The 5 "Hidden" Costs of the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate for Agricultural Drone Services
So, you’ve got the vision. A sleek, powerful drone hovering over endless acres of corn, a fine mist of nutrients settling perfectly on the canopy. You see precision, efficiency, and a booming new revenue stream for your farming operation or service-based business. You’ve crunched the numbers on the drone itself—a cool $25,000, maybe—and you’ve heard about this "drone license."
You hop on Google, type it in, and see the magic number: $175.
"That's it?" you think. "One hundred seventy-five bucks and I'm in business?"
Let me grab your coffee cup and slide into the booth, because we need to talk. As someone who's navigated the FAA's labyrinth, I have to tell you: that $175 is just the cover charge. It’s the ticket to get in the door. It's not the cost of the night out. Especially not for agriculture.
For agricultural drone services, the FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate cost is the first line item on a much longer budget. It’s the foundational, non-negotiable, 'you-must-do-this' step. But if you only budget for that, you're going to be in for a world of financial and legal pain about three weeks into your new venture.
You’re a business owner. Your time is your most valuable asset. You don't have the bandwidth for surprises that cost you thousands of dollars and weeks of downtime. The goal of this post isn't to scare you off. It's the opposite. It's to give you the real budget, the complete shopping list, so you can walk into this with your eyes wide open, build a real business plan, and absolutely crush it from day one.
Let's break down the actual dollars and cents, from the obvious test fee to the massive, multi-thousand-dollar hurdles nobody talks about.
Cost 1: The "Cover Charge" — The $175 Test Fee
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. Yes, the official, sit-down, 60-question, multiple-choice "Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)" knowledge test costs $175. (Price is subject to change, but it's held steady for a while).
This isn't paid to the FAA directly. You pay it to one of the FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Centers. As of right now, that's primarily PSI Services. You schedule your test through their portal, you pay them the fee, and you show up at their proctored computer lab to prove you're not a menace to the National Airspace System.
Here’s the kicker: That $175 is per attempt.
If you fail? You have to wait 14 days, and then you pay another $175 to take it again. I've seen people fail two or three times. They "saved" $200 on a prep course but ended up spending $525 in test fees and six weeks of wasted time. As a business owner, that math is just... painful.
This fee is the absolute, unavoidable minimum. But it's also the least of your financial worries.
Cost 2: The "Smart Money" — Your Test Prep & Training Budget ($150 - $4,000)
This is where you make your first real business decision. How much is your time worth? And how important is it that you actually know what you're doing?
The Part 107 test is not a simple driver's ed quiz. You will be tested on complex aviation topics. You don't need to be a 747 pilot, but you do need to think like one. For agriculture, this is 100x more true. You're not flying a 1-pound camera drone. You're flying a 70-pound industrial machine carrying hazardous materials.
Your training options fall into three categories.
Option A: The "Scrappy DIY" Method (Cost: $0 + Your Sanity)
The FAA, to its credit, provides everything you need to pass the test for free. It’s all public information. You can dig through the FAA's website, download the 87-page Remote Pilot Study Guide (PDF), and try to piece it all together.
- Pros: It's free.
- Cons: It's dense, disorganized, and mind-numbingly dry. It’s a terrible way to learn complex topics. You'll spend 50 hours trying to teach yourself what a paid course could teach you in 15. The risk of missing a key concept (like how to read a Sectional Chart or understand weather METARs) is extremely high. This is the "high-risk, low-reward" path.
Option B: The "Online Prep Course" Method (Cost: $150 - $400)
This is the sweet spot. This is what 99% of serious commercial operators do. Companies like the Pilot Institute, Drone Pilot Ground School, Drone Launch Academy, etc., have built entire businesses on one thing: making the Part 107 content digestible, engaging, and easy to retain.
For a one-time fee, you typically get:
- High-definition video lessons (that aren't boring!)
- Lifetime access (crucial for your 2-year renewal)
- Practice exams that pull from a bank of 300+ questions
- Direct support from instructors (often real pilots)
- A "pass guarantee" — if you fail the test, they pay your $175 re-test fee.
