Part 107 Recurrent Training and Recency

Your Remote Pilot Certificate does not expire, but you may only use it while your aeronautical knowledge is current. You renew that recency with an online course, and the FAA does not issue a new certificate when you do (FAA drone FAQ). The courses cost nothing (FAA: Become a Certificated Remote Pilot). This guide reflects the rules and FAA pages as of October 2026.

The 24-calendar-month rule (§ 107.65)

You may not exercise the privileges of a remote pilot in command unless, within the previous 24 calendar months, you have (14 CFR 107.65):

• passed an initial aeronautical knowledge test covering the areas in § 107.73;
• completed recurrent training covering the areas in § 107.73; or
• if you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (other than a student pilot certificate) and meet the flight review requirements of § 61.56, completed training covering the areas in § 107.74.

The count runs to the end of a month. In the FAA’s example, a pilot who passes the initial test on September 13, 2020 must complete recurrent training no later than September 30, 2022 (AC 107-2A, para. 6.7.2, Figure 6-1).

If you miss the deadline, your certificate remains valid unless revoked (FAA drone FAQ), but you may not act as remote pilot in command until you are current again (14 CFR 107.12(b)). The FAA says the ALC-677 recurrent course is for anyone who holds a Part 107 certificate, regardless of aeronautical knowledge recency (FAA: Become a Certificated Remote Pilot).

Which free course to take

Both courses are on the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website, and both list their cost as “No”:

• ALC-677, Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent: for any Part 107 certificated remote pilot. Completing it satisfies the 24-month recency of aeronautical knowledge requirement.
• ALC-515, Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent – Part 61 Pilots: only for Part 61 certificated pilots (recreational, private, commercial and ATP) who have a current flight review. It satisfies the same 24-month requirement.

Do not confuse them with ALC-451, the initial training course that Part 61 pilots complete before applying for a remote pilot certificate.

There is no recurrent test

Beginning April 6, 2021, the FAA stopped offering the Unmanned Aircraft Recurrent (UGR) knowledge test for knowledge recency, and recurrent training on the FAASTeam website took its place (FAA: Changes to Testing for a Remote Pilot Certificate). The 2021 rule replaced the in-person recurrent test every 24 calendar months with online recurrent training that includes an operation-at-night knowledge area, offered free of charge from April 6, 2021 (FAA: Operations Over People).

Passing the initial knowledge test again would also count under § 107.65(a), but the FAA’s instructions for keeping a certificate current point remote pilots to the online courses (FAA).

What recurrent training covers

Recurrent training covers the same knowledge areas as the initial test (14 CFR 107.73):

• regulations on small UAS rating privileges, limitations and flight operation;
• airspace classification, operating requirements and flight restrictions;
• aviation weather sources and effects of weather on performance;
• small unmanned aircraft loading, and determining its performance;
• emergency procedures and crew resource management;
• radio communication procedures;
• physiological effects of drugs and alcohol;
• aeronautical decision-making and judgment;
• airport operations;
• maintenance and preflight inspection procedures;
• operation at night.

The Part 61 version covers a shorter list (14 CFR 107.74). Working through the regulations, airspace and operations practice questions is a quick way to find what you have forgotten before you start the course.

Night flights and the April 6, 2021 date

You may fly at night only if your initial knowledge test or training under § 107.65 was completed after April 6, 2021, and the aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision (14 CFR 107.29). The FAA’s summary of the rule says the first condition can be met with an updated initial knowledge test or the online recurrent training (FAA: Operations Over People). The other night and twilight rules are in the Part 107 rules summary.

What to carry when you fly

• Remote pilot certificate and identification, in your physical possession and readily accessible. Present them on request to the FAA, the NTSB, the TSA or any federal, state or local law enforcement officer (14 CFR 107.7). The identification you present must contain your photo, signature and date of birth (14 CFR 107.7(a)(2), referring to § 107.67(b)(1)–(3)).
• Proof of recency: you must be able to show a copy of your course completion certificate (FAA drone FAQ).
• Drone registration certificate, as a paper or digital copy (FAA: How to Register Your Drone).
• Temporary certificate, if your permanent certificate has not arrived yet; it is issued for up to 120 calendar days (14 CFR 107.64).

Keep your address current

If your permanent mailing address changes, you may not exercise the privileges of your certificate after 30 days unless you have notified the FAA, either by letter to the FAA Airman Certification Branch or through the FAA website (14 CFR 107.77(c)).

Plan your next deadline

Note the month of your last passed test or completed course and count 24 calendar months forward; the course must be finished by the end of that month. If you are still working toward your certificate, start with how to get your Part 107 certificate.