CertboundDo recreational flyers need a Part 107 license?
You can fly without a Part 107 remote pilot certificate if your flight meets all the conditions of 49 U.S.C. 44809, the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft. The FAA guidance limits that exception to personal enjoyment and lists the conditions, including safety guidelines, visual line of sight, giving way to other aircraft and airspace requirements.
A TRUST certificate is part of that recreational path. It is not a Part 107 remote pilot certificate or permission to fly anywhere. Read the FAA's full list before flying; the purpose of the flight is only the first check.
What is the recreational TRUST certificate?
The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) is the knowledge and safety test for recreational flyers. The FAA TRUST page says you must pass it before flying under the recreational exception. The test is online and free through the test administrators listed by FAA.
After passing, download, save or print the completion certificate. The FAA recreational rules require you to carry proof when flying. This is the certificate people may mean by a "recreational drone license"; it does not replace the Part 107 path for work flights.
Do paid flights or unpaid work need Part 107?
For ordinary paid drone jobs and work flights with a small drone, use the Part 107 path, not the recreational exception. The FAA examples include taking photos to help sell a property, inspecting roofs and taking photos for a school's website. FAA also identifies volunteer coastline surveys for a nonprofit as non-recreational.
The purpose matters, not just payment. FAA says Part 107 covers almost all non-recreational flying, while some specialized or government operations use other rules. If you are unsure which rules apply, FAA advises assuming Part 107 and meeting its requirements.
Start with How to get a drone license under Part 107 for eligibility, the FTN, UAG test and certificate application. For examination preparation, use the Part 107 study guide and free practice test.
Does a drone under 250 grams need a license?
Drone weight does not make a work flight recreational. The FAA registration guidance exempts drones weighing less than 250 grams from registration only when flown under the recreational exception. The FAA recreational page states the registration threshold as 250 grams or more.
That registration exception does not remove the recreational TRUST requirement or turn a work flight into a recreational flight. Use the FAA flight-purpose guidance to choose the applicable path, even for a lightweight drone.
Is drone registration the same as a pilot certificate?
No. FAA DroneZone registration registers the aircraft; the remote pilot certification process qualifies the pilot under Part 107. A recreational TRUST completion certificate is separate from both.
Use the FAA's registration page to reach FAA DroneZone. FAA requires registration for Part 107 drones, including those below 250 grams, and for recreational drones at or above the threshold. Its guidance also says a drone registered under the recreational exception cannot be flown under Part 107 with that registration.
Does Remote ID apply to recreational drones?
The FAA Remote ID guidance says drones that are required to be registered, or are registered, must comply with the Remote ID rule. That includes recreational drones. FAA describes three compliance paths: a Standard Remote ID drone, a Remote ID broadcast module, or operation within an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) under its conditions.
A TRUST certificate does not replace registration or Remote ID compliance. Check the FAA's guidance for your aircraft and location before flying.
FAA primary sources checked October 20, 2026. Certbound provides practice; it does not issue TRUST certificates, register drones or issue remote pilot certificates.