At what minimum age must a person be to apply for a remote pilot certificate with an sUAS rating?

To apply for a remote pilot certificate with a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) rating, an individual must be at least 16 years old. This age requirement is set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure that applicants have reached a level of maturity and cognitive ability suitable for operating an aircraft safely. At this age, individuals are generally expected to be capable of understanding and following regulatory requirements, flying safely, and making critical operational decisions.

Choosing 16 as the minimum age aligns with the FAA's broader regulatory framework, which often establishes age thresholds at pivotal points in a person's development, aligning it with requirements for other types of pilot certifications.