Your Part 107 certificate does not expire, but your right to fly commercially depends on staying current. Here is exactly what to do and when.
Complete the free online recurrent training on FAASafety.gov within every 24 calendar months. No retest and no fee. Keep your completion certificate with your records.
New pilots often ask whether they have to retake the Part 107 exam to keep their license. You do not. The FAA uses recurrent training instead, and it is free.
Every 24 calendar months. The clock starts the month you passed the initial knowledge test, then resets each time you complete recurrent training. If you passed in March, you are current through the end of March two years later.
The Remote Pilot Certificate itself does not have an expiration date. What lapses is your currency: if you go past 24 calendar months without completing recurrent training, you should not fly under Part 107 until you finish it. You do not need to retake the knowledge test to fix that.
When flying under Part 107, have your remote pilot certificate available and be prepared to show it if an FAA inspector or law enforcement asks.
Recurrent training is a refresher, and the FAA changes how the test presents charts starting October 26, 2026. Reading a sectional chart from scratch is a skill worth practicing. Try our sectional chart decoder and the free daily quiz.
Every 24 calendar months by completing the free online recurrent training course on FAASafety.gov.
No. Recurrent training replaces retesting, and it is free.
You should not fly under Part 107 until you complete the recurrent training. You do not need to retake the knowledge test.
The certificate has no expiration date, but you must stay current with recurrent training to exercise its privileges.
Don't memorize answers — learn why they're right. 800+ practice questions, a timed exam simulator, chart practice in the test's new format, and an AI coach. One-time $39.99. Always verify current rules at faa.gov.