Can a High Schooler Get a Part 107? Test at 14, Certified at 16

By Taz Little · October 26, 2026 · 3 min read

Every time I talk drones with a room full of high school students, somebody in the back asks the same question: “How old do I have to be to get my license?” Most people, teachers and parents included, will tell them 16. That is only half the answer.

Here is the full version, straight from the FAA.

The short answer

You can take the FAA Part 107 knowledge test at 14. You cannot hold the Remote Pilot Certificate until you are 16.

Those are two separate steps, and a lot of people mix them up.

Step one: the knowledge test (age 14)

The FAA’s knowledge testing rules set the minimum age for the Part 107 exam, officially called Unmanned Aircraft General – Small, at 14. It is 60 questions, you get two hours, and you need 70 percent to pass. No instructor sign-off is required to sit for it.

When you pass, you get an Airman Knowledge Test Report. Hang on to it. That report stays good for 24 calendar months when you apply for your certificate.

Step two: the certificate (age 16)

The federal rule, 14 CFR 107.61, says you must be at least 16 to be eligible for a Remote Pilot Certificate. You also have to be able to read, speak, write and understand English, and be in a physical and mental condition to fly safely.

So a student who passes at 14 or 15 waits, then applies through the FAA’s online system, IACRA, once they turn 16. As long as that happens within 24 calendar months of the test, the passing score still counts.

Getting the timing right

This is the part families need to plan for:

A student who passes at 15 has plenty of room. They can apply any time after their 16th birthday, up to the 24-month mark.
A student who passes right at 14 has no room to spare. The window closes about when they turn 16, so they need to apply right on their birthday.
If a student is younger than about 14 and a half, I would keep them in the class and flying under the recreational rules, and schedule the real exam so the 24 months line up with their 16th birthday.

Can kids under 14 fly drones at all?

Yes. Recreational flyers take the FAA’s free TRUST test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test), and TRUST has no minimum age. It lets a young pilot fly for fun under the recreational rules. It is not a certificate, and it does not cover paid work. Paid work takes a Part 107.

What students need on test day

An FAA Tracking Number. You get one by creating a profile in IACRA before you register for the test.
A government-issued photo ID. If a student under 18 does not have an acceptable ID, a parent or legal guardian has to come along, show their own ID and vouch for the student.
A scheduled seat at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center.

If a student does not pass, they can retest after 14 calendar days. No instructor endorsement is needed for the retest.

Why this matters for schools

This is the part I want principals and CTE directors to hear. Because the test age is 14, a drone program does not have to wait until junior or senior year to pay off. A ninth or tenth grader can finish ground school, pass the FAA exam, and be ready to apply for a federal credential on their 16th birthday. By graduation they have held that certificate for a year or more and can show an employer real flight experience.

That is the whole reason to start early. The students who start at 14 are the ones with experience when the jobs show up.

Where to start

Students and parents: our Self-Paced Remote Pilot course covers everything on the exam, at your own pace.

Schools and districts: UAS Student Scholars brings the full program into your building, with curriculum, instruction, flight time and test prep. Or request a quote and we will put a plan together for your students.

Taz Little, Co-Founder, AINautics

Sources: FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (revised September 25, 2026); 14 CFR 107.61; FAA: Become a Certificated Remote Pilot.