- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
If you are considering a career in the drone industry, you need to hear something that certain training and certification companies will not tell you upfront.
Certifications alone do not get you hired.
There is a growing pattern in the uncrewed aviation training space- polished marketing campaigns promising that a certification from one of their “drone boot camps” will “launch your career,” "fast-track", “open doors,” or “make you job ready.” The reality on the ground is far less generous.
A well-known drone certification organization offers their expensive proprietary certification pathways but provide:
No job placement afterwards
No workforce ready pipelines
No employer introductions
No operational mentorship
No real-world deployment experience
"Once your payment clears, you are largely on your own."
The Illusion of “Industry-Recognized” Certifications
Here is the uncomfortable truth: Most employers do not hire drone pilots because of third-party certifications.
Employers hire based on:
Demonstrated operational experience
Regulatory literacy (especially FAA compliance)
Your FAA Part 107 certification status
Risk management and safety judgment skills
Mission-specific skills (inspection, mapping, public safety, energy, construction, etc.)
Professional maturity and decision-making abilities
A certificate that is not tied to real operations, supervised flight time, or an employer-backed pathway are often meaningless in their hiring decisions.
No certificate— no matter how well marketed—replaces experience.
Why This Matters for New Pilots
Many people entering the drone industry are:
Career changers
Veterans
Students
Professionals looking for a second act
They are often told by these drone certification companies:
“Attend our Boot Camp, get our certification and start your drone career.”
What they are not told is:
There is no job waiting after their trainings
There is no placement support from this organization
There is no mentoring beyond the course completion
There is no accountability for outcomes of your success
You will need to find funding options to pay for these expensive certifications
That gap between promise and reality costs people real money, time, and momentum, thus hurting the industry.
Certifications vs. Careers: Know the Difference
Certifications can be useful when they are part of a broader pathway:
Integrated with existing workforce programs
Specialized Flight Skills Trainings
Connected directly to municipalities or employers
Paired with supervised operations
Supported by ongoing mentorship
When they are sold as a standalone career solution, that is marketing—not workforce development.
If a training provider cannot clearly answer:
“Who hires your graduates?”
“What operational roles do they step into based on your certifications?”
"What is the starting salary I can expect?"
“How soon after training can I expect job opportunities?”
“What ongoing support do you provide after payment for the training?”
Then you are not being offered a career pathway. You are being sold a product.
Advice to Aspiring Drone Professionals
Before spending a dollar, ask yourself—and the provider—these questions:
Does your team have real- world operational drone experience?
Does this your certification lead to real operational experience?
Is there a clear bridge between your training and employment?
Which employers are actively acknowledging your certifications?
Will I be mentored after the course ends?
Am I paying for a credential that does nothing for my career?
Do not confuse these so-called industry certificates with careers.
The drone industry rewards competence, professionalism, and experience—not sales claims designed to push proprietary certifications.
Final Word
This industry needs fewer glossy promises and more honest guidance and mentorships. If you are serious about working in uncrewed aviation, seek training that:
Tell you the hard truths
Provides you with real-world flight experiences
Comes from a provider that has real-world operational experience
Does not oversell outcomes as "the industry’s trusted training leader"
Treats workforce development as a responsibility, not a slogan
Be cautious. Ask hard questions. It’s your future. A certificate does not change your life—competence and opportunity do.
Because it will not!
Michael Hill is the Founder of Uncrewed Aerospace, an award-winning Drone Technology Company, that helps clients integrate Uncrewed Technology & Ai on the land, in the air, and at sea. Follow our work at www.uncrewedaerospace.com #TheDronePro