To choose a drone training school, start with your goal, then check five things: who teaches and which FAA certificates they hold, how much supervised flight time is included, whether the course reflects current Part 107 rules, how well it fits your industry, and what support continues after the FAA knowledge test.
Drone training is easy to buy and hard to compare. Prices, formats and promises vary widely, and the word “certified” is used loosely. This guide gives you a practical way to compare providers, including online courses, college programs and instructors who come to you, so you can choose with confidence.
Start With Your Goal
The right school depends on what you want to do with a drone. Be clear about which of these describes you before you compare anyone:
- Recreational flying. If you only fly for fun, you need to pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), a free online test offered through FAA-approved administrators. You do not need a paid course.
- Commercial work. If you fly for any business purpose, you need an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107. That means passing the FAA Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) knowledge test.
- A public agency. Police, fire and other government operators can fly under Part 107 or as a public aircraft operator under an FAA Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA).
- An industry workflow. If you already hold a certificate, you may need skills such as mapping, inspection, cinematography or thermal work rather than test preparation.
Commercial pilots must be at least 16, able to read, speak, write and understand English, in a physical and mental condition to fly safely, and pass the UAG test. The full process is on the FAA website, and our guide to FAA drone license requirements explains when a license is needed.
Your goal also tells you what to ignore. A recreational flyer does not need a commercial course, and an experienced remote pilot does not need to pay again for basic test preparation. Writing down what you want to be able to do after training, and by when, makes the rest of the comparison much quicker.
10 Questions to Ask Any Drone School
Ask every provider the same questions and write down the answers. A good school will answer each one plainly and in writing.
- Who teaches, and which FAA certificates do they hold? Ask for names. Look for a Remote Pilot Certificate at minimum, and a CFI or AGI certificate for ground instruction. You can verify any certificate in the FAA Airmen Inquiry database.
- How many flight hours does each student get? Ask per student, not per class. Two hours of flying shared among ten people is very different from two hours each.
- How large is the class? Smaller groups mean more questions answered and more time on the controls.
- Which aircraft and software are used? Training on equipment similar to what you will fly at work makes the skills transfer.
- Is the curriculum current? It should reflect the April 2021 rules for night operations and operations over people, and the Remote ID rule. Content that still says night flights always need a waiver is out of date.
- Is there a track for your industry? Construction, agriculture, public safety and media each have their own procedures and risks.
- Where and when does training happen? A fixed campus, a live online classroom, self-paced video, or an instructor at your location.
- What is included, and what costs extra? The FAA knowledge test fee is paid separately to the testing center. Ask about materials, practice tests, flight time and travel.
- What support continues after the test? Remote pilots must complete free FAA online recurrent training every 24 calendar months. Ask whether the school helps with that and with questions after you start flying.
- What are the refund or retake terms? Get them in writing before you book.
Online, College or In-Person: Which Format Fits
Each format leads to the same FAA test, so the choice is about how you learn and what you need besides the certificate.
| Self-paced online course | College UAS program | Instructor-led, in person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Self-motivated learners who only need the test | Students who want a degree or academic credential | Individuals and teams who want live instruction |
| Instructor access | Limited; usually email or forums | Scheduled classes and office hours | Direct, throughout the session |
| Flight practice | Usually none | Often included, on campus | Depends on the provider; ask |
| Schedule | Any time | Academic terms | Set with the provider |
| Team consistency | Each person studies alone | Not designed for company teams | Everyone trained together |
For a closer look at the two most common routes, read online vs in-person Part 107 training.
Credentials That Mean Something
Many training providers use badges and phrases that sound official. These are the ones that can be checked:
- FAA certificates held by instructors. Remote Pilot, CFI and AGI certificates are issued by the FAA and listed in the Airmen Inquiry database.
- AUVSI Trusted Operator. An industry program from the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International that includes accreditation for training providers.
- NIST standard test methods. Measurable flight proficiency tests developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, used by some public safety agencies.
- FAA UAS Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI). Recognition for accredited not-for-profit colleges and universities only.
“FAA-approved drone school” is a common misconception. The FAA approves the testing centers where the knowledge test is taken, not private preparation courses. A provider can be FAA-compliant, meaning its curriculum follows FAA rules, without being FAA-approved.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Promised jobs, guaranteed income or guaranteed outcomes.
- Content that says night flights need a waiver. Since April 2021, Part 107 pilots can fly at night without one if they have current night training and anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles.
- No named instructors, or instructors whose certificates you cannot find.
- Old exemptions, such as Section 333, presented as a current credential. Part 107 replaced that system in 2016.
- Pressure to pay before you have the terms in writing.
Questions to Ask About Cost
Compare total cost, not just the headline fee. Ask what the fee covers (instruction, materials, practice tests, flight time), whether group or agency pricing is available, whether travel is charged, and how rescheduling works. Remember that the FAA knowledge test fee is set and collected by the testing center and is separate from any course fee.
How Drone Universities Answers These Questions
Drone Universities is a drone training school founded in 2014 and based in Los Angeles. Instead of running a fixed campus, our instructors travel to students in all 50 states and teach at the client’s location, for individuals, companies, fire and police departments, and government agencies. Our team page lists our instructors, and you can check their certificates in the FAA Airmen Inquiry database.
We teach in-person FAA Part 107 preparation and advanced courses in inspection, cinematography, GIS and mapping, agriculture and public safety. When you request training, ask us any of the ten questions above and we will answer them for your course. If you do not pass the FAA Part 107 exam after completing our training, we will either refund your training fee or retrain you at no additional cost.
To compare us with other options, see what to look for in a drone school, or request training or call 1.818.255.0406.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is drone school worth it?
It depends on your goal. Some people pass the FAA knowledge test with self-study alone. Instruction helps most with sectional charts, airspace, weather and flight skill, and it is useful for teams that need everyone trained the same way.
Are there FAA-approved drone schools?
Not in the way many people assume. The FAA approves the Knowledge Testing Centers where the test is taken, and its UAS Collegiate Training Initiative recognizes accredited not-for-profit colleges. Private Part 107 preparation courses are not FAA-approved, so be cautious of any provider that says otherwise.
What certificates should a drone instructor have?
At a minimum, an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. A Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) or Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) certificate shows formal ground-instruction credentials. You can check any certificate in the FAA Airmen Inquiry database.
How much flight time should training include?
There is no FAA minimum for the Part 107 certificate. If flight practice matters to you, ask for the number of hours each student flies, not the length of the whole class.
Should I learn online or in person?
Online courses suit self-motivated learners who only need to pass the test. In-person training suits people and teams who want an instructor to answer questions and work through charts and flying with them.
Should a public agency use Part 107 or a COA?
Agencies can fly under Part 107, with each pilot certificated, or as a public aircraft operator under an FAA Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA), which lets the agency set its own pilot standards. Many agencies weigh both options.
