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

Nevada attracts millions of tourists each year, mainly to visit Las Vegas. The city is an awesome place to fly a drone, with Vegas containing spots like Cornerstone Park, Lake Las Vegas, and Seven Magic Mountains.

You can only access this playground for drone pilots if you hold the right license.

How to get a Drone License in Nevada?

Here’s how to obtain a drone license in Nevada:

• Pass the FAA introductory criteria
• Make an account on IACRA for your FTN
• Register to take the exam at a Nevada Knowledge Testing Center
• Study
• **Earn a passing grade on the Part 107 exam **
• Send in Form 8710-13

The process seems so simple when I present it that way, but let me tell you from experience, becoming a licensed drone pilot has more twists and turns than you might expect! 

I put together this guide to help you navigate all the steps required so you can streamline the process and get your hands on your license to start earning extra cash. 

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

In Nevada, as in every state in America, there are two drone licenses you can go for. One is the TRUST certificate, a hobbyist license. The other is the Remote Pilot Certificate, obtained by passing the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam. 

The TRUST certificate is free and easy to get, since you get corrections to wrong answers as you go along and can change your answer before you submit it. However, you can’t do as much with this drone license.

By comparison, the Part 107 exam is an in-person, longer, more in-depth drone exam with no corrections along the way. For all the trouble, this license is more expansive, and best of all, you can legally make money from your drone with it.

So, without further ado, here’s what you need to do to get a commercial drone license in Nevada. 

Pass the FAA introductory criteria #

The FAA only allows certain parties to test for the commercial drone certificate. Don’t worry, the requirements aren’t very many.

Here’s the criteria. You must have a firm grasp on English, with full comprehension, speaking, writing, and reading abilities. You must also be mentally and physically healthy and 16 or older. 

That’s all there is to it! 

Make an account on IACRA for your FTN #

Cool, now you’re ready to take the next step toward obtaining a Remote Pilot Certificate in Nevada. 

You need an FAA Tracking Number or FTN if you’re brand-new to the FAA. If you’ve registered with the FAA under any other aviation type, even if it’s not flying unmanned aircraft, you should already have an FTN. 

The purpose of an FTN is straightforward. The FAA uses it for identification, both when registering for the Part 107 exam and beyond. 

For example, if you break the FAA’s laws and fly over a sports arena during a football game, the FAA will use your FTN to find out it was you and decide a punishment. 

So, how do you get your FTN? You need an IACRA account.

The Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application, as it’s called in full, is your number-one resource throughout your time going for a drone license in Nevada. You need the site to check your passing status after you take the commercial drone exam, and you’ll need it to get your license. 

Okay, so how do you get registered? It’s easy. Click the link above to visit the IACRA homepage. You’ll see forms to log in with a username and password. 

Underneath that, you should spot a register link. Click that, and you’re ready to register. 

IACRA registration is two pages, and they’re simple enough to get through. The first page requires you to check a few boxes. First, choose your appropriate role, then agree to the terms of service.

Let’s talk more about roles. Your options are applicant, instructor, admin, and certifying officer. You will probably only have to check applicant as a first-time aspiring commercial drone pilot, but please, select any relevant role.

Then you’re on to the second page. 

The first part is a little confusing, as it’s asking for Certificate Information, which you don’t have. Fortunately, you can bypass this section without any consequence, so do that.

Then, complete your personal information, select two security questions to beef up your account, and make a username and password. 

Once you click that shiny green Register button, keep an eye out for an email from IACRA. You can log in, and, under your account, you will see your FTN.  

Register to take the exam at a Nevada Knowledge Testing Center #

Alright, so now you’re ready to register for the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam. 

You’ll recall that this is not an online exam like the TRUST licensing test. You have to take in in-person at a Knowledge Testing Center on the FAA’s approved list. 

» MORE: FAA and the Knowledge Testing Centers

The list is vast, don’t worry, and includes plenty of Knowledge Testing Centers throughout Nevada, from Carson City to Sparks, Mesquite, Reno, and Las Vegas. 

Before you get to that, do yourself a favor and register on PSI. This site will connect you with FAA Knowledge Testing Centers and allow you to set up your testing date. 

PSI will require multi-factor authentication to register and log in beginning in 2024, using an authenticator with temporary one-time password support. 

