Your Part 107 Is Your License to Earn
Your Part 107 certificate is worth far more than the paper it’s printed on. It’s the foundation of your entire drone business. Without it, you’re not a professional. You’re just someone flying a toy with a camera.
Why Part 107 Is Non-Negotiable
The FAA defines “commercial use” more broadly than you might think. If you receive any compensation for your flight (even something as indirect as using footage to build a portfolio that lands you paid work), that’s commercial. No exceptions, no loopholes, no “but I wasn’t paid for this specific flight.”
Flying without Part 107 for commercial work isn’t a slap-on-the-wrist offense. The FAA has issued fines exceeding $20,000 for unauthorized commercial flights. That’s not a business expense. That’s a business killer.
Many new pilots assume clients don’t care about certification. They do.
Construction and Real Estate Clients
Many project managers won’t let you on site without seeing your certificate first. It’s a liability thing for them. If something goes wrong and they hired an unlicensed pilot, they look negligent.
Government and Municipal Work
You literally cannot bid on government contracts without Part 107. To register on SAM.gov and become an approved vendor for municipalities, your certificate is one of the first documents you’ll upload. No certificate means no registration means no contracts.
SAM.gov registration is free but takes time. It can take weeks to get fully approved. Have your Part 107 certificate ready before you begin.
Corporate Clients
Larger companies often have procurement processes that require vendor compliance documentation. Your FAA certificate becomes part of their file on you. It’s not optional. It’s checkbox compliance.
Insurance Ties Directly to Certification
Most insurance companies won’t issue a commercial drone policy without proof of Part 107. So even if you’re willing to fly illegally and accept the FAA risk, you can’t even get insured. That means every flight is uninsured, which is not just legally questionable but financially reckless.
Never fly a commercial mission without insurance in hand. Have your Part 107 certificate ready before applying. Insurers will ask for it.
Marketing Your Certification
Your certificate is a marketing asset. Treat it like one:
- Business cards: “FAA-Certified Remote Pilot” belongs right under your name
- Website header: don’t bury it on an about page. Make it visible immediately.
- Proposals and bids: include your certificate number and expiration date
- Email signature: one line that sets you apart from every hobbyist emailing the same client
The Competitive Advantage You Already Have
The majority of drone owners never get certified. They fly recreationally, maybe post some YouTube videos, and that’s it. By earning your Part 107, you’ve already separated yourself from the pack. You’re not competing with thousands of certified pilots. You’re competing with a much smaller pool of people who actually bothered to show up and do the work.
When a client asks why they should hire you over someone cheaper, your certification is your first answer. It’s proof you take this seriously.
Staying Current: The 24-Month Rule
Your Part 107 certificate expires every 24 calendar months. To renew, you must pass a recurrent knowledge test or complete an approved online course. Don’t let this lapse. An expired certificate is just as useless as no certificate.
Staying current also matters for credibility. When a client sees your certificate expires next month versus next year, it sends a signal about how you run your business.
In our Part 107 course, we cover every topic on the exam in depth, including what you need to know for recurrent testing.
Quick Check
Q: Can I fly for free to build my portfolio without Part 107? A: No. The FAA considers portfolio-building that leads to paid work as commercial activity. You need Part 107 first.
Q: Do insurance companies verify my Part 107 certificate? A: Yes. Most commercial drone insurers require you to submit a copy of your certificate before issuing a policy.
Q: How often do I need to renew my Part 107? A: Every 24 calendar months, via recurrent knowledge test or an FAA-approved online course.
What’s Next?
Now that you understand why Part 107 matters for your business, let’s talk about protecting that business with proper insurance.
For comprehensive Part 107 exam preparation with video lessons and practice tests, check out Pilot Institute’s Part 107 course.