Operations guide · 7 min read · Updated September 2026

Part 107 Recurrent Training: The 24-Calendar-Month Requirement Explained

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What the 24-Calendar-Month Requirement Actually Means

Under §107.65, you may not exercise the privileges of a Remote Pilot Certificate unless you have satisfied an approved aeronautical-knowledge recency method within the preceding 24 calendar months.

The regulation recognizes several ways of satisfying that requirement, including:

• Passing the initial Part 107 aeronautical knowledge test within the applicable 24-calendar-month period;
• Completing the appropriate recurrent training; or
• For qualifying Part 61 certificate holders with a current flight review, completing the applicable FAA training.

For someone who already holds a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, the FAA's normal recurrent path is the free online recurrent course.

Your Remote Pilot Certificate itself is not reissued each time you complete recurrent training.

Which Recurrent Training Course Should You Take?

The FAA currently provides two relevant recurrent courses through FAASafety.gov, operated by the FAA Safety Team.

Most Part 107 remote pilots: ALC-677

Anyone who holds a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate may complete:

ALC-677 — Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent

This is the standard recurrent course for Part 107 certificate holders and can be used regardless of whether your aeronautical knowledge is currently within the 24-calendar-month window or has already lapsed.

Current Part 61 pilots: ALC-515

If you also hold an eligible Part 61 pilot certificate and meet the applicable flight-review requirements, the FAA provides:

ALC-515 — Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent

Follow the FAA's current pilot guidance at FAA: Become a Drone Pilot to reach the appropriate recurrent course.

Recurrent Training Is Not Completed in IACRA

IACRA and FAASafety.gov serve different purposes.

IACRA is used for functions such as obtaining an FAA Tracking Number and processing airman certification applications.

FAASafety.gov is where the FAA's Part 107 recurrent training courses are completed.

If you already hold a Part 107 certificate and simply need to maintain or restore aeronautical-knowledge currency, do not look for the ordinary recurrent course inside IACRA.

How to Complete Part 107 Recurrent Training

For the standard ALC-677 course, the process is online:

1. Go to FAASafety.gov and sign in or create an FAA Safety Team account.
2. Open ALC-677, Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent.
3. Work through the required course material and review sections.
4. Complete the course exam.
5. Achieve the required score. The current ALC-677 course requires a 100% score. Incorrect answers are identified, and you may retake the exam until all questions are answered correctly.
6. After successfully completing the course, receive credit and save or print your course completion certificate.

There is no FAA testing-center fee for the recurrent course.

Keep a copy of the completion certificate. The FAA requires you to be able to show proof of your current aeronautical-knowledge recency.

How the 24 Calendar Months Are Counted

The rule uses calendar months, which is different from simply counting 730 days from the date you completed training.

For example, suppose you complete recurrent training on June 14, 2026.

Your new 24-calendar-month period runs through June 30, 2028.

If you do not complete recurrent training until July 3, 2028, you would not be able to exercise Part 107 remote-pilot privileges from July 1 through July 2. Once you successfully complete the recurrent requirement on July 3, you may exercise those privileges again, and the new calendar-month cycle is based on July.

This is why the month matters more than the exact anniversary date.

What Happens If Your Currency Lapses?

Missing the recurrent-training deadline does not automatically cancel your Remote Pilot Certificate.

Instead, you become noncurrent and may not exercise the privileges of the certificate until you satisfy §107.65 again.

There is no grace period that allows you to continue Part 107 operations after the required 24-calendar-month period has passed.

Once you successfully complete the appropriate recurrent training—or otherwise satisfy an approved method under §107.65—you may again exercise the privileges of the certificate.

Do You Have to Retake the UAG Knowledge Test?

Normally, no.

The FAA provides free online recurrent training specifically so existing Part 107 certificate holders can maintain aeronautical-knowledge recency without returning to a testing center.

Section 107.65 does recognize passing the initial aeronautical knowledge test as a way of establishing recency within the preceding 24 calendar months, so a person who passes that test can satisfy the rule that way.

But retaking the full UAG test is not required merely because your 24-calendar-month period is ending.

