Here is a fact that surprises most families: the FAA allows you to sit for the Part 107 knowledge test at 14. The Remote Pilot Certificate itself is issued from age 16, but the exam, the hard part, can be banked two years early.
Why take it early
- The knowledge is fresh. A student who finishes structured training and tests right away retains more than one who waits two years and crams.
- It reads well. A passed FAA knowledge test on a 15-year-old’s record stands out for STEM programs, internships, Civil Air Patrol, and first jobs.
- Day-one employability at 16. The moment the certificate issues, that pilot can legally fly commercially: real estate, inspections, agriculture, media. No ramp-up period.
What the exam actually is
The Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) exam is 60 scored questions in two hours, taken at an FAA-approved PSI testing center. A score of 70 percent passes, and the test fee is $175, paid to the testing center. Eligibility for the certificate itself: at least 16, able to read, speak, write, and understand English, physically and mentally able to operate a small UAS safely, and a TSA security background check the FAA runs as part of the process.
How we train younger students
Our Part 107 course and the interactive Flight Lab were built to teach chart reading, airspace, weather, and regulations as skills, not trivia, and our Color Clue system teaches students to read sectional charts by structure, including students with color-vision deficiency. A motivated 14-year-old who can handle algebra can handle this material, and plenty do.
If you are a parent weighing it: the free Academy community is the zero-risk first step. Your student can sit in on the same material our professional pilots train with, and decide from the inside whether aviation is their thing.