Part 107 Recurrent Training (ALC-677): How to Stay Current for Free

Your Part 107 (the FAA's rules for commercial drone flying) remote pilot certificate doesn't expire, but you have to redo a free online recurrent training every 24 months to keep flying legally. If it's been more than 24 calendar months since you passed the knowledge test (the initial FAA exam at a testing center) or did your last recurrent, you can't legally fly commercially until you take the recurrent again. It's free and you do it online. Most pilots can finish it in an evening.

Here's how it works and how to get it done without any hassle.

The rule: 24 calendar months

The requirement is in 14 CFR 107.65. To act as remote pilot in command (remote PIC, the person legally responsible for the flight) under Part 107, you must have done one of these within the previous 24 calendar months:

Passed the initial aeronautical knowledge test, or
Completed recurrent training, or
If you hold a Part 61 pilot certificate (a manned-aircraft pilot license) with a current flight review (the check ride with an instructor that manned pilots need every 24 months), completed the Part 61 version of the training.

"Calendar months" means you get until the end of the month. If you passed your test on March 3, 2025, you're current (the FAA's word for being up to date on required training) through March 31, 2027. Write the date down somewhere you'll actually see it. A reminder on your phone calendar for 60 days before the deadline works fine.

The FAA confirms that your certificate itself does not expire. Completing the training keeps you legal for another 24 calendar months. The FAA doesn't mail you a new card.

Which course to take

ALC-677, Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent. (ALC is the FAA's Aviation Learning Center course numbering; UAS means unmanned aircraft system, i.e., your drone and controller.) This is the one for most drone operators: anyone without a Part 61 certificate or without a current flight review. (FAASafety.gov course page)
ALC-515, Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent – Part 61 Pilots. Only for remote pilots who also hold a Part 61 pilot certificate and are current under Part 61 (flight review per 14 CFR 61.56). If that's not you, take ALC-677. Per the FAA, any Part 107 certificate holder can take ALC-677. (FAA: Become a Drone Pilot, FAASTeam notice)

There's no testing center, no fee and no proctor (an in-person test supervisor). The FAA's ALC-677 listing says it's open to anyone who holds a Part 107 certificate "regardless of aeronautical knowledge recency," so a lapsed pilot takes the online course, not the testing-center exam.

Step by step

Create or log in to your account on FAASafety.gov (the FAA Safety Team's training site, also called FAASTeam). Use the same name that's on your remote pilot certificate.
Search for ALC-677 in the course catalog and enroll. You have to be logged in and enrolled, or the course won't count.
Go through every chapter. The site tracks whether you visited each chapter, the reference materials, the glossary and the review page. The exam button stays locked until you do. The FAA estimates about 2 hours.
Take the exam in one sitting. It's multiple choice and must be finished within 90 minutes. If you close it partway through, you start the exam over. Pick a time when you won't get called out to a field.
Download and save the completion certificate. Save a PDF on your phone and print a copy for the truck or flight case.

What the course covers

The content follows the knowledge areas in 14 CFR 107.73: regulations, airspace, weather, loading and performance, emergency procedures, crew resource management (how you split duties with a visual observer or crew), radio procedures, drugs and alcohol, decision-making, airport operations, maintenance and preflight, and night operations.

If you got your certificate before April 2021, pay attention to the night operations and operations-over-people sections (rules for flying over people who aren't part of your crew). Those rules changed in 2021, and they're the parts most likely to be new to you.

What to carry when you fly

Under 14 CFR 107.7, you have to show your remote pilot certificate and proof of current training if the FAA or law enforcement asks. In practice, keep these together, on paper or on your phone:

Your remote pilot certificate (the temporary from IACRA, the FAA's online pilot application system, is valid until the plastic card arrives)
Your most recent recurrent completion certificate (or knowledge test report)
A photo ID
Your aircraft registration
Any waivers or authorizations you're operating under (FAA approvals to fly outside the standard rules or in controlled airspace near airports)

Ag operators should also have the Part 137 certificate (the FAA operating certificate for agricultural aircraft) and 44807 exemption (FAA permission to fly drones over 55 lb) paperwork in the same folder. Being current under Part 107 doesn't replace those, and those don't replace your Part 107 recurrent training. Our post on FAA and state compliance for drone applicators covers how they fit together.

Tips from the field

Do it in the off-season. For ag pilots, November through February is the easy window. Nobody wants to find out their training lapsed the week the first spray call comes in.
Check your whole crew. If you have more than one pilot, make a simple list with the month each person's training is due. Anyone flying as remote PIC needs to be current.
Customers and insurers ask. Many insurance carriers and larger customers ask for proof of current training. Having the PDF ready makes that a 30-second email.
Use the course as a refresher. It's an open-book course, but it's worth actually reading. Airspace and weather sections are good reminders even for experienced pilots.

Common questions

Is there a cost? No. ALC-677 is free on FAASafety.gov.

Can I take it early? Yes. The FAA counts 24 calendar months from the month you complete the course. Its example: finishing ALC-677 on April 6 keeps you current through April 30 two years later. Finishing early means your new window starts earlier, so many pilots take it during their last month or two.

What if I'm already past my deadline? Don't fly under Part 107 until you finish recurrent training. The FAA says ALC-677 is open to any Part 107 certificate holder regardless of recency, and completing it keeps you legal for another 24 calendar months.

Do I need this for recreational flying? No. Recreational flyers under 49 U.S.C. 44809 (the federal law covering hobby flying) take TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test, a free online test), which the FAA describes as once-and-done with no recurrent testing. If you fly under Part 107 rules, even for fun, the 24-month recurrent training applies.

Need help getting set up?

If you're starting a spray operation and need more than Part 107, our FAA Part 137 Package covers the Part 137 and exemption paperwork. Pilots also need a Class 3 medical for heavy ag drone operations. Questions? Call us at 1-877-992-8279 or email sales@avarydrone.com.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Always check current FAA guidance.

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Part 107 Recurrent Training: How to Stay Current for Free