Think about that. They are so confident in their product that they will literally pay your failure tax. This isn't just a cost; it's an insurance policy on your $175 test fee and, more importantly, your time.
Option C: The "Ag-Specific" Flight Training (Cost: $1,000 - $5,000+)
This is the part that's specific to your business. The Part 107 certificate does not teach you how to fly. It teaches you the rules of flying.
Nobody cares if you can pass a multiple-choice test when you're trying to fly a $30,000 DJI Agras T40 around a power line at the edge of a field. For agricultural services, you need hands-on training. This is often provided by the company you buy your drone from (like a big ag-drone dealer) or specialized third-party trainers.
This training covers:
- Basic flight maneuvers with a heavy-lift drone.
- Mission planning software (e.g., DJI Terra).
- Handling "tank slosh" (the liquid in your tank shifting) and changing center of gravity.
- Battery management for high-capacity batteries.
- Emergency procedures.
So, your "training" budget isn't just for the Part 107 test. It's for the job. The Part 107 is the written exam; this is the real-world flight school.
Cost 3: The "Big One" — The Part 137 Certification (The Real Ag-Drone License)
Please, stop what you're doing and read this section twice. If you remember nothing else, remember this.
Your FAA Part 107 certificate DOES NOT allow you to spray crops, seeds, or anything from a drone.
I cannot be more clear about this. The Part 107 rules (specifically §107.36) expressly prohibit dropping any object from a moving aircraft if it creates an "undue hazard." The FAA has definitively interpreted this to include agricultural spraying.
To legally dispense materials, you must operate under FAA Part 137, Agricultural Aircraft Operations.
This is a completely separate, far more complex, and more expensive certification. It's not a person certification; it's an operator certification for your business. The Part 107 certificate is just one prerequisite for your pilots-in-command.
What does getting a Part 137 certificate involve?
- A Mountain of Paperwork: You have to create detailed operations manuals, training manuals, and safety procedures.
- Exemptions: Since most drones don't meet the traditional Part 137 requirements (which were written for manned crop dusters), you have to file for a long list of exemptions, like 137.41(c), to get permission to operate.
- FAA Scrutiny: You will be assigned an inspector from your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) who will review your entire application.
- Practical Test: You may have to perform a practical demonstration of your operation's safety and effectiveness.
So, what's the "cost"?
- If you DIY: Hundreds of hours of your time. I'm not exaggerating. It's a bureaucratic nightmare for a layperson. What's 200 hours of your time worth? $10,000? $20,000?
- If you hire a consultant: There are aviation lawyers and consulting firms who specialize in this. They will charge you anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 to prepare and file your Part 137 and exemption paperwork.
This, right here, is the real "cost of entry" for an agricultural drone service. The Part 107 is just the key to the first door. The Part 137 is the key to the actual building.
Key Takeaway: The Two-License System
Think of it this way: Part 107 makes you a legal pilot. Part 137 makes you a legal agricultural spraying business. You absolutely, 100% need both.
The Real Cost of an Ag-Drone Business(Beyond the $175 Part 107 Test) |
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This is the "cover charge" most people budget for:
$175 (FAA Part 107 Test Fee)
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But here are the real business startup costs:
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Total Startup Legal & Insurance (Est.) $6,000 - $18,000+ (This is before buying your $25,000+ drone) |
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The $175 Part 107 test is just your ticket to entry. |
Cost 4: The "Patchwork" — State Pesticide Licenses & Legals
Okay, you've got your Part 107 pilot certificate and your Part 137 operator certificate. You're legal with the FAA. Now you get to deal with the other set of regulators.
The FAA controls the air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and your State's Department of Agriculture control the chemicals.
To legally apply pesticides (which includes most herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides), you or your pilot-in-command must hold a state-issued Pesticide Applicator License. This often involves:
- A separate training course on chemical safety, environmental protection, and state laws.
- Another proctored exam.
- Annual renewal fees and continuing education credits.
The cost varies wildly by state. It could be $50 for the test and $75 a year, or it could be several hundred dollars for the initial training and certification. You need to check the rules for every state you plan to operate in.
