Training programs for FAA Part 107, Part 137 exemption prep, state pesticide applicator prep and manufacturer-specific drone operator certification.
Ag Drone Pilot Training drone services in Tennessee are listed by 9 operators in this directory. Typical pricing for ag drone pilot training runs $500 to $4500/acre (per course). Tennessee sits in the Corn Belt region, which shapes the calendar, weather and competitive pressure local operators plan around. Commercial drone applications in Tennessee require AER (Aerial) licensing exam + category certification from Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) on top of FAA Part 137 certification.
Ag drone pilot training courses cost $500 to $900 for basic manufacturer operator certification (DJI T50, Hylio AG-272), $2,500 to $4,500 for full FAA Part 137 exemption prep packages and $75 to $300 per state pesticide applicator license category. Third-party trainers include Rantizo, Precision Aerial Solutions and Drone Pilot Ground School, plus manufacturer academies and state extension universities. Total investment for a new commercial ag drone operator typically runs $3,500 to $6,000 across all three certification tracks.
Ag drone pilot training covers the three certifications a commercial ag drone operator needs: FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, FAA Part 137 agricultural aircraft operator certificate prep (including the 44807 exemption path for drones over 55 lbs) and state commercial pesticide applicator licensing with aerial category endorsement. Training providers include manufacturer academies (DJI Agras, Hylio Academy, XAG Training Center), third-party specialists (Rantizo, Precision Aerial Solutions, Drone Pilot Ground School) and state extension universities (Purdue, Iowa State, University of Nebraska, Mississippi State). Typical programs range from a two-day DJI T50 operator certification at $500 to $900 to a full Part 137 exemption bundle at $2,500 to $4,500 that includes FAA paperwork support, operations manual templates and one on one coaching through the 120-day exemption approval process. State pesticide applicator prep courses are typically offered through state land-grant universities for $75 to $300 per category, with aerial category adding $25 to $100.
Tennessee requires AER (Aerial) licensing exam + category certification for aerial pesticide application. The licensing authority is Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA).
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details: Tennessee state page · 50-state licensing reference · state extension service.
American-made NDAA-compliant ag drones & operator network
Hylio designs and manufactures the AG-272, the leading NDAA-compliant agricultural spray drone in the United States and supports a national network of certified Hylio operators. The company provides sales, training and operator support for federal programs, defense-adjacent ag operations and buyers requiring US-manufactured drone equipment.
Advanced ag drone technology & application services
Pegasus Robotics develops and deploys advanced agricultural drone systems for large-scale crop protection and precision application. The company offers both equipment solutions and commercial application services across the Southeast, with a focus on high-efficiency coverage for corn, soybeans and cotton using autonomy-enhanced drone platforms.
HBCU drone ag research & outreach, Nashville TN
Tennessee State University's DRONEs (Drone Research, Outreach, Navigation and Education) Program is an HBCU-based initiative delivering drone agriculture research, pilot training and Extension outreach to Tennessee farmers, with emphasis on serving historically underserved and limited-resource producers. The program offers FAA Part 107 prep courses, precision ag workshops and applied field research.
UT Extension drone applicator licensing & safety training
The University of Tennessee Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) provides drone applicator licensing support, pesticide safety training and FAA Part 137 compliance guidance to commercial drone operators across Tennessee. The program works with county Extension offices to deliver workshops on label compliance, drift management and regulatory requirements for ag drone operations.
Miami FL · DJI Agriculture Master Distributor for the Americas
DJI Agriculture Master Distributor headquartered in Miami, FL with offices in Mexico, Argentina and Panama. Specializes in agricultural drone technology sales serving the Americas. Sells DJI Agras T30, T40, Phantom 4 RTK and P4 Multispectral. Training provided with each industrial drone purchase. Contact: +1 786-229-6330.
AR · nationwide DJI dealer + custom aerial applicator since 2021
Nationwide dealer of agricultural spray drones and aerial commercial applicator based in Arkansas, founded 2021. Specializes in personalized customer care offering sales, service, parts, repair and custom spraying. Holds both FAA Part 107 and Part 137 certifications.
AR · third-gen aerial applicators, Part 137 filing service & training
Third-generation aerial applicators based in Arkansas and the Southeast US, founded 2019. Provides advanced aerial analytics, precision ag consulting, training and a done-for-you FAA Part 137 exemption filing service for drone operators. Also offers multispectral mapping, prescription file creation and drone sales.
AR · authorized DJI dealer, in-person demos & training
Authorized DJI dealer and distributor based in Arkansas, founded 2024. Provides local support, in-person demonstrations, training and ongoing support for agricultural drones including DJI Agras T50, T40 and T25. Also sells DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, Multispectral and Thermal models for precision crop spraying.
AL franchise · precision drone spraying, sales & training nationwide
National franchise network for precision drone spraying with a confirmed Southeast franchise location in Vina, AL. Co-founded by Aaron Duval and Jeff Bickley. Named Top Precision Farming Solutions Provider 2023 by AgriBusiness Review. Sells DJI Agras T50, T100, XAG P100 Pro and Talos T60X plus drone trailers. Provides Part 107/137 regulatory support.
Federal regulators and industry references that govern ag drone pilot training in Tennessee and across the United States.
9 operators in our directory list ag drone pilot training as a service in Tennessee. Use the operator grid below to compare credentials, fleet, response time and pricing before reaching out.
Commercial ag drone pilot training in Tennessee requires three credentials: an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate for the pilot, an FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate for the business, and AER (Aerial) licensing exam + category certification from Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). Confirm any operator you hire holds all three before any application.
Most Tennessee operators book 4 to 6 weeks ahead of peak windows; pricing confirmation is contract-bound and operator-specific. For one-off jobs during peak demand spikes, supply tightens fast — establishing the operator relationship in the off-season pays off.
Three certifications: FAA Part 107 (remote pilot), FAA Part 137 (agricultural aircraft operator certificate) and a state commercial pesticide applicator license with aerial category endorsement. Drones over 55 lbs also require a Section 44807 exemption from FAA, which is part of the Part 137 application package for most operators.
Part 107 runs about 2 to 4 weeks of study plus the proctored exam. State pesticide applicator licensing runs 1 to 3 months depending on state testing schedules. Part 137 plus the 44807 exemption runs 90 to 180 days from FAA submission to approval. Most new operators plan for a 6 to 9 month full certification timeline before taking commercial customers.
No FAA or state rule requires it, but DJI dealers typically require proof of either manufacturer training or equivalent experience before selling the T50. The 2-day DJI Agras operator certification runs $500 to $900 and covers safe operation, maintenance, software setup and field workflow. Hylio and XAG have parallel manufacturer academies.
Partially, yes. USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grants, Veterans Farmer Coalition scholarships and state beginning farmer programs all include ag drone training in their eligible expense categories. Applications are competitive and program availability varies by state and year.
Third-party trainers (Rantizo, Precision Aerial Solutions) focus on commercial business setup, FAA paperwork support and operations manual templates. State extension courses (Purdue, Iowa State, University of Nebraska) focus on pesticide safety, IPM and state regulatory compliance. Most operators end up taking both because they cover different certification tracks with minimal overlap.