a free or deeply discounted aerial shoot on one of their listings. Most agents are immediately interested — professional aerial photography is proven to sell homes faster and at higher prices, and agents are often already paying for it. You get a property to shoot, they get valuable content, and you walk away with real portfolio footage.
Do the same with a local restaurant, hotel, or construction project. Walk in, introduce yourself as a newly certified commercial drone pilot, and offer a complimentary shoot in exchange for permission to use the footage. Most businesses say yes.
When you're building your reel, focus on variety: different property types, different altitudes, different times of day. Golden hour footage — the hour after sunrise or before sunset — looks dramatically more cinematic than footage shot at noon. Schedule your early shoots around that window.
You'll also want somewhere to show your work. A simple website with an embedded video reel and a contact form is all you need to start. Many new pilots overthink this — a clean, minimal site with strong footage will outperform an elaborate one with mediocre footage every time. Free or low-cost options like Squarespace, Wix, or even a well-organized Google Drive folder work fine while you're getting started.
Step 5: Know Where You Can (and Can't) Fly — And How to Get Permission When You Need It
Part 107 certifies you as a pilot. It doesn't give you permission to fly everywhere. Understanding airspace is the part most new commercial pilots underestimate — and it's the part that can result in heavy fines if you get it wrong.
The basics: U.S. airspace is divided into classes, and some of it requires prior authorization before any drone can enter. The airspace directly around commercial airports — classified as Class B, C, or D — requires approval from the FAA before you fly. Operating without it isn't just risky; it's a federal violation.
Remote ID is a rule from the FAA that requires registered drones, and drones required to be registered, to broadcast certain information in real time while in flight: the drone's identity, its GPS location, and control station location. Think of it as a digital license plate for your drone — it lets the FAA, law enforcement, and air traffic control identify who's operating and where the control station is at any given moment. Most drones manufactured in the past few years have it built in. If yours doesn't, a small external module can be added. Check your drone's specs before flying any commercial job.
LAANC (pronounced "lance") stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. It's the FAA's free system that lets drone pilots get near-instant authorization to fly in controlled airspace near airports — through an app, in minutes, instead of filing a paper waiver and waiting weeks. Apps like Aloft (formerly Kittyhawk), AirMap, and DroneLink are all connected to LAANC and let you check your airspace, see if authorization is required, and request it on the spot.
Make it a habit to check your airspace every single time before you fly. This takes about 60 seconds and protects you legally. The B4UFLY app, published directly by the FAA, is a free option that gives you a plain-language read on whether your planned flight location is clear.
Step 6: Find Your First Paying Clients
The fastest path to a first paid drone job is real estate photography. Aerial photos and video are now considered standard for mid-range and higher-end listings, and real estate photographers who can't offer drone coverage are actively losing business. Many established photographers are looking for certified drone pilots they can bring in as subcontractors rather than getting certified themselves.
Here's where to look:
Local real estate agencies. Walk in, introduce yourself, and leave a one-page overview of your services and starting rates. Ask to speak with whoever coordinates listing photography. Follow up by email a few days later.
Real estate photographers. Search Google for "real estate photography [your city]." These photographers are natural partners — subcontracting the drone work to you is far easier for them than earning a pilot's certificate. A handful of strong relationships here can keep your schedule consistently booked.
Freelance drone marketplaces. Platforms like Droners.io and Worksel connect drone pilots with jobs posted by clients nationwide. These aren't typically your highest-paying gigs, but they're a consistent source of early work while you're building direct client relationships.
Local Facebook groups and Nextdoor. Posts in "local entrepreneur" or "small business" Facebook groups in your area can generate surprisingly quick responses. Introduce yourself as a newly certified drone pilot, mention you're offering promotional rates for a limited time, and include a few portfolio shots.
Your own network. Tell everyone you know what you're doing. The person you went to high school with might own a construction company. Your neighbor might run events. Your cousin's restaurant might want aerial footage for their social media. Your first paying jobs almost always come from people who already know and trust you — don't underestimate that.
Step 7: What to Charge — And How Not to Undercut Yourself
Pricing is where most new drone pilots make their biggest mistake: they charge too little to land the first client, and then find it nearly impossible to raise rates later without losing that client.
Start with these real-world benchmarks:
Real estate stills + short video clip: $150–$300 per residential property
Events and weddings: $300–$600 for a few hours on location
Construction progress documentation: $200–$400 per site visit
Commercial and industrial inspections: $500–$1,500+ per day, depending on scope and complexity
These are starting points, not ceilings. Before you quote any job, factor in your full costs: drive time to the location, editing time (a real estate edit can easily take two hours), equipment wear, your insurance premium, and any airspace authorization time. If a job costs you three hours total and pays $100, you're working below minimum wage.
