Education · 1 of 5

The path

The certificate takes weeks. Building work that pays takes years. Do not confuse the two.

1. 1

   Be 16 and able to read and speak English

   Now

   That is the whole eligibility list for the certificate. No degree, no flight hours, no medical exam.

2. 2

   Study the rules

   2 to 6 weeks

   Airspace, weather, charts, loading, emergency procedures and the operating limits. Free federal study material covers all of it.

3. 3

   Pass the knowledge test

   1 day

   A multiple choice aeronautical knowledge exam taken at an approved testing center, about $175.

4. 4

   Security vetting and certificate

   Days to weeks

   You apply through the federal airman registry, clear a Transportation Security Administration check, and the remote pilot certificate is issued.

5. 5

   Build something worth hiring

   1 to 3 years

   Flight hours, a reel or a portfolio of maps and inspection reports, plus insurance. This is the step most people skip and then wonder why nobody calls.