Part 107 Recurrent Training vs. Initial Exam: What Changed in 2026
If you earned your FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate a couple of years ago, you may be approaching the 24-month mark when renewal is required. And if you've been dreading a return trip to the PSI testing center, here's good news: the FAA eliminated the proctored recurrent knowledge test entirely.
Starting with the FAA's updated recurrency requirements, Part 107 pilots can now complete renewal through a free online training course — no test center, no scheduling fees, no 45-question exam under pressure. This is one of the most significant quality-of-life improvements the FAA has made for commercial drone pilots in years, and a lot of pilots still don't know it happened.
This guide breaks down exactly what changed, how the new process works, and how to make sure your certificate stays current without any surprises.
The Big Change: What the FAA Actually Did
Previously, Part 107 pilots had to return to a PSI testing center every 24 months and pass a 45-question recurrent knowledge test — similar in format to the initial exam but shorter. The test cost money to schedule, required in-person attendance, and caused real anxiety for pilots who hadn't formally studied since their original certification.
The FAA replaced this with the ALC-677 online recurrent training course, available free of charge at FAASafety.gov. The course is self-paced, can be completed from any device with an internet connection, and does not require a passing score on a proctored exam. You complete the training, receive a certificate of completion, and your recurrency is satisfied.
This change reflects a broader shift in how the FAA approaches ongoing pilot education — focusing on training and knowledge reinforcement rather than testing as a compliance mechanism.
Initial Exam vs. Recurrent Training: A Direct Comparison
Understanding the differences between what you did to get certified and what you now need to do to stay certified is important, especially if you're helping a colleague or team member navigate the process for the first time.
| Factor | Initial Part 107 Exam | Recurrent Training (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Proctored, in-person exam | Online, self-paced training |
| Questions | 60 multiple choice questions | No proctored exam — course completion only |
| Passing score | 70% or higher required | No minimum score — completion required |
| Cost | $175 per attempt | Free |
| Location | PSI testing center (scheduled appointment) | Online via FAASafety.gov (any device) |
| Time limit | 2 hours | Self-paced, no time limit |
| Frequency | One-time to earn certificate | Every 24 months to maintain currency |
The practical takeaway: your initial exam was a high-stakes, costly event that required serious preparation. Your recurrent training is a free online course you can complete at home, at any pace, without a formal exam score.
How to Complete Your Recurrent Training: Step by Step
The FAA's recurrent training is administered through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) Learning Center at FAASafety.gov. Here is exactly how to complete it:
Step 1: Create or log in to your FAASafety.gov account. Go to FAASafety.gov and create a free account if you don't already have one. Use the same email address you use for your FAA credentials to keep everything connected.
Step 2: Search for ALC-677. In the course catalog, search for "ALC-677" or "Part 107 small unmanned aircraft recurrent training." This is the official FAA recurrent training course for Part 107 operators.
Step 3: Enroll and complete the course. The course is divided into modules covering updated regulations, airspace changes, Remote ID requirements, night operations, and operational safety. Work through each module at your own pace. The content is designed to refresh your knowledge rather than introduce entirely new concepts, so if you flew recently and stayed current with regulations, most of it will feel familiar.
Step 4: Download your certificate of completion. After completing all modules, you'll receive a course completion certificate. Download and save this — it is your proof of recurrency. The FAA may ask for this documentation during a ramp check or investigation.
Step 5: Update your records. Log into your IACRA account (Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application) and update your recurrency information. Your certificate does not expire, but your operating authority lapses if you haven't completed recurrent training within 24 months.
Understanding the 24-Month Renewal Cycle
Your Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate itself does not have an expiration date — it's valid indefinitely. What expires is your currency to operate under Part 107. This is an important distinction.
You must complete recurrent training within 24 calendar months of either:
- The date you passed your initial Part 107 knowledge test, or
- The date you last completed recurrent training
If your currency lapses — meaning 24 months pass without completing the recurrent training — you are no longer authorized to operate as a remote pilot under Part 107. You would need to retake the initial exam at a PSI testing center and pay the $175 fee to re-establish your certification. There is no grace period.
