5 yrboth qualifications stay valid
The thing everyone gets wrong
Being paid is not what decides which one you need.
There is no separate commercial drone licence in the UK. Your drone’s class mark or weight, your competency, and how and where you plan to fly determine whether you can operate in A1, A2 or A3 of the Open Category. If your operation falls outside the Open Category, you’ll normally need to operate in the Specific Category under an Operational Authorisation. Insurance depends on why you fly, not whether you issue an invoice: if you fly for anything other than recreation, sport or as a hobby, you must have third-party insurance.
Plenty of paid drone work does not require a training course. If your operation fits within the A1 or A3 rules, you have the required Flyer and Operator IDs, and you hold the appropriate third-party insurance, you can fly legally without an A2 CofC or GVC. We would rather you talk it through with us first than spend £399 on a course you may not actually need.
The two courses
Both prices include VAT, and both qualifications stay valid for five years. Bespoke training courses are also available, get in touch.
A2 Certificate of Competence
- Online, at your own pace, most take about a day
- No practical flight test
- Lets you fly closer to uninvolved people than the basic rules allow
- No CAA Operational Authorisation needed
- Valid five years
General VLOS Certificate
- Online course, with an in person flight test
- Practical flight test included, no separate fee
- For work the Open category rules will not cover
- Operations manual workshop included
- Valid five years from the date of issue
Start online any time. You arrange your flight test date with us when you are ready.
| A2 CofC | GVC | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | Operators wanting to fly UK2 or C2 class-marked drones under 4kg, or legacy drones under 2kg, in the Open A2 subcategory | Operators needing to carry out VLOS operations in the Specific Category, including under PDRA01 |
| Flight test | None | Included, taken in person, with no separate fee |
| CAA Operational Authorisation | Not required | Required for Specific Category operations. A GVC is accepted remote pilot competency for PDRA01 |
| Validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Renewal with us | £69 | £199 |
The re-fly policy
If you don’t pass first time
We debrief you, go through exactly what went wrong, and then retest you.
Frequently asked questions
Not covered here? Get in touch and ask.
What drone licence do I need?+
There is no single UK “drone licence”. What people usually mean is a remote pilot qualification or proof of competency. In the Open Category, that may be the A2 Certificate of Competence (A2 CofC). For operations in the Specific Category, the required competency may be a GVC or a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC Level 1, 2 or 3), depending on the Operational Authorisation. Which qualification you need, if any, depends on the aircraft, where and how you want to fly, and the type of operation you intend to carry out.
Do I need a licence to fly a drone for money in the UK?+
No. There is no separate commercial drone licence. Your drone’s class mark or weight, your competency, and how and where you fly determine whether you can operate in A1, A2 or A3 of the Open Category. If the Open Category does not cover what you want to do, you will typically need to operate in the Specific Category under a CAA Operational Authorisation.
Insurance depends on why you fly, not whether you send an invoice. If you fly for anything other than recreation, sport or as a hobby, you need appropriate third-party insurance.
Plenty of paid work needs no additional training course at all. If your operation fits the A1 or A3 rules and you have the required Flyer and Operator IDs, where applicable, plus the appropriate insurance, you can fly legally. An A2 CofC can allow you to operate closer to people within the Open Category. If you need to move into the Specific Category, the qualification you need will depend on the Operational Authorisation you intend to operate under.
What is the difference between the A2 CofC and the GVC?+
The A2 CofC is an online theory certificate for the Open category. It lets you operate closer to uninvolved people than the basic rules allow, in the Near People (A2) subcategory. The GVC is the qualification for the Specific category: operations the Open category will not cover, flown under an Operational Authorisation. It includes a practical flight test.
Do I need to be able to fly already?+
No previous qualification is assumed. To pass the A2 CofC we require two hours of logged flying in the Far from People (A3) subcategory. For the GVC, you will get more from the flight assessment if you have some hours on your own aircraft first, and we are happy to advise on that before you book.
Can I use my own drone for the flight test?+
You take the assessment on an aircraft you can fly confidently, and for most candidates that is their own drone. Get in touch before you book if you are not sure yours is suitable.
How long does a drone qualification last?+
Both the A2 CofC and the GVC are valid for five years. Renewal costs less than the first pass: £69 for the A2 CofC, £199 for the GVC. The CAA Operational Authorisation itself is different: it lasts one year and is renewed directly with the CAA.
Is the GVC being scrapped in 2027?+
New GVCs stop being issued after 31 December 2027, when training moves to the new Remote Pilot Certificate framework. A GVC issued before then stays valid for its full five years, and there is a bridging route to the RPC-L1. Qualify today and you lose nothing.
Renewals
Both qualifications stay valid for five years. When the time comes, renewal costs less than the first pass. Prices include VAT.
*We can only accept a renewal in the final six months before your certificate expires; the CAA does not allow renewal any earlier.
Talk it through with us.
A quick conversation is often the easiest way to work out exactly what you need. If a cheaper course is the right option, we’ll tell you. If you do not need a course at all, we’ll tell you that too.
