Part 107 recurrent training keeps a remote pilot certificate current, and the process changed substantially from the original 2016 rule. Instead of scheduling a proctored recurrent knowledge test every 24 calendar months, certificated remote pilots now complete ALC-677, a free FAA online course, on the same 24-month cycle. This post walks through what the current recurrent requirement looks like in practice, how it affects night operations currency, and where pilots still get tripped up on renewal timing.

Part 107 Recurrent Training: The Current Rule

Recurrent currency under 14 CFR part 107 is now satisfied exclusively through ALC-677, “Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Recurrent,” a free course delivered through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website at faasafety.gov. There is no in-person or proctored testing component for recurrent currency; the course itself, once completed and passed, resets the 24-calendar-month clock.

For related procedures, see the Faa Part 107 Regulations guide.

For related procedures, see the Faa Part 107 Test Study Guide Free Resources 2026 guide.

This replaced the older structure where pilots had two paths: retake the initial-style recurrent knowledge test (Part 107 Small UAS Rule Recurrent, or “UAGR”) at a Knowledge Testing Center, or complete an online recurrent course if they held a manned pilot certificate with a current flight review. ALC-677 consolidated recurrent currency into a single, no-cost, self-paced course available to every remote pilot certificate holder regardless of manned pilot status.

Who Still Needs a Knowledge Test

A proctored knowledge test is still required once, at initial certification, for anyone who did not already hold a part 61 pilot certificate with a current flight review. Pilots earning their remote pilot certificate for the first time take the initial test, UAG, at an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center. After that, recurrent currency is handled entirely through ALC-677, with no return trip to a testing center required.

Part 61 Certificate Holders

Pilots who hold a part 61 certificate and a current flight review under 14 CFR 61.56 can complete initial part 107 training online through ALC-451 instead of the in-person knowledge test. For recurrent currency, they use the same ALC-677 course as every other remote pilot. The manned-pilot shortcut only applies to the initial pathway, not to the ongoing 24-month recurrent cycle.

ALC-677: What the Course Actually Covers

ALC-677 is a self-paced online module covering regulatory changes, airspace authorization procedures, and operational rules that have been updated since the pilot’s last currency cycle, including remote identification and night operations. It typically takes most pilots one to two hours to complete and ends with a knowledge check embedded in the course rather than a separate proctored exam.

The course content is refreshed periodically to reflect current rulemaking, so the material a pilot sees in 2024 will not be identical to what was covered in 2021. Topics commonly included are Remote ID compliance under 14 CFR part 89, updates to operations over people and moving vehicles under subpart D, waiver and authorization procedures through DroneZone, and airspace classes accessible through LAANC.

Certificate of Completion

Completing ALC-677 generates a certificate of completion through faasafety.gov, which the pilot must retain and be able to produce if asked by the FAA or a law enforcement officer during a ramp check. The certificate lists the completion date, which becomes the anchor date for the next 24-calendar-month cycle, matching the same recordkeeping standard applied to the original knowledge test certificate.

Access and Account Setup

Pilots need an active FAASTeam account on faasafety.gov to enroll in ALC-677, and that account should use the same name and contact information tied to the remote pilot certificate on file with the FAA. Mismatched names between the FAASTeam account and IACRA registration have caused confusion for some pilots trying to verify currency, so it is worth double-checking before the course is due.

Renewal Timing and the 24-Calendar-Month Clock

The 24-calendar-month currency window runs from the last day of the month in which the pilot completed their most recent training or test, not from the exact completion date. A pilot who finishes ALC-677 on March 8, 2024, remains current through March 31, 2026, giving a built-in buffer rather than a hard expiration on a specific day.

This calendar-month structure is unchanged from the original rule; what changed is the mechanism used to reset the clock. Pilots who let their currency lapse do not lose their remote pilot certificate outright, but they are not legal to act as remote pilot in command, or as a visual observer serving in lieu of an automated system, until they complete ALC-677.

Lapsed Currency: What It Means Operationally

A pilot flying commercial operations with lapsed recurrent currency is operating in violation of 14 CFR 107.65, even if the flight itself is otherwise compliant with airspace and equipment rules. There is no grace period once the calendar-month window closes, and enforcement exposure sits with the individual remote pilot in command, not just the operating company.

Setting a Renewal Reminder

Most public-safety programs and commercial operators build ALC-677 renewal into a training management system or a shared calendar with a 60-day lead reminder. Because ALC-677 takes under two hours and has no scheduling dependency on a testing center, there is little practical reason to let currency lapse compared to the old system, where test center appointment availability could add delays.

Part 107 Performance: How the Rule Change Affects Day-to-Day Ops

Part 107 performance in the field is not directly altered by the recurrent training change; the flight rules, airspace requirements, and operating limitations in subparts B through D remain the same regardless of how a pilot maintains currency. What changed is administrative: less friction and cost in staying legal to fly, which indirectly supports better operational readiness for programs running frequent missions.

For public-safety and enterprise programs tracking pilot readiness metrics, ALC-677 completion is now one of the simplest compliance checkboxes to verify since it does not require scheduling around a third-party test center. Programs that previously had to budget test fees and travel time for recurrent testing can redirect that time toward actual flight proficiency, sensor operation, and emergency procedure drills, which have a more direct effect on operational performance than the recurrent paperwork itself.

