How to Get a Drone License in Alaska (Explained for Beginners)

Alaska is a magnificent state to fly a drone, with places such as Hatchers Pass, Storck Remote Control Aircraft Park, Reed Lakes Trail, and Loretta French Park especially esteemed locales.

You must have a drone license before enjoying these spots.

How to get a drone license in Alaska? 

This is how you obtain a drone license in Alaska:

• Confirm you’re eligible
• Register for an FAA Tracking Number
• Sign up for the exam at an FAA Knowledge Testing Center
• Study up
• Take the FAA exam and pass
• Complete Form 8710-13
• Receive your license and go flying

Beginners often need guidance when registering for a drone license, which is what inspired us to put together this guide.

We’ll walk you through the whole process, step by step, so you can sign up to take your FAA exam and soon become a certified drone license holder!

Here’s how to obtain a drone license in Alaska #

The following steps describe getting one’s Remote Pilot Certificate by passing the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) test.

This is the commercial license you need to use your drone in any professional capacity and earn income.

Recreational pilots or hobbyists do not need a Remote Pilot Certificate but a TRUST license obtained by taking the TRUST exam.

Now that we have that distinction out of the way, let’s proceed with the steps for getting a Remote Pilot Certificate in Alaska. 

» MORE: How I Passed Part 107 (And the Course That Helped Me Do It)

Confirm you’re eligible to apply #

The FAA has blanket eligibility criteria for all aspiring drone pilots throughout the United States. Alaskans interested in earning their license must be 16 or older.  

You must also fully comprehend English, meaning you’re capable of understanding, writing, speaking, and reading it.

Further, the FAA must declare you in sufficient mental and physical health to use a drone.

Last but certainly not least, you must pass the FAA’s aeronautical knowledge exam, also known as the Part 107 test.

Register for an FAA Tracking Number #

Hopefully, you meet the above criteria. If not, you can always come back in a few years and try again.

For those who are ready now, you will need an FAA Tracking Number, referred to as an FTN. You can’t register for the Part 107 exam at an FAA Knowledge Testing Center without an FTN.

You must have an Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application or IACRA account to obtain your FTN.

Visit this link to register on IACRA. You can skip the registration if you already have an active IACRA login.

The IACRA website registration process is rather straightforward.

The first page of the registration requires you to check a few boxes to classify yourself as an applicant. Then, you must agree to the terms of service and fill in your personal information.

The second page of the registration asks for an FAA certificate number, which you will only receive after passing the Part 107 exam.

You can skip this part and still successfully register, so don’t stress if this is your first time taking the FAA test.

Once your IACRA account is active, log in and request your FTN.

Sign up to take the Part 107 exam at an FAA Knowledge Testing Center #

When IACRA issues your FTN, you’re ready for the next step, which is registering to take the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) test.

The FAA requires applicants to test in person. The aeronautical organization has many approved Knowledge Testing Centers all over the country, including in Alaska.

You need an account with PSI, an exam service, to set up an appointment at the Knowledge Testing Centers nearest you.

When you find one, check the calendar for available test dates and times at that testing center and select one conducive to you.

Even though you might be eager to become a drone pilot tomorrow, don’t rush the test. You should give yourself more than enough time to study, especially considering each exam attempt costs $165.

Study up #

So that brings us to the next step, preparing for the Part 107 exam.

You can study as much or as little as you wish before taking the exam. We recommend studying as much as you can and using trusted, professional resources to help you do it.

Our blog rounded up the best Part 107 online test prep courses so you don’t have to. We narrowed it down to 10 options.

If you want an even shorter list, try Pilot Institute, Drone Pro Academy, UAV Coach, or Peltier Photo Courses.

You can learn more about Peltier here. Despite that the name doesn’t sound relevant, Peltier Photo Courses has a Part 107 exam prep course.

You can also learn about photography while you’re at it (in a separate course).