When you click the link above to the PSI website, you’ll see a white button marked Create an Account. Click it, read through the Privacy Act Statement, then input your FTN and name. 

Once you get past that part, you can begin your user registration. This is a fast and easy process, requiring your email address, full name, and a unique username and password. 

Check your email after clicking Continue. PSI will require you to verify your email, so if you don’t see a message from them in your inbox after several minutes, double-check your spam folder.

When the verification email arrives, you can log into PSI and begin browsing nearby Knowledge Testing Centers under the Find a Test Center menu option. You must input your country, postal code, and exam type, with yours being the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG). 

After selecting your testing date and time, gear up, as you’re soon taking the commercial drone test! 

Study #

A quick Google search will reveal many FAA exam study resources. Some are free, and you might feel tempted to gravitate towards those.

However, not all study resources are created equal. You don’t want to find out too late that you have gaps in your knowledge, considering the commercial drone exam costs more than $100 to take each time.

So, what can you do? Study with the best.

You will find Droneblog’s most recommended beginner courses here. We personally vouch for each of these resources, which you’ll notice are by large names in the drone industry, such as Drone Pilot Ground School.

You will be ready to pass the test when you register for one of these courses. You will learn from real FAA professionals with years of professional pilot experience who understand every nuance of the drone laws.

You can cement your knowledge with practice quizzes and rest assured that you will do well on the Part 107 exams with pass rates of over 90 percent and money-back guarantees. 

Earn a passing grade on the Part 107 exam #

The fateful day has finally arrived. It’s time to take the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam. 

Here are some of my top tips. Map out the Knowledge Testing Center where you’re taking the exam, so you know how long it takes you to get there. Grab a valid ID, like a driver’s license, issued from the government that includes a photo, and have it ready the night before. 

You don’t have to bring anything extra-fancy with you for this test. In fact, the less you have, the better. You can’t take your phone into the examination room, for instance, but you can bring a protractor and basic tools in that vein. 

You will have two and a half hours to answer all the questions on the Part 107 exam. There are 60 in all, and each is a multiple choice question with three responses to select from. 

You must answer 42 questions correctly to score 70 percent. If you score higher than that, great, but you only need the 70 to pass.

When will you know? It can take several days or weeks, unfortunately. Keep checking IACRA daily for updates. 

Send in Form 8710-13  #

There’s one more thing to do before you can finally get your hands on your Remote Pilot Certificate. You have to formally request it.

You can do this through IACRA by completing Form 8710-13. You’ll need your Knowledge Test Exam ID to get through the form, so have that handy.

How do you access the form? Go into IACRA and choose Start New Application. Then, select Pilot for your Application Type, Remote Pilot for your Certifications, and choose Other Path Information, and finally, Start Application. 

Follow the prompts, sign your form, and submit it. After IACRA receives it, they will forward your information to the TSA for a background check. IACRA will send you an email when you pass everything. 

The email will contain a printable but temporary version of your Part 107 license. The FAA will send you the real deal when it finishes its internal processing, but both versions of the license work the same. 

I have my drone license in Nevada – Now what?  #

Well, before anything else, pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

Okay, now it’s time to knuckle down and get to work. You must register your drone with the FAA as a commercial pilot, so don’t forget to take care of that. 

After that, insure your drone. No, you don’t have to, but I can’t recommend it enough. It may cost you a little more out of pocket, but it’s an immeasurable safety net if you cause any accidents flying your drone as a newbie (which yes, can happen!).

You know the FAA’s federal laws like the back of your hand by now, but what about Nevada’s state or local drone laws? 

For instance, AB 239, under Section 18.1, restricts pilots from using drones as a weapon unless you want to receive a Class D felony and possibly spend four years behind bars in state jail. 

You also can’t use your drone within five miles of the nearest airport or 250 vertical feet and 500 horizontal feet from critical facilities. 

Locally, the Las Vegas City Parks municipal ordinance prohibits drone operation on city-owned parking lots. 

Don’t forget to renew your drone license before it expires! We have a great blog post that takes you through the entire renewal process, which you must do every two years. 

At least these days, renewal is free, fast, and done exclusively online. It wasn’t always that way!

» MORE: Renewal of Your Part 107 Certificate – 5 Steps to a Part 107 sUAS Recurrent Certificate