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

Before you get your aspirations underway of flying your drone in Utah, double-check that you have everything you need. Do you have your license, for starters? No?

How do you get a drone license in Utah?

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

• Check that you meet the testing criteria
• Get an FTN on IACRA
• Find a Utah FAA Knowledge Testing Center
• Study
• Take the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam
• Pass the test and submit FAA Form 8710-13

Do you want to learn more about the process required to become a commercial drone pilot in Utah? Great!

You’re exactly where you need to be, so tune in and check out the steps required to get your aspirations airborne.

Here’s how to obtain a drone license in Utah

So, you want to become a commercial drone pilot in Utah, huh? Who doesn’t?

Holding a commercial license grants you the option to earn money from your drone, perhaps finding your next career or a lucrative side hustle.

The FAA, which institutes drone laws throughout the United States, requires you to pass a test called the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) to obtain your license, known as the Remote Pilot Certificate.

There’s also a lot of legwork you have to do before you can take the test, which can be confusing for first-time pilots. Don’t sweat it, as I’ve got all the info you need right here.

Check that you meet the testing criteria

First, let’s review the FAA’s rules. The aeronautic organization only allows certain parties to become commercial pilots. You have to be proficient enough mentally and physically to fly, which is a biggie.

More so, you need a strong grasp of English, as the FAA doesn’t offer the commercial drone test in another language. Oh, and you must be 16 or older.

That’s all there is to it, so if you meet the criteria, you can proceed.

Get an FTN on IACRA

Okay, so what do you do next? You need an identifier known as an FAA Tracking Number. There’s only one way to get it, and that’s through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application.

Allow me to introduce you to IACRA, the FAA’s premier resource for registrants. You can manage your certificate information here, see relevant ratings, and review documentation. It’s free to use and very handy.

You’ll need an account before you go any further. Here’s an overview of the steps to get one:

• Visit the IACRA website here.
• Click Register where you see the box to log in. This is located on the upper right of the website on desktop or mobile.
• Choose at least one role to continue to the next page. The most relevant role for new drone pilots is Applicant. However, you will want to register with all responsibilities you hold, so read over the other roles and check them if they fit you.
• Review the IACRA terms of service, then click the Agree button to move on to the second page.
• Bypass the Certificate Information section if registering as an Applicant.
• Type in the required info in the Personal Information section.
• Select two security questions and type in answers for if you forget your login info.
• Create a username that’s six to 50 characters long.
• Type a password that’s at least 12 characters and no more than 50. The password must have symbols, numbers, and lower and uppercase letters. Type the password again to confirm.
• Click Register.
• Check your email inbox. IACRA will email you a confirmation link.
• Log into IACRA. Check your account for your FTN.

Find a Utah FAA Knowledge Testing Center

You can go far with your FTN. To prove it, you’re now ready to register for the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam. Yes, already!

Don’t worry; you’re not taking the test yet, just choosing when you will. That’s exciting, isn’t it?

So, how do you do it? It’s time to navigate away from IACRA and visit PSI, the testing resource the FAA chooses for exam registration and preparation.

Why do you need your FTN to do that, you ask? PSI requires all registering pilots to identify themselves with their full name and FTN. You can’t make an account unless and until you do it.

Let me take you through the process.

• Visit the PSI website here.
• Click the white Create an Account button.
• Type in your identifying information, then click Continue.
• On the User Registration page, type a username, email address, first and last name (middle name optional), and a password.
• Confirm your password.
• Click Continue.
• Download an authenticator app that supports multi-factor authentication.
• Check your email for a message from PSI verifying your account.
• Click the link and sign in.
• Select Find a Test Center.
• Type in your zip code for a Utah FAA Knowledge Testing Center, an in-person testing site you must use to take the Part 107 exam. You must also choose the distance in kilometers or miles.
• Select United States for the country and Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) for the exam.
• Check out the list of Knowledge Testing Centers. Choose one and register for the test.

Study

With that, you’re ready to take the Part 107 exam. In the meantime, studying is your best course of action, especially considering the FAA charges you to take the test.

Yes, it’s a bummer it’s not free, and the test isn’t even low-cost. It’s more than $150 per try!

Knowing that makes it even more prudent to study, wouldn’t you say? That’s where Droneblog comes in.

