If you've been Googling around trying to figure out what you need to fly drones commercially, you've probably seen both terms floating around. "Drone license" is what most people search for. "Remote Pilot Certificate" is what the FAA actually calls it. They're the same thing, just one is official government language and one is what normal people say.
That's the whole answer, but there's a little more worth knowing.
What the FAA Actually Issues
When you pass the Part 107 knowledge test and apply through IACRA, the FAA issues you a Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small UAS rating. That's the official name on the document. Nobody calls it that in regular conversation, which is why "drone license" and "Part 107 license" took over as the shorthand everyone uses.
A certificate and a license are actually slightly different things in FAA world — a certificate is yours to keep unless you do something to lose it, while a license implies more of an ongoing permission. But for practical purposes, nobody is going to correct you if you call it a drone license.
What It Lets You Do
Once you have it, you can fly drones commercially anywhere in the US under Part 107 rules. That means paid work, flying for your business, content creation that earns money, inspections, mapping, real estate photography, all of it. You carry it with you when you fly and have to show it to an FAA or law enforcement officer if asked.
What It Does Not Do
A few things people assume it covers that it doesn't. It does not replace airspace authorization. Having your certificate does not mean you can fly anywhere you want. You still need to check airspace and get authorization through LAANC for controlled areas.
It also doesn't cover operations that go beyond standard Part 107 rules, like flying over people, flying at night without proper lighting, or flying beyond visual line of sight. Those require waivers on top of your certificate.
So What Do I Actually Need to Get One?
You need to be at least 16 years old, pass the Part 107 aeronautical knowledge test at an approved testing center, and apply through the FAA's IACRA system. The test is 60 questions, costs $175, and you need a 70% to pass. No flight test, no medical exam, just the written knowledge test.
Call it a drone license, call it a Remote Pilot Certificate, call it whatever you want. It's the same thing and getting it is pretty straightforward once you put the study time in.
Ready to study for it?
FAA 107 Prep has everything you need to pass the knowledge test on the first try.