This is also where your business setup costs come in. You'll need an LLC or S-Corp (another $100 - $500 in state filing fees) to protect your personal assets. Why? Because if you have a spray-drift incident and damage your neighbor's million-dollar organic crop, you don't want them coming after your house.
Cost 5: The "Non-Negotiable" — Business & Drone Insurance
This is the final, massive, hidden cost. Flying without insurance is not "risking it." It's an act of profound business malpractice.
Your standard farm liability policy will not cover you. Most general business liability policies have an "aviation exclusion" clause. You need a specific UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) insurance policy.
For agricultural services, this is even more specialized. You need:
- Hull Insurance: This covers the drone itself. If you crash your $30,000 Agras, this is what pays to replace it.
- Liability Insurance: This covers property damage or bodily injury to a third party. (e.g., you lose control and hit a client's truck). A standard $1 million policy is the bare minimum.
- Chemical/Spray-Drift Insurance: This is the most expensive and most critical part. This covers you if your pesticide drifts onto the wrong field, a waterway, or a sensitive residential area.
What's the cost? For a high-value ag drone doing chemical application, you should budget anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000+ per year. Yes, per year. The cost is high because the risk is high. One spray-drift incident can lead to a six-figure lawsuit.
The Real Math: Why "Free" Is the Most Expensive Option
Let's add this all up. You thought you were spending $175. Here's the real "startup" budget for a one-person ag-drone service:
| Line Item | "Scrappy" (Cheap) Cost | "Professional" (Smart) Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Part 107 Test Fee | $175 (assumes you pass 1st time) | $175 |
| 2. Part 107 Test Prep | $0 (40+ hours of your time) | $300 (Online Course w/ Pass Guarantee) |
| 3. Part 137 Certification | $0 (200+ hours of your time) | $5,000 (Consulting Firm) |
| 4. State Pesticide License | $150 (Test fees + basic materials) | $150 |
| 5. Annual Drone Insurance | $0 (You are flying illegally & uninsured) | $6,000 |
| TOTAL STARTUP COST | $325 + 240 hours + Massive Legal Risk | $11,625 (A real, legal, insurable business) |
When you look at it this way, trying to "save" $300 on a prep course isn't just silly; it's completely missing the point. The FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate cost is a rounding error compared to the cost of your insurance and Part 137 legal work. Your goal isn't to get the certificate; it's to build a business. Invest in the tools that get you there faster and more safely.
Your 7-Step Action Plan for Getting Legal
Feeling overwhelmed? Don't be. This is just a process. Here is your roadmap. Start at step 1 and don't move on until it's done.
- Check Your Eligibility. You must be 16, be able to read/speak English, and be in a physical/mental condition to fly safely.
- Budget for the Real Cost. Look at the table above. You're starting a business that costs ~$12k in just legal and insurance, before your $30k drone. Get your business plan and financing in order.
- Enroll in a Quality Part 107 Prep Course. Don't even think about the free route. Pay the $300. Get it done in a week.
- Get Your FTN & Schedule Your Test. Go to the FAA's IACRA website to register and get your FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Then, use that number to schedule your test at a PSI testing center.
- Pass the Test. You'll get your results immediately. After you pass, complete the application in IACRA. You'll get a temporary certificate by email in 1-2 weeks and your permanent plastic card in the mail 1-2 months later.
- Hire a Part 137 Consultant. The day you pass your Part 107, call an aviation consultant. Do not try to DIY this. Get the Part 137 and exemption process started immediately, as it can take months.
- Get Your State License & Insurance. While the Part 137 is processing, get your state-level pesticide applicator license and start shopping for insurance quotes. You'll need your Part 107 and proof of your pending Part 137 application to get accurate quotes.
A Quick Legal Disclaimer
I'm an operator and writer, not your aviation attorney. FAA regulations, especially Part 107 and Part 137, are complex, serious, and subject to change. This post is for educational and informational purposes only. Always consult the official FAA.gov website and a qualified aviation attorney before making any business decisions. Your operation is your responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the absolute bare-minimum cost to get an FAA Part 107 certificate?
