Train with Purpose. Fly with Confidence.
The Drone Pilot Part 107 Preparation Continuing Education Skills Award (CESA) provides focused training for individuals seeking FAA Remote Pilot (Part 107) certification. This workforce-aligned program combines regulatory instruction with supervised flight experience to help students develop safe, compliant and professional drone operating skills.
Designed as an entry-level credential, this certificate supports individuals who need FAA certification for their current role or who want to add commercial drone operations to their skill set.
Drone Technology at a Glance
5 weeks to complete1
$448 tuition2
- Brookhaven3
What Can I Study?
I Want to Go to Work
Dallas College offers fast, flexible credentials designed with local employers to help you quickly start or advance your career.
Length of time is based on catalog degree plans1. Tuition rates are based on program hours for Dallas County residents2.
Can I Get a Job?
Dallas College offers a variety of certificates and degrees to help you gain the skills you need to start working right away.
- These credentials are often considered Career and Technical Education (CTE).
- These credentials are established with the assistance and cooperation of representatives from local business, to meet local and regional employment needs.
- Higher level certificates and degrees will typically lead to a higher salary in the workforce.
- Workforce (CE) Certificates can often be completed faster than traditional credit certificates but typically do not offer college credit.
- Level 1, Level 2, Enhanced Skills certificates and others, offer college credit and are often stackable to help you build skills as you work towards an Associate Degree.
- Workforce credentials may give you college credit at Dallas College, but they may not transfer to other colleges or universities.
If you're unsure if this is the right path for you, you can talk to a Pathway Specialist for advice.
Pathway Specialist
- 972-669-6400
- PathwaySuccess@DallasCollege.edu
What Can I Earn? Will There Be Plenty of Jobs?
Drone technology continues to expand across construction, public safety, media, infrastructure, and geospatial industries. Employers increasingly value professionals who can safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems into existing workflows.
This certificate supports skill development for individuals pursuing or enhancing roles such as:
- Construction and inspection technicians
- GIS and surveying professionals
- Media production specialists
- Public safety personnel
- Facilities and maintenance staff
- Real estate professionals
- Small business owners and entrepreneurs
Graduates develop transferable skills including flight operations, safety compliance, risk assessment, mission planning, data awareness, and professional documentation. These competencies support professional drone use and preparation for FAA Remote Pilot (Part 107) certification.
Professionals across industries use drones to:
- Conduct visual inspections of structures and infrastructure
- Capture aerial imagery and mapping data
- Support emergency response and situational awareness
- Document construction progress
Improve workplace safety by reducing manual inspections
Electro-Mechanical Technicians
$34/hr
Median Salary
20
Job Openings
+18%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Operations Monitoring
- Troubleshooting
- Monitoring
- Repairing
- Quality Control Analysis
- Critical Thinking
- Operation and Control
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
Remote Sensing Technicians
$23/hr
Median Salary
282
Job Openings
+16%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Systems Analysis
- Writing
- Complex Problem Solving
Surveying and Mapping Technicians
$24/hr
Median Salary
248
Job Openings
+15%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Coordination
Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators
$27/hr
Median Salary
98
Job Openings
+19%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Monitoring
- Time Management
- Complex Problem Solving
All jobs data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth. Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence and Lightcast4.
“I recently completed the USI Dallas College Drone Workshop and gained valuable hands-on experience in just a few days. Mr. Hill’s expertise and passion made the training especially impactful.” Read Vassil Doudov's story.
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The Drone Pilot Part 107 Preparation certificate serves as an entry point into professional drone operations, providing the regulatory knowledge and foundational flight experience required for workforce application.
This certificate is ideal for individuals who:
- Need FAA certification for their current role
- Want to add professional drone capabilities to their skill set
- Are exploring opportunities in commercial drone operations
- Prefer a focused, short-term credential
Completion of this certificate supports preparation for the FAA Remote Pilot (Part 107) certification and strengthens foundational skills in safe, compliant drone operations.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology is introduced at Dallas College through a combination of academic coursework and hands-on experiential learning opportunities. These experiences allow students to explore how drone technology is applied to real-world challenges, innovation initiatives and industry-driven projects.
Academic Learning Opportunities
Students engage with aerial data and geospatial analysis concepts that support mapping, planning, and data visualization applications.
Drone technology is utilized to support modern surveying practices, including aerial data collection and site analysis. Students gain exposure to how unmanned aircraft systems enhance efficiency and accuracy in land measurement and field operations.
Experiential and Applied Learning Opportunities
Dallas College student teams have participated in the national Community College Innovation Challenge, where students collaborate across disciplines to develop innovative, real-world solutions. Through this experience, students explore emerging technologies and applied problem-solving, including the potential use of drone technology in research, design and innovation-focused projects.
The MINiTERN program is a partnership between Dallas College and local companies that provides students with real-world business experience through a 10-week, project-based externship. One current externship opportunity includes a potential project that explores the use of drone technology to improve transmission line evaluation, offering students hands-on exposure to UAS applications in an industry setting.
Dallas College’s Drone Technology certificates are designed to complement a wide range of academic programs by developing applied drone skills aligned with industry needs. Since FAA Remote Pilot (Part 107) certification is required for professional drone operations, these certificates serve as workforce-aligned pathways to that credential.
Start Your Journey
Ready to take the next step toward professional drone operations?
To get started with either certificate, the School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology (MIT) is here to help.
Email AskMIT@DallasCollege.edu and include “Drone” in the subject line. A member of the MIT team will respond with program information, eligibility details and registration guidance to help you get enrolled.
Youth Programs
Dallas College also offers youth-based drone programming that provides early exposure to drone technology and safe flying practices, including:
- Drone Summer Camps
- Youth Drone Pilot Part 107 Preparation Continuing Education Skills Award (CESA) (Students ages 16–17 require a parent or legal guardian waiver for registration.)
Find Out More About Drone Technology
Sign up to receive additional information about Drone Technology or call 972-669-6400.
School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology
- 214-378-1560
- AskMIT@DallasCollege.edu
Dallas College
- 972-669-6400
- Text College to 214-978-6457
- StudentHelp@DallasCollege.edu
1Length of time is based on catalog degree plans. Prerequisites may be required, which are not included in this estimate. For most programs, full-time student status is assumed, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
2Cost is based on tuition rates for program hours for Dallas County residents. The price of most required learning materials (books, software, supplies, etc.) is included with the price of tuition. Certain programs may have additional costs above the standard tuition. Please review the Area of Study Overview and/or the Health Information Packets for additional costs and details. Visit our Paying for College site to learn more about cost, financial aid, scholarships and more.
3Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options. Not all degree and certificate offerings are available for admission/start at all campuses every semester.
4A portion of Lightcast’s data comes from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Lightcast has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.