We’ve put together the ultimate resource for new pilots who want to pass the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam the first time. It’s a list full of the best beginner courses. Check it out here.

The courses are from the largest drone industry names, including Drone Pro Academy and Altitude University.

The lesson objectives are detailed yet broken into small modules to make comprehension easy. The practice quizzes you can take have real FAA questions.

Oh, and did I mention the awesome money-back guarantees? If you don’t pass, most of these courses will hand you back what you spent on their instruction and give you money toward your next FAA exam attempt.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so why not enroll? You can’t be too prepared to take the commercial drone test!

Take the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam

It’s finally here, testing day. You will be a bundle of nerves but take a deep breath and remember you know the material. Now it’s time to show it.

The night before you take the test, double-check you have a government-issued photo ID in your wallet or purse, as you need one when checking into the Knowledge Testing Center. You can’t test without it.

Leave early, review your material for a few minutes before checking in if time allows, and walk into the testing room with confidence. You’re tasked with answering 60 questions presented in multiple-choice format.

You will have two and a half hours, which most pilots agree is sufficient. When you finish, hand in your test materials and exhale.

Pass the test and submit FAA Form 8710-13

IACRA will post your test results, but it could be days to weeks before you’ll have them. When they go live, you need a score of at least 70 percent. If you did that well or better, congratulations, you passed.

If your results weren’t quite what you were hoping for, you can always try again.

Now that you’ve proved you know drone regulations inside and out, you can request your Remote Pilot Certificate through IACRA.

Let me explain for a moment. This is only a temporary version of the license.

The FAA will send the permanent version in the mail, but since you could be waiting on that for a while, they give you the option to use a temporary license in the meantime.

Here’s how to request yours:

• Log into IACRA.
• Select Start New Application.
• Choose Pilot for the Application Type.
• Pick Remote Pilot for Certifications.
• Click Other Path Information, and then Start Application.
• Begin the application, adding your Knowledge Test Exam ID when requested. This is a 17-digit code you should see with your test results.
• Finish the application by signing it electronically.
• After submitting, IACRA will push your information to the TSA for a security background check.
• Check your email. IACRA will send you a temporary license with downloading and print instructions.

I have my drone license in Utah – Now what?

The sky is the limit as a Utah drone license holder after you finish with these tasks.

Review Utah’s drone laws. UT doesn’t have any local laws, but it enforces a handful of state laws. Here’s a brief overview; please read the post above for more details.

• HB 217 makes it illegal to harass livestock with a drone.
• SB 111 charges pilots with a Class B misdemeanor for flying a drone with a weapon. That’s a fine of $1,000 to $5,000.
• HB 296 affects law enforcement drone pilots, who can’t use drone data unless they have a search warrant.
• SB 167 mandates that drone data is used within the requirements of a warrant.
• SB 196 requires law enforcement officers to have a warrant for operating a drone in an area where people can expect privacy.
• 65A-3-2.5 prevents pilots from using a drone in an area where a wildland fire occurs and a temporary flight restriction has been placed unless they have permission. Pilots are charged with a third-degree felony if their drone crashes into a manned aircraft.
• 76-6-2-206(2)(A) prohibits using a drone for criminal trespass.

Did you register your drone yet? You can’t launch yours for the first time as a commercial pilot without doing so. The FAA registration terms last for three years, and at a fee of $5 per drone, you won’t empty your wallet.

Another consideration I would suggest you make is drone insurance. I know you don’t have to get it, but you should want it during your first year as a drone pilot.

You’re prone to mistakes as a newbie, and insurance can reduce the costs of medical bills and property damage if you cause or are involved in an accident.

Make sure you plan to renew your license in two years if you wish to continue flying commercially. I know it’s confusing that the FAA calls it a permanent license when it expires, but it does.

Prior to 2021, you had to take the aeronautic knowledge test all over again, paying for it every two years. Fortunately, the FAA has since done away with that requirement, so it’s an excellent time to be a drone pilot.

How do you keep your license current now? This post explains all, but essentially, you need to take a free FAA exam. This test is available online, and if you answer any questions incorrectly, you’ll know it before submitting your test.

More so, you can correct wrong answers. That’s a good thing considering you need a score of 100 percent to pass and keep your license current!