Part 107 recurrent training is the free online course a remote pilot completes to keep flying under the FAA’s small drone rules. Your Remote Pilot Certificate does not expire, but under 14 CFR 107.65 you may not act as remote pilot in command unless you passed the initial knowledge test or completed recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months. To renew that currency, log in to FAASafety.gov, complete course ALC-677 (or ALC-515 if you are a Part 61 pilot with a current flight review), pass the end-of-course exam and keep your completion certificate as proof. There is no testing center visit, no fee and no new plastic card.
This guide explains how the 24-calendar-month clock works, which course to take, each step of the process, what to carry afterward and what to do if your currency has already lapsed. If you are still working toward your first certificate, start with our FAA Part 107 certification guide instead.
Does a Part 107 Certificate Expire?
No. The FAA states that a Remote Pilot Certificate is permanent unless the Administrator revokes it, and that completing the online training does not result in a new certificate being issued. What expires is your aeronautical knowledge recency, which is what allows you to use the certificate.
This distinction matters because the card in your wallet carries no expiration date. A pilot can hold a valid certificate and still be out of compliance if their last knowledge test or recurrent course falls outside the 24-calendar-month window. Some older study material describes the certificate as valid for two years; the current rule and FAA guidance describe a permanent certificate with a recurring knowledge requirement.
How the 24-Calendar-Month Recency Rule Works
Section 107.65 counts calendar months, not exact days. A calendar month includes every day in that month, so your currency runs to the last day of the 24th month after the month in which you passed the initial test or finished recurrent training.
FAA Advisory Circular 107-2A illustrates the cycle with examples like these:
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| Initial knowledge test passed on September 13, 2020 | Recurrent training due no later than September 30, 2022 |
| Recurrent training completed early, on July 15, 2020 | Next recurrent training due no later than July 31, 2022 |
| Recurrent training not completed until October 5, 2020, after the window closed | No remote pilot in command privileges from October 1 to October 5, 2020; next training due by October 31, 2022 |
Two practical points follow from the examples. First, completing the course early resets the clock from the month you finish, so unused months do not carry over. Second, there is no grace period: once the window closes, you cannot act as remote pilot in command until you complete the training.
Which Recurrent Course Do You Need?
The FAA offers two free recurrent courses on the FAA Safety Team website. Both take approximately 2 hours, according to the course pages:
| Course | Who it is for | Rule reference |
|---|---|---|
| ALC-677: Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent | Anyone who holds a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, regardless of current recency. This is the course most drone pilots need. | 107.65(b), areas of knowledge in 107.73 |
| ALC-515: Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent – Part 61 Pilots | Part 107 remote pilots who also hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (other than student pilot) and have a current flight review under 61.56. | 107.65(c), areas of knowledge in 107.74 |
If you hold only a Remote Pilot Certificate, or you are a manned-aircraft pilot without a current flight review, take ALC-677.
How to Complete Part 107 Recurrent Training, Step by Step
The course is self-paced and completed entirely online. Follow these steps to renew your currency:
- Check your due date. Find the month you passed your initial test or last finished recurrent training, then count 24 calendar months forward. Your currency ends on the last day of that month.
- Create or log in to your FAASafety.gov account. The FAA notes that you must have an account, be logged in and be enrolled in the course to receive credit.
- Enroll in the correct course. Search the course catalog for ALC-677 (or ALC-515 for current Part 61 pilots) and enroll before you start.
- Work through every chapter. The exam stays locked until you have viewed the introduction, all numbered chapters and the review chapter. If the Review or Exam button stays grayed out, return to each chapter in turn from your Courses In Progress page.
- Take the exam in one session. The multiple-choice knowledge check must be completed and graded within 90 minutes; otherwise you must restart the entire exam the next time you log in.
- Print or save your completion certificate. The FAA directs pilots to retain it as proof of recency of knowledge. Credit is applied automatically after you pass.
- Record your next due date. Add it to your calendar or your company’s training records so the next cycle does not slip.
What the Course Covers
Recurrent training covers the same areas of knowledge as the initial test listed in Section 107.73, including regulations, airspace classification and flight restrictions, aviation weather, loading and performance, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communication procedures, the physiological effects of drugs and alcohol, aeronautical decision-making, airport operations, maintenance and preflight inspection, and operation at night. The ALC-677 course objectives also include waiver procedures, Remote PIC responsibilities and accident reporting requirements.
Recurrent Training and Night Operations
Under Section 107.29, night operations require a remote pilot in command who completed the initial knowledge test or training under Section 107.65 after April 6, 2021, plus anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles. Because the current recurrent course includes night physiology and night visual illusions, completing it also satisfies the knowledge part of the night requirement.
What to Carry and Show After You Finish
Section 107.7 requires the remote pilot in command to have the Remote Pilot Certificate and identification in their physical possession and readily accessible when exercising its privileges, and to present them on request to the FAA, the NTSB, the TSA or a federal, state or local law enforcement officer. The FAA also states that you must be able to show a copy of your recurrent training certificate of completion as proof of currency.
- Keep the original certificate card or temporary certificate with your flight kit.
- Store the completion certificate where you can produce it in the field, such as a printed copy in your case or a saved file on your phone.
- If you have moved, note that Section 107.77 bars you from exercising certificate privileges more than 30 days after a change of permanent mailing address unless you have notified the FAA, which you can do online.
What Happens If Your Recency Lapses?
If more than 24 calendar months have passed, you may not act as remote pilot in command under Part 107 until you complete recurrent training. The fix is the same course: the FAA lists ALC-677 for anyone who holds a Part 107 certificate, regardless of current recency, so a lapse does not normally mean retaking the knowledge test at a testing center.
Until you complete the training, AC 107-2A notes that a remote pilot who has not met the recurrent training requirement may still manipulate the flight controls under Part 107, but only under the direct supervision of a current remote pilot in command who can take immediate control of the aircraft. That pilot in command remains responsible for the flight.
Managing Recurrent Training for a Team
For companies and agencies with several remote pilots, due dates spread out quickly. A simple tracking process prevents an uncurrent pilot from being assigned as pilot in command:
- Keep a roster with each pilot’s certificate number, last recurrent completion month and next due date.
- File a copy of each completion certificate with the pilot’s training record.
- Check currency when scheduling missions, not just once a year.
- Treat the FAA course as a minimum and add hands-on proficiency checks and emergency procedure practice suited to your operations.
If your team is weighing how to deliver that additional training, our comparison of online vs in-person Part 107 training outlines the trade-offs.
Refresh Your Knowledge With an Instructor
Part 107 recurrent training keeps you legally current, but many pilots and organizations want more than a self-paced course. Drone Universities has trained pilots since 2014, and our FAA Certified Flight Instructors travel to clients anywhere in the United States for one-on-one and group training. New pilots can start with in-person Part 107 test preparation, and organizations can build recurrent refreshers, flight proficiency checks and currency tracking into corporate drone training at their own site. To book a session, request training online or call 1.818.255.0406.
For the rule text, see 14 CFR 107.65 and the FAA’s Become a Certificated Remote Pilot page, which links to both recurrent courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Part 107 recurrent training cost anything?
No. The FAA lists both ALC-677 and ALC-515 as no-cost online courses on FAASafety.gov.
Do I need to go to a testing center to renew?
No. Recurrent training is completed online. The knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center is part of initial certification, not recurrent training.
Can I complete recurrent training early?
Yes. You can complete it at any time, but the new 24-calendar-month period starts from the month you finish, so any remaining months from the previous cycle are not added on.
What if I do not pass the Part 107 exam?
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.