Always quote in writing and request a 50% deposit upfront from new clients. It filters out time-wasters, protects your schedule, and sets a professional tone from the first interaction.
Every six months, revisit your rates. As your portfolio grows and your skills sharpen, your prices should rise to reflect that. The pilots who turn drone work into real businesses charge professional rates from the beginning — because discounting now makes it that much harder to earn what your work is actually worth later.
If you’re still working toward your Part 107 certification, our Part 107 course at Red Raven walks you through the exam prep, unlimited practice tests, and the step-by-step IACRA process after you pass.
If you’ve already passed and you’re ready to start working professionally, the Pilot Toolkit gives you the practical resources you need next: client intake forms, quote templates, checklists, mission planning tools, and business documents designed to help you look professional from the first job.
And if you want to understand the full scope of what a commercial drone pilot can earn and specialize in, check out our guide: What Can You Do With a Part 107 License?
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How long does it take to get my FAA Part 107 certificate after passing the test? After passing the knowledge exam, you apply through the FAA's IACRA portal. Once your application is processed and the required TSA security background check is complete, you'll receive instructions for printing a temporary certificate from IACRA that's fully valid for commercial flight. Your permanent plastic card arrives later by mail.
Do I need insurance to fly commercially with Part 107? The FAA doesn't legally require it for most operations, but nearly every paying client will. At minimum, get one million dollars in general liability coverage before accepting any paid work. Without it, you're personally liable for any damage or injuries that occur on the job.
What drone should I use for my first commercial jobs? For real estate and general commercial work, the DJI Air 3 and DJI Mini 4 Pro are both strong starting points — they produce professional-quality footage, meet Remote ID requirements, and are portable enough for most shooting environments. As you specialize into inspections or aerial mapping, your equipment needs will become clearer.
Can I fly my drone anywhere once I have a Part 107 certificate? No. Part 107 certifies you as a pilot but does not authorize you to fly in all airspace. Controlled airspace near airports requires prior authorization, which you can request quickly through the FAA's LAANC system using free apps like Aloft or DroneLink.
How much money can you make as a commercial drone pilot? It varies widely by niche, location, and how aggressively you market. Real estate shoots typically pay $150–$300 per property for newer pilots. Experienced pilots working in inspections or commercial film production often charge $500–$1,500 or more per day. Building reliable income generally takes six to twelve months of consistent client outreach.
Do I need to register my drone with the FAA separately from my Part 107 certificate? Yes — drone registration is entirely separate from your pilot certificate. Any drone weighing more than 0.55 pounds (about 250 grams) must be registered with the FAA for a $5 fee, and the registration number must be displayed on the drone. Commercial drones are registered under your name as an individual or business entity.
What is Remote ID and do I need it? Remote ID is an FAA rule requiring registered drones, and drones required to be registered, to broadcast identification and location information in real time while in flight — essentially a digital license plate. Most newer drones have it built in; older drones may need an external broadcast module. Check your drone's specifications before taking any commercial jobs.
How often do I need to renew my Part 107 certificate? Every 24 months. Renewal is handled online through the FAA WINGS program — no in-person test required. You complete an online recurrent knowledge test or an approved training activity to stay current. Missing the renewal window means your certificate lapses and you cannot legally fly commercially until you're current again.
Links & Resources
Part 107 Online Course: https://www.redravenuas.com/part107
What Can You Do With a Part 107 License: https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/part-107-careers
How to Pass the FAA Part 107 Exam (Complete Guide): https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/pass-part-107-exam-2026
Part 107 Requirements Guide: https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/part-107-requirements-guide
Part 107 Exam Cost Breakdown: https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/part-107-exam-cost-breakdown
Red Raven Services: https://www.redravenuas.com/services
Contact Red Raven UAS: https://www.redravenuas.com/contact
FAA IACRA Portal: https://iacra.faa.gov
FAA B4UFLY App: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/where_can_i_fly/b4ufly
Aloft Airspace App: https://www.aloft.ai
About Red Raven UAS
Red Raven UAS was founded by public safety and drone industry veterans who understood the gap between having drones and knowing how to deploy them effectively. Our team brings together decades of real-world operational experience — including building one of the nation's first major public safety drone programs — and deep expertise in the commercial UAS sector across energy, utilities, and infrastructure.
We work with utility operators, energy companies, and infrastructure organizations to build drone inspection programs designed around their specific assets, workflows, and operational requirements — not a generic course deck. No hardware sales. No one-size-fits-all curriculum. Just field-tested instruction and independent program development guidance from people who have actually built and operated UAS programs at scale.
From initial program assessment and ROI modeling through pilot training, SOP development, and data workflow design, Red Raven delivers the full program infrastructure utilities need to deploy drones effectively — and keep them performing.
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