After Passing the Part 107 Test: Temporary Certificate, TSA Vetting, and Your Permanent Card
You passed the test. Passing is not the certificate: you still apply in IACRA, clear a TSA security check and print a temporary certificate before you can act as remote pilot in command. This page walks through that sequence, what the temporary certificate covers and what to do if things stall.
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What passing gives you, and what it does notStep by step: from test report to temporary certificateTSA vettingThe temporary certificateThe permanent certificateIf the permanent card has not arrivedCommon mistakes in this phaseCommon questionsWhat passing gives you, and what it does not
Passing the Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) knowledge test gives you a passing test report, not a certificate. You may not act as remote pilot in command under Part 107 until a remote pilot certificate has been issued to you, temporary or permanent.
First-time applicants take the UAG test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center; there is no online version of the initial test. (Pilots who hold a Part 61 certificate other than a student pilot certificate, with a current flight review, use a separate route: the free online ALC-451 course, then an application validated by an FAA-authorized representative.)
Keep your test report. It carries the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID you need for the application.
Step by step: from test report to temporary certificate
- Wait for the result to reach IACRA. It can take up to 48 hours after the test.
- Log in to IACRA, the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (the same account that gave you your FAA Tracking Number), and start a new application: Pilot, then Remote Pilot. This is FAA Form 8710-13.
- Enter the 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID when prompted, complete the application, sign it electronically and submit it.
- The TSA runs a security background check using the information the FAA forwards from your application.
- When the check is complete, the FAA emails you instructions for printing your temporary remote pilot certificate from IACRA.
- The permanent certificate is mailed once the FAA's internal processing is complete.
Make sure the details in your application are accurate and consistent with your identification and test records, and that your residential and mailing addresses are current. If your ID does not show your current address, the FAA accepts supplemental address verification; do not keep an outdated address just to match an ID.
TSA vetting
TSA vetting is a security screening based on the application information the FAA forwards. The standard process does not include a separate TSA application. If you receive an official request for more information from the FAA or TSA, respond promptly and follow its instructions. How long vetting takes varies.
The temporary certificate
The temporary remote pilot certificate is issued for up to 120 calendar days; follow the expiration date printed on it. It expires earlier if you receive your permanent certificate or a notice that the certificate has been denied or revoked. For a first-time applicant the certificate number may show as 'Pending' until one is assigned. Your FAA Tracking Number (FTN) is a different number from your certificate number.
Print the temporary certificate and carry it, with identification, so it is readily accessible whenever you fly under Part 107. A saved PDF is a useful backup. The temporary certificate has no photo, so present your government-issued photo ID with it if asked.
The permanent certificate
The permanent certificate is a plastic card mailed to your address on file. The FAA says it typically takes 6 to 10 weeks from the date the temporary certificate was issued. The certificate does not expire, but to keep flying under Part 107 you must have completed the FAA's free online recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months.
A few practical notes:
- If your address changes while the application is pending, contact the FAA Airmen Certification Branch to confirm or correct the delivery address. Once you hold a certificate, use the FAA's Airmen Services address-change process; section 107.77 requires you to notify the FAA within 30 days of changing your permanent mailing address.
- When you fly under Part 107 you must have your remote pilot certificate and identification in your possession, ready to show if an authorized person asks.
- The certificate does not replace drone registration. The aircraft still needs to be registered and, if required, Remote ID compliant. The certificate qualifies you; it does not register the aircraft.
If the permanent card has not arrived
The FAA advises contacting the Airmen Certification Branch if more than eight weeks have passed since you received your temporary certificate. Watch the temporary certificate's actual expiration date and ask for help well before it expires.
If the temporary certificate expires before you hold a valid certificate, stop acting as remote pilot in command until you have a valid certificate or explicit temporary authority issued by the FAA for your situation. A pending application or an acknowledgment letter is not enough, and a replacement temporary certificate is not guaranteed.
Common mistakes in this phase
- Assuming passing the test is enough to fly. It is not. Apply in IACRA and wait for the temporary certificate.
- Not applying promptly. The application does not start itself. Once the result appears in IACRA, submit Form 8710-13.
- Letting the drone registration lapse. Registration is separate and has its own three-year expiration. An expired registration puts you out of compliance even with a valid pilot certificate.
- Forgetting that the certificate does not open the airspace. You still need authorization, through LAANC or FAA DroneZone, before flying in Class B, C or D airspace or the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport.
Common questions
How long is the Part 107 temporary certificate valid?
Up to 120 calendar days; follow the expiration date printed on it. It ends earlier when you receive the permanent certificate or a notice that the certificate has been denied or revoked.
Can I legally fly with just the temporary certificate?
Yes, once it has been issued: it is a valid remote pilot certificate for up to 120 days while your permanent certificate is issued. Print it and carry it with identification. You cannot act as remote pilot in command on the strength of a passing test report alone.
What is TSA vetting and do I need to do anything for it?
It is a security screening based on the application information the FAA forwards from IACRA. The standard process does not include a separate TSA application. If you receive an official request for more information, respond promptly.
How long does the permanent card take to arrive?
The FAA says it typically takes 6 to 10 weeks from the date the temporary certificate was issued. If more than eight weeks have passed since you received the temporary certificate, contact the FAA Airmen Certification Branch, and keep watching the temporary certificate's expiration date.
Does the temporary certificate have a photo?
No. It has no photograph, and for a first-time applicant the certificate number may show as 'Pending'. Carry government-issued photo ID with it.
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Reviewed and updated September 2026.
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