Recurrent Currency vs. Flight Proficiency

Recurrent currency under part 107 confirms a pilot has reviewed current regulatory material; it does not verify hands-on flight skill, sensor operation, or emergency procedure competency. Programs relying only on ALC-677 completion as a proxy for pilot readiness are missing the skills-based component that FAA regulation does not mandate but that operational safety requires.

Chief pilots and UAS program managers commonly pair ALC-677 completion with an internal flight check, lost-link drill, and equipment inspection walkthrough on the same 24-month cycle, or more frequently. None of this is required by part 107, but it closes the gap between regulatory currency and actual field performance.

Night Operations Rule and Recurrent Training

Night operations under 14 CFR 107.29 require anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles and, since the 2021 Operations Over People and at Night final rule, no longer require a separate night waiver once the pilot has completed the required initial or recurrent training that covers night operating rules. ALC-677 includes night operations content as part of its regulatory update material, which is how currency for night flight knowledge is now maintained.

Before the 2021 rule change, night flight required a separate part 107 waiver under 107.29, a process that involved a written safety case submitted through DroneZone. That waiver requirement was eliminated for pilots who complete the updated initial test or recurrent training, meaning a currently compliant remote pilot who has completed ALC-677 within the last 24 calendar months is authorized for night operations under the anti-collision lighting requirement without any separate paperwork.

Anti-Collision Lighting Requirement

The 3-statute-mile visibility requirement for anti-collision lighting applies regardless of a pilot’s currency status and is a hardware and preflight check item, not a training item. Pilots should confirm their lighting is rated and mounted to meet this visibility distance before relying on night operations authorization, since a currency certificate does not substitute for compliant equipment.

Pilots Certificated Before April 2021

Remote pilots certificated before the rule change took effect needed to complete the updated recurrent or initial training to gain night operations privileges without a waiver; simply holding an older certificate did not automatically confer night authorization. Anyone unsure whether their certificate reflects night operations training should check the completion date of their most recent ALC-677 or initial knowledge test against April 21, 2021, the effective date of the Operations Over People and at Night rule.

Comparing the Old and New Recurrent Process

The table below summarizes the practical differences between the original part 107 recurrent requirement and the current ALC-677 based system, covering cost, format, and scheduling for pilots planning their renewal.

Common Renewal Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent recurrent training mistakes involve tracking the wrong date, using a mismatched FAASTeam account, or assuming a manned pilot flight review substitutes for ALC-677. Each of these creates a currency gap that is easy to avoid with basic recordkeeping.

• Tracking currency from the exact completion date instead of the end of that calendar month, which shortens the perceived window unnecessarily.
• Using a FAASTeam account with a name that does not match IACRA records, complicating certificate verification during a ramp check.
• Assuming a current 61.56 flight review satisfies part 107 recurrent currency; it only applies to the initial certification pathway, not ongoing recurrent requirements.
• Losing the ALC-677 certificate of completion and having no backup copy available for inspection.
• Waiting until the final days of the currency window, leaving no buffer if faasafety.gov has an outage or account access issue.

Recordkeeping Best Practice

Save the ALC-677 completion certificate as a PDF in at least two locations, such as a phone and a cloud drive, and keep the remote pilot certificate card together with it during flight operations. 14 CFR 107.7 requires the remote pilot certificate to be available for inspection; while the recurrent certificate itself is not always explicitly demanded, having it on hand avoids ambiguity if a question about currency comes up in the field.

Conclusion

Part 107 recurrent training no longer involves a proctored test of any kind; every certificated remote pilot maintains currency by completing ALC-677 free of charge every 24 calendar months through faasafety.gov. The underlying operating rules, including night operations lighting requirements and the calendar-month currency window, have not changed, but the path to staying current is faster and removes the cost and scheduling barriers of the old testing center model. Pilots and program managers should still pair this administrative currency with real flight proficiency checks, since ALC-677 verifies regulatory knowledge, not stick-and-rudder or sensor competency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have to take a recurrent test for Part 107?

Yes, but the format changed. Instead of a proctored knowledge test at a testing center, remote pilots now complete the free online recurrent training course, ALC-677, through the FAA Safety Team website to maintain currency.

How often is FAA recurrent training required?

Recurrent training must be completed every 24 calendar months. If a pilot lets currency lapse, they cannot exercise Part 107 privileges until the required online training or initial test is completed again.

What is ALC-677?

ALC-677 is the FAA Safety Team’s online recurrent training course for certificated remote pilots. It replaced the in-person recurrent knowledge test and covers regulatory updates, including night operations and airspace rules, at no cost.

What changed with the night operations rule?

Remote pilots no longer need a waiver to fly at night. Current rules require anti-collision lighting visible for three statute miles and completion of updated training covering night illusions and reduced visibility risks.

What happens if my Part 107 currency lapses?

A lapsed certificate means you cannot legally act as remote pilot in command. You must complete the current recurrent training or, for expired original certificates, retake the full initial knowledge test before resuming operations.

Is there a fee for Part 107 recurrent training?

No. ALC-677 is offered free through the FAA Safety Team platform. Pilots only need an existing FAASTeam account and their remote pilot certificate number to enroll and complete the course.

Do commercial drone pilots need to update their operations manuals after these changes?

Yes. Operators should revise standard operating procedures to reflect current night lighting requirements and recurrent training timelines, ensuring documentation matches FAA rules during audits, client reviews, or insurance verification processes.