Completing FAA Form 8710-13 and Receiving Your Certificate
Passing the Knowledge Test doesn't hand you a certificate by itself ? you still need to formally apply using FAA Form 8710-13 inside your IACRA account, pass a security background review, and then wait through the temporary-to-permanent certificate pipeline. This lesson walks through that entire final stretch of the certification process, from opening the application to holding a permanent Remote Pilot Certificate.
What FAA Form 8710-13 is
FAA Form 8710-13 is the official application for a Remote Pilot Certificate with an sUAS rating. Unlike a paper form, it is completed entirely electronically inside the same IACRA account and FTN you created in Lesson D ? there is no separate website or paper form to mail in. Under 14 CFR 107.63, an applicant must submit the application "in a form and manner acceptable to the Administrator" together with evidence of having passed the initial Knowledge Test (or, for Part 61 certificate holders, proof of completing the training course under 107.74).
Submitting the application after you pass
Once you have your Airman Knowledge Test Report in hand (Lesson F) showing a passing score, log back into your existing IACRA account ? the same one, using the same FTN, that you created before scheduling the test. Start a new application and select the Remote Pilot Certificate application type. IACRA will prompt you to enter information from your test report, and you'll electronically sign the completed application.
TSA security vetting
After you submit your application, it does not result in instant issuance. As part of certificating any FAA airman, the FAA coordinates a security background review with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before a certificate is issued. This vetting step happens automatically once your application is submitted ? there is nothing separate you need to file with TSA yourself. Processing time is not fixed by regulation and can vary; check your IACRA application status for the current state of your specific application rather than assuming a fixed timeline.
Temporary certificate first, then permanent
Once your application clears the security review, the FAA issues a temporary remote pilot certificate, generated electronically through IACRA (typically as a printable document). Under 14 CFR 107.64, this temporary certificate is valid for up to 120 calendar days, and it carries the exact same privileges as the permanent certificate ? you are legally authorized to act as a remote pilot in command under Part 107 as soon as you have the temporary certificate, without waiting for the physical permanent card to arrive in the mail.
The temporary certificate automatically expires on whichever of the following happens first: the expiration date printed on it, the date you receive your permanent certificate, or the date you receive notice that the certificate you applied for has been denied or revoked. The permanent certificate ? a durable plastic card similar in format to a Part 61 pilot certificate ? is mailed separately by the FAA and simply replaces the temporary one once it arrives; there is no additional action required on your part to "activate" it.
Real-world scenario: starting work before the plastic card arrives
Two weeks after passing her Knowledge Test, Camille completes Form 8710-13 in IACRA. After the TSA security review clears, IACRA issues her a temporary certificate that she prints out. A client asks her to shoot drone photos for a listing that same week ? Camille can legally accept the job and fly under Part 107 immediately using her temporary certificate, even though her permanent plastic certificate hasn't arrived in the mail yet. She keeps the printed temporary certificate accessible during flights (see Module 2's operating rules on carrying certification) until the permanent card replaces it.
From application to permanent certificate: submission, TSA vetting, temporary certificate, then permanent card by mail.
View Larger| Stage | What happens | Where | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Application | Submit Form 8710-13 electronically with proof of passing the Knowledge Test | IACRA (same account/FTN as before) | 14 CFR 107.63 |
| 2. Security vetting | FAA coordinates a background review with TSA | Automatic, no separate filing needed | FAA/TSA administrative process |
| 3. Temporary certificate | Issued electronically; full Part 107 privileges apply immediately | Printable via IACRA | 14 CFR 107.64 (valid up to 120 days) |
| 4. Permanent certificate | Durable card mailed by the FAA, replaces the temporary certificate | Physical mail | 14 CFR 107.63 |
Applying for your certificate in IACRA
Do this as soon as you have your passing Airman Knowledge Test Report in hand.
Log back into your existing IACRA account
Use the same account and FTN created in Lesson D ? do not create a new profile.
Start a new application for the Remote Pilot Certificate
Select the sUAS rating application type and enter the details from your Airman Knowledge Test Report when prompted.
Review and electronically sign the completed Form 8710-13
Double-check that all personal information matches your photo ID before signing and submitting.
Wait for TSA security vetting to complete
This happens automatically after submission. Check your IACRA application status periodically rather than assuming a fixed processing time.
Print your temporary certificate and begin exercising Part 107 privileges
Once vetting clears, your temporary certificate is available in IACRA. You may legally act as a remote pilot in command immediately.
Receive your permanent certificate by mail
The permanent card automatically supersedes the temporary certificate ? no separate action is needed to activate it.
| Mistake | Why it happens | Correct understanding | Regulation / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Passing the Knowledge Test means I automatically have my certificate." | Conflating the test with the certificate application | Form 8710-13 must still be submitted in IACRA, followed by TSA vetting, before any certificate is issued. | 14 CFR 107.63 |
| "I can't legally fly for pay until the plastic certificate arrives in the mail." | Assuming only the permanent card carries privileges | The temporary certificate carries the same full Part 107 privileges immediately upon issuance. | 14 CFR 107.64 |
| "I need to file something separately with TSA myself." | Assuming security vetting requires a distinct application | TSA vetting happens automatically as part of the FAA's certification process after Form 8710-13 is submitted. | FAA/TSA administrative process |
| "My temporary certificate is valid indefinitely until I request the permanent one." | Overlooking the fixed maximum validity period | The temporary certificate is valid for up to 120 calendar days and expires automatically at that point if a permanent certificate hasn't already been received. | 14 CFR 107.64 |
Can I fly commercially before my permanent certificate arrives in the mail?
Yes. Your temporary certificate, issued once TSA vetting clears, carries the same full privileges as the permanent certificate under 14 CFR 107.64. You do not need to wait for the physical card.
How long does TSA vetting take?
Processing time is not fixed by regulation and can vary by applicant. Check your IACRA application status directly for the most accurate, current information on your specific application rather than relying on a fixed expected timeframe.
What happens if my temporary certificate's 120 days run out before the permanent one arrives?
The temporary certificate is designed to bridge you to the permanent certificate; the FAA generally issues the permanent certificate within the temporary certificate's validity window. If you have concerns about timing, monitor your IACRA application status and contact the FAA's UAS Support Center if something appears delayed.
Test Your Knowledge
Answer the questions below to check your understanding. Every answer can be found in the lesson above.