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Part 107 Exam Cost: Self-Study vs. a Paid Course
A focused total for the exam itself — testing, training, materials, and what happens to your total if you need a retake — with self-study and paid-course costs compared side by side.
On this page: Exam cost calculator · Retake risk · FAQ
Quick answer
So how much does Part 107 cost? The exam fee itself is a fixed $175 per attempt. Add a $99–$300 prep course and you're commonly at $274–$475 total, or as little as $175–$220 if you self-study using free FAA materials plus a few study aids. The calculator below adds one thing most cost pages skip: what your total looks like if you need to retake the exam.
This page stays focused on certification cost specifically. For the broader picture — a drone, insurance, software and business setup — see the Drone Pilot License Cost Calculator.
Comparing courses?
Drone Pilot Ground School↗ runs $299 with a pass guarantee — enter that in the calculator above to see exactly what it adds to your total versus self-studying.
Why retake risk belongs in this calculation
Most Part 107 cost breakdowns quote a single exam fee and stop there. In practice, the exam has a real failure rate, and a failed attempt doesn't just cost time — it costs another $175, plus a mandatory 14-day wait before you can retest. That's a genuine, easy-to-underestimate cost, which is why this calculator lets you model more than one attempt directly instead of treating the exam fee as a single fixed line item.
This is also the core argument for a paid course: it's not really about convenience, it's about shifting the odds. If a $99–$300 course meaningfully improves your chances of passing on the first attempt, it can end up cheaper in expectation than self-studying and needing a retake — even though the sticker price looks higher upfront. The side-by-side comparison above is built to make that trade-off visible rather than asking you to just take it on faith.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Part 107 exam cost?
The FAA knowledge test itself is a fixed $175, paid directly to a PSI-approved testing center, the same everywhere in the US. That's per attempt — if you don't pass, you pay $175 again for the retest, with a mandatory 14-day wait between attempts. The calculator above lets you model more than one attempt so you can see that risk in dollar terms, not just as a warning.
What is Part 107 training cost, separate from the exam fee?
Training cost refers to a prep course, if you choose to use one — typically $99–$300 online. It's entirely separate from the $175 FAA exam fee, which you pay regardless of how you prepared. The FAA also provides free study materials, so training cost can legitimately be $0 if you self-study.
What is Part 107 course cost typically, and is it worth it?
Most online Part 107 prep courses cost $99–$300. Whether it's worth it comes down to retake risk: a course is designed to improve your odds of passing on the first attempt, and a failed attempt costs another $175 plus a two-week wait. If a course meaningfully reduces your chance of needing a retake, it can pay for itself even before accounting for the time saved.
How is this different from the Drone Pilot License Cost Calculator?
This page stays narrowly focused on certification itself — testing, training, materials and retake risk. The Drone Pilot License Cost Calculator covers the same certification costs plus the broader picture of becoming business-ready: a drone, insurance, software and business setup. Use this page if you just want a certification total; use that one if you want to see your full startup budget.