The bare-minimum, unavoidable cost is the $175 testing fee paid to the PSI testing center. This assumes you use only free FAA study materials and pass on your very first attempt.
2. Do I really need a Part 107 for agricultural drone services on my own farm?
Yes, absolutely. The FAA makes no distinction between flying for a client and flying for your own business operation (i.e., your farm). If the flight is "in furtherance of a business," it is considered commercial, not hobbyist. Analyzing crop health, checking fences, or spraying any field on your own farm requires a Part 107 certificate.
3. What’s the difference between Part 107 and Part 137 for farming?
It's simple: Part 107 is a pilot license. It lets you legally fly a drone for commercial purposes (like aerial mapping or scouting). Part 137 is an operator certification. It's a business-level certification that allows your company to legally dispense materials (like pesticides or seeds) from the air. You need both to run a spray-drone business. See our full breakdown here.
4. How long does it take to get the Part 107 certificate?
This depends on your study pace. If you use a paid prep course, you can be ready for the test in 15-20 hours of study (about 1-2 weeks). After you pass the test, you'll receive a temporary email certificate in about 1-2 weeks and your permanent plastic card in 6-8 weeks.
5. What's the hardest part of the Part 107 test?
Most people struggle with two areas: Reading Sectional Charts (aviation maps) and Aviation Weather (learning to read METAR and TAF reports). These are complex, new skills for most people, which is why a structured prep course is so valuable.
6. Can I use a drone over 55 lbs for my ag business?
Yes, but it's more complicated. Part 107 rules only cover drones under 55 lbs (including payload). Many large ag drones (like a full Agras T40) are over this limit. To operate these, you must file for an additional exemption from the FAA, specifically from §107.3. This is another piece of paperwork your aviation consultant will handle, often at the same time as your Part 137 application.
7. What happens if I fail the Part 107 test?
First, don't panic. You're just out the $175 fee. You must wait a minimum of 14 days before you are eligible to retake the test. You will then have to schedule a new appointment and pay the $175 fee again. If you bought a prep course with a pass guarantee, they will typically reimburse you for this second attempt.
8. How much does agricultural drone insurance really cost?
For a full-scale operation using expensive equipment to spray chemicals, you should budget between $3,000 and $8,000 per year. The final price depends on the value of your drone (hull coverage), your liability limits ($1M, $2M, $5M), and the all-important chemical/spray-drift coverage. Don't even power on your drone for a job without it.
9. Do I need a separate license to spray pesticides from a drone?
Yes. In addition to your FAA Part 107 (pilot) and FAA Part 137 (operator) certifications, you will need a State-Issued Pesticide Applicator License from your state's Department of Agriculture. This requires separate training and testing on chemical safety. Check out the National Pesticide Information Center for a list of state agencies.
The Bottom Line: Stop Thinking $175. Start Thinking Like an Aviator.
The Part 107 certificate is not a "drone license." It's a Remote Pilot Certificate. It's the FAA's way of saying, "We trust you to operate a 50-pound flying machine in the same sky as a $20 million jet."
The FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate cost isn't $175. That's just the fee for one test.
The real cost is the investment you make in yourself and your business. It's the $300 for a prep course so you actually understand airspace. It's the $5,000 for a consultant to get your Part 137 paperwork right the first time. And it's the $6,000 for an insurance policy that lets you sleep at night, knowing that one mistake won't bankrupt your entire operation.
Don't cheap out on the foundation. This is a serious business with serious risks and incredible rewards. Getting that Part 107 isn't the finish line; it's the starting gun. Your journey as a professional aviator begins now.
So, the real question isn't "How do I save $100 on test prep?" The real question is, "Am I ready to build a professional, legal, and safe aviation business?"
If the answer is yes, your first step is clear. Stop chasing the "cheap" route. Invest in a real training course. Your business plan depends on it.
FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate cost, agricultural drone services, Part 107 test cost, drone pilot for farming, Part 137 certification
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