Provided that you have already passed the Part 107 knowledge test and applied for the remote pilot certificate via the IACRA website, you should only have to wait around 7 to 10 days before your temporary certificate is available. During this wait time, background checks will be done on you to help determine whether certification will be granted.
Wait times are one of the primary concerns of people who wish to apply for a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. While this matter can be unpredictable, recent information has shown that the process has gotten a lot faster.
Applying for a Part 107 license
To provide context to this discussion, let us do a brief rundown of the steps you will need to take before you even reach the state where you are waiting for a Part 107 temporary certificate. First off, you will need to secure an FAA Tracking number from the IACRA website. You will then need to provide this number when you set an appointment for the FAA knowledge test via PSI.
The knowledge test is the most important part of the Part 107 certification process. It is a way for the FAA to establish a minimum level of knowledge for all drone pilots licensed under Part 107. Although some of the topics covered under the knowledge test may seem intimidating, the test has a passing rate of more than 90%.
Once you have received proof that you have passed the test, you can proceed to apply for the Part 107 certificate via the IACRA website. After submitting this application, all you have to do is wait. Your application will have to be processed and you will have to go through a TSA background check.
How long until a temporary certificate is granted?
Based on recently collected information, the usual waiting times for the temporary certificate range from 7 to 10 days. If you’re lucky, you might even get the temporary certificate in less than 7 days. You should see a button to access your temporary certificate in your IACRA profile if it’s already available.
All things considered, current waiting times have already vastly improved compared to a few years ago. There was a time when applicants had to wait a few weeks just to get the temporary certificate.
Still, there is no guarantee that the current short wait times will be the standard moving forward. This is heavily dependent on the volume of airman certification applicants. You can expect the system to be a bit bogged down in the months following the graduation of students from flight schools.
How much longer until you receive a permanent certificate?
The temporary certificate is valid only for 120 days after it is issued. During this time, your permanent certificate will be sent to you via mail. The wait time for this is considerably longer – most people say that it took about 2 months for them to receive their permanent certificates.
Don’t worry about this too much, as you will still very likely receive your permanent certificate before the temporary one expires. In the meantime, your temporary certificate will give you all the privileges of a Part 107 licensed drone pilot. Just make sure to print the temporary certificate and keep a copy of it with you whenever you fly a drone commercially.
If the 120-day window is about to expire, then it’s best to get in touch with the FAA. They can probably try to track the status of your permanent certificate or grant authority to extend the validity of your temporary certificate. We recommend sending an email to [email protected] with your concerns.
Final thoughts
Applying for a Part 107 certification can be an anxiety-inducing process, more so during the steps when all you can do is wait. Thankfully, the wait for the temporary certificate has become a lot shorter in recent times – you likely won’t have to wait much longer than a week.
The wait for the permanent certificate, on the other hand, has not seemed to have improved at all through the years. It can still take around 8 weeks for you to receive the permanent certificate in the mail. It’s really not a huge deal as you can already start taking on paid drone jobs even with just a temporary certificate.
