Imagine capturing immersive drone footage of the Mississippi Delta or perhaps flying along the Natchez Trace Parkway.
These and other fantastic sights await you if you hold a commercial drone license in Mississippi.
How to get a drone license in Mississippi?
Here’s how to get a drone license in Mississippi:
- Learn the FAA’s eligibility rules
- Make an account on IACRA and get your FTN
- Register on PSI to take the exam at a Knowledge Testing Center
- Study, study, study
- Pass your exam with flying colors
- Submit FAA Form 8710-13
I know I made it sound simple, but it’s not exactly. Don’t stress, though. I’ll guide you through the entire process in this handy guide.
The information I have for you is designed to help you earn your commercial drone license with fewer headaches.
Here’s how to obtain a drone license in Mississippi
Okay, so first things first. Let’s talk about a commercial versus recreational drone license for a moment.
The FAA offers both in Mississippi and the rest of the nation. The TRUST recreational license is only for not-for-profit drone use, whereas the commercial drone license, the Remote Pilot Certificate, lets you earn as much as you want.
You also usually have more expanded drone allowances as a commercial pilot, making it the more appealing to most first-timers.
If that’s the license you want, let’s help you get it by reviewing the steps from the intro.
» MORE: How I Passed Part 107 (& The Course That Helped Me do That)
Learn the FAA’s eligibility rules
The Small UAS Rule created by the FAA requires first-time pilots to pass the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) test, the aeronautical knowledge exam.
Besides that, you must also be at least 16, in good physical and mental condition, and fully capable of English, as that’s the only language the FAA administers the test.
These aren’t a lot of rules, but they’re unyielding, so make sure you meet this criteria.
Make an account on IACRA and get your FTN
Are you ready for the next step? Great!
All incoming aeronautical registrants need an FAA Tracking Number. That means you. The only exception is if you already have an FTN because you specialized in another area of aeronautics before beginning drone piloting.
An FTN is fairly straightforward. It’s your own unique identifier the FAA uses to oversee your aeronautic activities to ensure you’re being safe.
You’ll need an account on IACRA to get an FTN. IACRA is short for the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application. It’s an official resource for documentation, ratings, training, and certifications.
Save the IACRA link, as you will be glued to this site throughout much of your journey to a commercial drone license.
By clicking the IACRA link above, you will be redirected to the homepage. You should see a login box on the right, and below that, a Register link.
Click that link, and you’re ready to begin registration.
The first step is selecting your registration role. You can choose more than one, but only check those appropriate to you, such as applicant.
Next, read the IACRA terms of service carefully and click the Agree to TOS and Continue button to proceed to page two.
That page begins with the section Certificate Information. Bypass this for now. While IACRA requires FAA certificate information for some types of registration, that’s not the case for applicants.
Besides, you don’t have a certificate, so how can you share your certificate number?
Move on to the Personal Information section, inputting your first, middle, and last name, then your name suffix, birthdate, gender, and email address.
In the Security Questions section, you must choose two dropdown questions and type in your answers. Remember these, as they’re login hints if you need them.
Finally, it’s time to make your IACRA username and password. Once you confirm your password and click Register, IACRA will send you a confirmation.
Log into IACRA, review your profile information, and you will now have an FTN.
Register on PSI to take the exam at a Knowledge Testing Center
Now it’s getting real, as it’s time to register for the Part 107 exam. You must create another account to do this, this time through PSI.
First, let me provide some handy info.
The FAA only administers the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) in person at FAA Knowledge Testing Centers. These approved buildings are available nationwide, including Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, Piney Woods, the Black Prairie, the Appalachian Foothills, the Red Clay Hills, and the Delta.
Registering on PSI lets you find an FAA Knowledge Testing Center nearest you and register to take your commercial drone exam.
So, how do you do it?
Click the PSI link above, then the white Create an Account button. The first page requires you to verify your testing eligibility by typing your FTN and full name. Click the blue Continue button when you’re finished.
After verifying your identity, you can proceed with your registration. Create a unique PSI username, then type in your email address, full name, and password. Confirm your password by typing it in again.
You can also choose your preferred language on this page using a dropdown menu.
When you’re ready, click the green Continue button. PSI will send you an email asking you to verify your email address. While you can skip this step, I don’t recommend you do.