Mark your calendar. Set a reminder 60 days before your currency expiration date. The recurrent training takes most pilots 60 to 90 minutes to complete, and the sooner you do it, the more flexibility you have if technical issues arise with the FAASafety.gov platform.
What the Recurrent Training Actually Covers
The ALC-677 course is not just a box-checking exercise. It covers material that has genuinely evolved since the initial Part 107 exam was written, including:
Remote ID compliance. The Remote ID rule became fully enforceable in 2025, and the recurrent training ensures all active Part 107 pilots understand the three compliance methods, what data is broadcast, and the penalties for non-compliance. If you certified before 2023, this is genuinely new material.
Updated airspace rules and LAANC. The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system has expanded to cover more airports and streamlined the authorization process. The training reviews how to use LAANC, when authorizations are required, and how to read authorization parameters correctly.
Night operations. The FAA eliminated the night waiver requirement in 2021, but many pilots who certified before that change may be fuzzy on the current night operations rules. The recurrent training covers the updated requirements including anti-collision lighting specifications.
Airspace changes and temporary flight restrictions. Airspace boundaries change, new TFRs appear around stadiums and sensitive locations, and special use airspace designations are updated regularly. The training reinforces how to check for these before every flight.
Crew resource management and human factors. The recurrent course includes updated content on decision-making under pressure, risk management frameworks, and how to handle system malfunctions — content that the FAA has refined based on real-world incident data.
Common Mistakes Pilots Make When Renewing
Even though the recurrent training is far less stressful than the initial exam, pilots still make avoidable errors during the renewal process. Here are the most common ones:
Waiting until the last minute. FAASafety.gov is a government platform — it experiences outages, maintenance windows, and occasional technical issues. If you wait until the day your currency expires to complete the training and the platform is down, you have no legal fallback. Complete it at least two weeks early.
Not downloading the completion certificate. The certificate is your legal documentation. Some pilots complete the course but never save the completion certificate, then struggle to prove recurrency if questioned. Download it immediately and store it somewhere you can retrieve it on your phone during a flight.
Confusing certificate validity with currency. The most common misconception: "My certificate never expires, so I don't need to worry." Your certificate never expires, but your authorization to operate under it lapses every 24 months without recurrent training. These are different things.
Skipping the content because it seems basic. Some experienced pilots click through the modules without actually reading the material, assuming it's all review. Remote ID, updated LAANC procedures, and the evolving regulatory landscape contain genuinely new information that you may encounter on a job site or during an FAA inquiry. Treat it seriously.
Forgetting to update IACRA. Completing the course on FAASafety.gov doesn't automatically update your FAA records. Log into IACRA and document your recurrency after completing the training.
How Flycensed Helps with Both Initial and Recurrent Prep
Whether you're preparing for your first Part 107 exam or refreshing your knowledge before completing the recurrent training, Flycensed covers the content you need to know.
For initial exam candidates, Flycensed provides 485 flashcards, 201 practice questions, 11 multi-step decision chain scenarios, and an interactive METAR decoder — everything needed to build the knowledge base required to pass the 60-question proctored exam on the first attempt.
For recurrent training preparation, Flycensed is equally useful. Before you log into FAASafety.gov to complete ALC-677, spend an hour working through the airspace, Remote ID, and regulations flashcard decks. You'll move through the recurrent training faster, retain the information better, and feel genuinely confident that your knowledge is current — not just your paperwork.
The Flycensed practice question bank includes updated questions on Remote ID compliance, LAANC authorization procedures, night operations rules, and crew resource management — exactly the topics the recurrent training emphasizes. It's the fastest way to identify where your knowledge has gaps before you sit down with the course material.
Your Part 107 certificate represents a real professional credential. Keeping it current — and keeping your underlying knowledge current — is what separates professional drone operators from pilots who get complacent. The recurrent training is free, fast, and easier than ever. There's no excuse not to stay sharp.