Do I need a drone license?
A straight answer in about a minute.
Tell us what the flight is for. We check it against the FAA's own rules and show you the source for every line.
- Free, no signup
- Up to four questions
- FAA sources cited
Question 1
Is this flight for any business, job, client or organization, even a little?
Think about who the photos or video are for, not whether money changes hands.
General information, not legal advice. Liftoff is independent and not affiliated with the FAA. Sources checked September 13, 2026.
Fun or work: that is the whole question.
The FAA has two sets of rules for small drones. If you fly purely for fun, you follow the recreational rules. If the flight helps a business, a job or an organization in any way, you fly under Part 107, and you need a drone license (the FAA calls it a Remote Pilot Certificate).
Money is not the test. The FAA says "compensation, or the lack of it, is not what determines if a flight was recreational or not" (opens in a new tab). Photos to help sell a house, a roof inspection, or free footage for a nonprofit all count as work.
| Rule | Recreational | Part 107 |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Flying purely for fun or personal enjoyment | Any flight that helps a business, job or organization, paid or not |
| Test | The free TRUST test, with proof carried when you fly | The FAA knowledge test, then free recurrent training every 24 months |
| Age | No license to hold | Test at 14, hold the certificate at 16 |
| Register | Drones 250 g (0.55 lbs) or more | Every drone, even under 250 g. $5 per drone, good for 3 years |
Skipping it is a real risk. The FAA says it can fine an unlicensed pilot or their company, up to $75,000 per violation for unsafe or unauthorized flying.
Sources: FAA recreational flyers, FAA become a remote pilot, FAA drone registration, 14 CFR 48.15, FAA Remote Pilot ACS, FAA drone enforcement release. All links open in a new tab.
Questions people ask about drone licenses
Do I need a drone license to fly for fun?
No. If you fly purely for fun or personal enjoyment, you follow the FAA's recreational rules instead of Part 107. You need to pass the free TRUST test and carry proof when you fly, and register your drone if it weighs 250 grams (0.55 lbs) or more.
Do I need a drone license if I'm not getting paid?
Usually, yes. The FAA says compensation, or the lack of it, is not what decides whether a flight is recreational. Shooting photos for a friend's business or volunteering your drone for a nonprofit is not purely for fun, so Part 107 applies. When in doubt, the FAA says to assume Part 107.
Does a drone under 250 grams need a license?
Weight only changes the registration rule, and only for recreational flying. Under 14 CFR 48.15 the under 250 gram exception does not cover Part 107 flights, so a small drone flown for work still needs a licensed pilot and registration.
How old do you have to be to get a drone license?
You can take the FAA knowledge test at 14, but you must be 16 to hold a Remote Pilot Certificate. You also need to read, speak, write and understand English, be fit to fly, and pass the test.
Your license is closer than it looks.
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