Open the email from PSI, click the link, and that should verify your email. You can then log in and use the PSI website.
Click Find a Test Center to search for FAA Knowledge Testing Centers in Mississippi. You can toggle the distance and zip code to find the closest testing center to you. Make sure you select Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) for the exam type using the dropdown.
Select your preferred FAA Knowledge Testing Center, then a date and time to take your Part 107 exam, and you’re locked in.
Study, study, study
It’s time to get excited and nervous because your test day is coming up.
I know it’s hard to staunch your nerves, but studying will put you in the best position to pass.
You’ll be ready for all parts of the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam, from night operations to aeronautical judgment, radio communications, emergency procedures, and drone performance.
I’ve gathered the best drone courses for beginners courtesy of Droneblog here. If you want to bypass the many types of classes out there and jump straight to the best, that link will do that.
Droneblog personally vouches for each of these courses, but don’t only take our word for it! These beginner-friendly Part 107 prep courses offer generous money-back policies.
You can get a full refund and the $165 you spent on the commercial drone exam if you don’t pass. There’s a reason why more than 95 percent of students who enroll in one of these courses ace the commercial drone exam their first time.
It’s because you’ll learn from consummate professionals, including FAA pilots and long-term commercial experts. The courses are arranged to break down tough concepts more simply, and with practice quizzes, you’ll drive home what you’ve learned.
Pass your exam with flying colors
And just like that, it’s time to take the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam. Take a breath – you’ve got this. You’ve studied hard to reach this point.
The test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, and you can answer 18 incorrectly and still pass. You will have two and a half hours to take the test.
You must have a government-issued form of identification to take the test when you arrive at the FAA Knowledge Testing Center, such as a driver’s license or permit. If you’re a non-United States citizen, you must have a driver’s license and passport.
You can bring a math calculator and protractor if you want, as these items won’t be provided to you. However, if you forget them, you’ll be fine, as they’re not necessary to take the test.
All the required materials will be available when you check in, including your testing booklet, a writing instrument, and an eraser.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but I’ll do so anyway. You must leave your smartphone in your locker, as it’s not permitted in the testing room.
IACRA will have your test results when they’re ready, but it can take several days or weeks before your results are posted. It’s an agonizing wait, but stay patient!
Submit FAA Form 8710-13
You finally got the good news you were hoping for. You passed the Part 107 exam. Congratulations on the accomplishment!
If you’re not already on IACRA, pinching yourself and wondering if you’re dreaming as you pore over your test results, log in next. It’s time to request your commercial drone license.
You can do that by accessing FAA Form 8710-13 within IACRA. Choose Start New Application. You will see several Application Types to choose from, but pick Pilot.
Next, under Certifications, select Remote Pilot. Then click Other Path Information and Start Application. The application prompts are clear and straightforward, guiding you through the process.
You will need your Knowledge Test Exam ID, a 17-digit code, but that’s in your IACRA account.
The last part requires an electronic signature.
IACRA will process your request, including sending your information to the TSA for a background check. If you pass that, IACRA will email you with a temporary version of your Part 107 license.
You can print and download it immediately, then start flying.
Your permanent license will arrive in the mail. The FAA must still process your application, so give the organization several weeks to do so. In the meantime, keep checking your mail.
I have my commercial drone license in Mississippi – Now what?
As a commercial drone license holder in Mississippi, the world is your oyster. However, you can’t launch your drone until you take care of a few more tasks.
First, register your drone with the FAA. It doesn’t matter what your drone weighs. When you use it commercially, you have no choice but to register it.
After you’ve done that, invest in drone insurance. Mississippi doesn’t require it, but you should have it anyway to give you added peace of mind when using your drone.
Get privy to Mississippi’s drone laws here.
Mississippi’s SB 2022, a state law, prohibits drones from invading the privacy of others. If you’re guilty of this crime, you will receive a felony charge.
Your Part 107 commercial drone certificate will expire within two years. If you’re interested in continuing to use your drone commercially, you must take an FAA online exam.
Don’t worry, all your incorrect answers are shown to you, and you can go back and change them so you score 100 percent. Oh, and did I mention this test is free?
Learn more about the process of renewing your commercial drone license here.
