In the United States, if you wish to fly drones for any reason other than just for fun, you must first past the FAA’s Small Unmanned Aircraft exam. This is more commonly referred to as Part 107 certification.
The exam covers a wide range of topics from weather patterns to airport symbology, aeronautical charts to airspace navigation, and a whole lot more.
As mentioned above if you want to fly your drone commercially you must pass this exam and follow all of the flight rules that the FAA lays out for you. Even if you wish to fly a drone to take pictures of your school, church or for your local football team’s social media pages, you cannot legally do so without becoming Part 107 certified.
Studying for the exam is a must – the test is quite difficult. There are lots of online resources, including many YouTube videos that covert the subject. Id recommend spending a lot of time reading/viewing study material before scheduling your test. The exam (as of late 2024) costs $175 per take, and can be scheduled at an approved FAA test center.
Before scheduling your exam you must register for an FAA Tracking Number. All the details can be found here.
Once you take and pass your test, you must register your drone on the FAA drone zone website. After following the correct labeling requirements you are now ready to fly legally under Part 107. Good luck!