You usually have to pay for a quality prep course, but most aspiring pilots agree it’s worth it.

The courses often have a one-time fee, and you own the materials for life so you can continue brushing up on FAA drone rules after the test.

A good Part 107 prep course will offer video and/or text lessons broken down into digestible portions, practice tests featuring questions you might see on the exam, and access to professionals if you need feedback or advice.

Additionally, many test prep courses have a money-back guarantee. You can get refunded for the full cost of the course plus $165 to pay for your next FAA test attempt.

There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking an FAA exam prep course.

» MORE: How to Get a Drone License in Arkansas (Explained for Beginners)

Take the FAA exam and pass #

Here’s the lowdown on the FAA’s aeronautics knowledge exam. It’s 60 multiple-choice questions.

You have two and a half hours to answer all the questions, and you won’t know if you got any wrong while taking the test. You must trust your gut.

Try to get some extra sleep the night before your exam so you’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning.

Eat a nutritious meal or two (depending on what time your test is), and try to keep your day light so you have plenty of focus for the test.

You must have a valid, government-issued photo ID to verify your identity before you’re allowed to test. Leave early so you arrive at the Knowledge Testing Center with time to spare.

If you work at a good pace, you should have enough time to answer all the questions in the allotted time and even double-check your answers.

You can answer 42 of the 60 questions correctly and still pass, as the FAA only requires a 70 percent score.

If you score even higher than that, congrats! It’s not necessary, but you should still be proud of your accomplishment.

Of course, we want to make one thing clear. The results aren’t instant. You must wait three weeks from your teste date before you’ll know whether you passed.

Complete Form 8710-13 #

When the fateful day arrives, and you get your test results, hopefully, it’s all good news. If you passed, congratulations. Now it’s time to get your license, which requires you to fill out Form 8710-13.

Log back into IACRA. Select the Start New Application option. Select “Pilot” for your application type and “Remote Pilot” for the certifications type.

Continue to Other Path Information, then Start Application, filling out the information as required. You’ll need your Knowledge Test Exam ID to apply.

This is a 17-digit code that should appear in your IACRA account up to two days after you took the Part 107 exam.

Finally, add your electronic signature to Form 8710-13 and send it through.

Receive your license and go flying #

When the FAA receives your information, they’ll pass it along to the TSA, who will perform a background check.

If that clears, you’ll receive a confirmation email from the FAA, so check your inbox. The confirmation email also contains your temporary flight certificate.

Why is it temporary? The FAA has to internally process your application, which can take a while. In the meantime, the temporary IACRA license acts as a stand-in so you can get out there and begin flying your drone.

You’ll receive your FAA Remote Pilot Certificate in the mail within six to 10 weeks.

I have my commercial drone license in Alaska – Now what?    #

Being a certified drone license holder in Alaska is a beautiful thing. While you might want to celebrate this momentous occasion, you’re probably more eager to fly your drone, so go out there and do it!

You must always carry your Remote Pilot Certificate on your person when using a drone, so keep it handy.

Safe drone operation requires following federal, state, and local guidelines. The FAA’s federal drone laws don’t change from state to state, but all states have their own unique state and sometimes local laws.

What are those laws in Alaska? We compiled all drone laws in Alaska in this handy guide. Alaska has state and local laws, so read up and stay within the parameters of the law when flying.

Your Remote Pilot Certificate isn’t valid forever. It expires two years after it’s issued to you. The FAA does this intentionally so commercial pilots stay abreast of changes to FAA laws.

Since spring 2021, obtaining a Part 107 sUAS recurrent certificate requires you to take a free online exam.

You’ll need an FAA Safety Account and several hours to go through the course and test. The test lasts 90 minutes and has 45 multiple-choice questions.

You must answer them all correctly to pass, but this online exam tells you when you answer a question incorrectly. You can change your answers.

We have a full rundown of the Part 107 sUAS recurrent certificate, so check it out.