The current UAG knowledge test consists of 60 scored questions plus 5 unscored validation questions. The testing session allows 120 minutes, and a score of at least 70% on the 60 scored questions is required to pass. The five validation questions do not count for or against your score.

Your Certificate and Your Proof of Currency Are Different Documents

After recurrent training, the FAA does not issue you a new Remote Pilot Certificate.

Instead, your recurrent course completion certificate serves as evidence that you satisfied the aeronautical-knowledge recency requirement.

Keep that completion certificate with your pilot records and make sure it is available when you operate.

Your physical Remote Pilot Certificate remains a separate credential.

Recurrent Training Is Separate From Drone Registration

Part 107 recurrent training applies to you as the remote pilot.

Drone registration applies to the aircraft.

Those are different requirements with different time periods and different systems.

A pilot can be current on recurrent training while operating an aircraft with an expired registration, or have a properly registered aircraft while the pilot's Part 107 aeronautical knowledge is no longer current.

Both requirements must be satisfied when they apply.

See FAA DroneZone for current aircraft-registration information.

Visual Observers Do Not Need a Part 107 Certificate

A visual observer assisting a Part 107 operation does not need to hold a Remote Pilot Certificate simply because they are serving as the visual observer.

The remote pilot in command, however, must hold the required certificate and must satisfy the aeronautical-knowledge recency requirement.

The remote pilot in command remains responsible for the operation.

Part 107 Recurrent Training Is Not TRUST

Do not confuse Part 107 recurrent training with The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).

TRUST applies to people flying under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft.

The FAA describes TRUST as a once-and-done requirement. It does not have a recurring 24-calendar-month retest requirement.

A Part 107 certificate holder who chooses to conduct a particular flight under the recreational exception must still meet the applicable recreational-flyer requirements, including TRUST.

See FAA: Recreational Flyers for the rules governing recreational operations.

Waivers Do Not Replace Pilot Currency

A Part 107 waiver authorizes specific deviations from particular operating regulations.

It does not replace the remote pilot's certification or aeronautical-knowledge recency requirements.

If you are operating under a waiver, you still need to be current as a remote pilot in command and comply with the conditions and limitations of that waiver.

See FAA: Part 107 Waivers for more information on Part 107 waivers.

Common questions

Does my Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate expire?

Not merely because a set number of years has passed.

The FAA describes the certificate as permanent unless revoked. However, you must maintain aeronautical-knowledge recency to exercise the certificate's privileges.

For existing Part 107 certificate holders, that normally means completing the appropriate online recurrent course within the preceding 24 calendar months.

Where do I take Part 107 recurrent training?

On the FAA Safety Team website, FAASafety.gov.

Most Part 107 certificate holders use ALC-677. Eligible Part 61 pilots with a current flight review may use ALC-515.

The ordinary recurrent course is not completed through IACRA.

Is Part 107 recurrent training free?

Yes. The FAA's ALC-677 and ALC-515 online recurrent courses are offered at no cost.

Is there a passing score for ALC-677?

Yes.

The current ALC-677 course requires a score of 100% on its exam. Incorrect responses are identified, and you can retake the exam until you achieve the required score.

What should I keep after completing the course?

Save or print your course completion certificate.

The FAA requires you to be able to show a copy of the completion certificate as proof of aeronautical-knowledge currency.

What happens if I miss the deadline by a few days?

You may not exercise Part 107 remote-pilot privileges during the period in which you are no longer current.

There is no grace period.

Once you successfully complete the recurrent requirement, you can resume exercising the privileges of your Remote Pilot Certificate.

Does completing recurrent training give me a new Remote Pilot Certificate?

No.

The FAA does not issue a new Remote Pilot Certificate simply because you completed recurrent training. Your course completion certificate documents your renewed aeronautical-knowledge recency.

Do recreational drone pilots have to repeat TRUST every two years?

No.

TRUST is a separate recreational-flyer requirement and the FAA describes it as once-and-done. There is no periodic TRUST recurrent-testing requirement.

Is recurrent training the same as renewing my drone registration?

No.

Recurrent training keeps the remote pilot's aeronautical knowledge current. Aircraft registration is a separate requirement handled through the FAA's drone-registration system.

Gear mentioned on this page

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  Part 107 study guide books

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Reviewed and updated September 2026.

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