Some time ago, we bought our first drone and for a long time flew without an A2 drone certificate, as this was one of those things that kept getting postponed, thinking it would take too long. The surprise was great when we actually had to take the exam.

There is far too much conflicting information about what is actually needed to fly a drone.

There are many reasons for this, and often much within the "drone" world seems very technical with lots of regulations. The jargon alone is overwhelming at first: "METAR", "A2/A1/A3", "R-102", "operator vs pilot", "NOTAM", and "AGL" are just a few terms that seem incomprehensible outside of the "flying" world. The information you need is sometimes tricky to find, and a simple Google search reveals that even basic information about the exam at the traffic station is not readily available.

But here is another truth: It took us about 4 days from flydrone.no courses and exams along with a full job alongside practice to obtain the A2 certificate. And it was significantly easier than we thought.

Much easier than the car certificate that most of us have passed.

Why did we create DroneKlar?

When we decided to take the A2 certificate, we encountered a practical problem: We needed a way to practice when we had 10-15 minutes free. Between shifts, on the way to work, an evening hour before bedtime, etc.

Existing solutions were either too cumbersome or too expensive. We lacked a simple MCQ app (multiple choice questions) that resembled the A2 exam faced at the traffic station and allowed us to practice just when we had time.

So we built "DroneKlar". A "passion project". Because we needed it ourselves.

Time commitment: 4 days vs 3-4 hours of activity

Here is the difference that surprised us the most:

Time span: 4 days total
Active time: ~3-4 hours of focused work

The rest is waiting time, booking, and breaks between steps.

Day 1 (Evening): Registration and A1/A3 - 2 hours

• Registration on flydrone.no: 10 min

• Pay fee: 5 min

• Complete A1/A3 online course: 1h 35 min

• Take A1/A3 exam: 10 min

Days 2-3: A2 theory and practice - 2-3 hours total

• Go through A2 online course on flydrone.no: 45 min

• Practice with DroneKlar: 3-4 sessions of 20-30 min

• Focus on what we failed on

Day 4: Exam at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office- 60 minutes

• Arrive: 15 min early

• The exam itself: 30 minutes (you have 60, but rarely need all)

The mental difference here is important: "4 days" sounds quite manageable. And it is – because you only spend 3-4 hours of actual work time max per day. This of course depends on how focused you keep at it, and not least when you can get a free slot at the traffic station. This is often what takes the longest time of all.

This is NOT a car certificate

Let us compare with something we all know:

Car certificate:

• 1500+ theory questions

• Many mandatory hours

• Driving lessons over months

• Cost: 15,000-25,000 kr

• Time commitment: 3-6 months minimum

• Passing requirement: 41/45 correct (91%)

A2 drone certificate:

• A1/A3: Online course + simple exam (free)

• A2: Online course

• Time commitment: 1-2 weeks with focused practice

• Passing requirement: 23/30 correct.

We approached the exam with respect but quickly discovered: This is manageable. What you need is not weeks of study – you need focused, repetitive practice on the actual exam format.

And that is exactly what DroneKlar is built for.

"But I don't have time" – Let’s be honest

Myth 1: "I have to take a physical course first"

❌ Not mandatory for A2
✅ All you need are the online courses on flydrone.no + good practice
Time savings: +20 hours (and 5000-8000 kr)

Myth 2: "I have to understand EVERYTHING perfectly"

❌ You need 23/30 correct, not 30/30
✅ Focus on the most common topics
Truth: It’s okay not to know everything – you just have to pass

Myth 3: "I have to set aside uninterrupted time for studying"

❌ You don't need whole days
✅ 10-15 minute sessions work perfectly with the DroneKlar app
Our method: Practice between other tasks

The reality when you work full time:

• Morning: 10 min in DroneKlar with coffee

• Lunch: 15 min review

• Evening: 20-30 min focused practice

• Result: Ready for the exam in 1-2 weeks

A realistic 2-week plan (from zero to A2 certificate)

This is for you who is completely new and starting from scratch. If you can set aside 1-2 hours a day (or more on weekends), this is fully feasible:

Week 1: Basics and registration

Monday evening (1h 30min):

• Go to flydrone.no and log in via ID-porten

• Register as an individual (or organization if relevant)

• Fill in information (insurance can be filled in later if you don’t have it ready)

• Pay the fee (approx. 250kr)

• Complete the A1/A3 online course (make sure to click through ALL pages)

• Take the A1/A3 exam – it’s easy

• Congratulations! You now have a competency certificate for A1/A3

Tuesday evening (45 min):

• Start the A2 online course on flydrone.no

• Complete the first half of the course

• Take notes on what you find difficult

Wednesday evening (45 min):

• Finish the A2 online course

• Download DroneKlar / start free trial

• Take your first mock exam – see where you stand

Thursday-Sunday (30 min/day):

• Practice in DroneKlar: 3-4 sessions of 20-30 min

• Focus on the categories you struggle with the most

• Take at least 3 complete mock exams

• Goal: Consistently pass the mock exam with 25+ correct

Week 2: Exam and certificate

Monday morning (20 min):

• Book an appointment at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office (IMPORTANT: Do this EARLY)

• Choose the next available appointment (there may be waiting time)

• Tip: Check several traffic stations in the area – some have shorter waiting times

Monday-Thursday (20 min/day):

• Review mistakes from the last mock exams

• Take 1-2 more mock exams

• Go through difficult concepts one last time

Friday/Saturday - Exam day:

• Review mistakes from the last mock exam (15 min before you leave)

• Arrive 15 min early at the traffic station

• Take the A2 exam (30-45 min)

• Take the drone outside and do some simple exercises

• 🎉 You are A2 certified!

Biggest challenge: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office

The biggest bottleneck in the process is getting an appointment at the traffic station. Depending on where you live, it can be:

• 4-5 days waiting time (lucky!)

• 2-3 weeks waiting time (normal)

• 3-4+ weeks waiting time (in large cities)

Our recommendation: Book an appointment at the traffic station ALREADY after completing the A1/A3 online course. Even if you don’t feel 100% ready yet. You can always move the appointment if necessary, but you secure your place in line.

If you can’t find an appointment quickly at your nearest station: Check neighboring cities. It is often worth a 30-minute extra drive to get an appointment 2 weeks earlier.

Final words

We are not drone experts. We are just regular people with full-time jobs who decided to do what we had postponed for months.

Take a look at "Complete guide: How to pass the A2 drone exam the first time (2025)" for more insight and knowledge about the A2 Drone Exam.

The only difference between you now and you in 2 weeks with an A2 certificate? That you actually started.

[Start free trial on DroneKlar →]