Remote pilot test pass certificate prints without QR — make the FAA/Part 107 code appear

Joe B.

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Specialities: Windows 11/10, Printers, Networking, Group Policy, Print Servers

Fix Part 107 test pass certificate QR missing — IACRA temporary certificate, PSI test results, Acrobat “Print as Image”

Technician

Hey! Let’s get your remote pilot test pass certificate to print with the QR code. When a Part 107 certificate prints without QR, it’s almost always a PDF rendering or driver issue. A few details: are you printing the PSI test pass result, or the IACRA temporary remote pilot certificate? Which app are you printing from — Chrome/Edge/Safari or Adobe Acrobat Reader? Windows or macOS? And what printer/driver (PCL, PostScript, AirPrint/IPP)?

Customer

Windows 11 with an HP LaserJet. It’s the FAA remote pilot test pass certificate from PSI. In Chrome the box where the QR should be is blank, and the printout has no code.

Technician

Thanks — that helps. Many FAA/IACRA PDFs draw the QR/PDF417 as a layered vector object. Browser viewers can drop that layer; some drivers also skip overlays when “toner save” or “economy” modes are enabled. We’ll force rasterization so the remote pilot certificate QR renders reliably on paper.
Plan: 1) Open in Acrobat and check Print as Image. 2) Keep Background graphics on and scale at 100%. 3) If needed, switch driver (PCL ↔ PS) or use Microsoft IPP Class. 4) As a last resort, export to high-DPI PNG and print.

Customer

I only opened it in Chrome. Do I have to install Acrobat? The FAA said the QR must scan for verification.

Technician

Step 1 — Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and force rasterization
1) Click the download icon in Chrome and save the Remote Pilot test pass certificate PDF locally.
2) Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free).
3) File → Print → Advanced → check Print as Image → OK. This flattens layers so the QR code appears on any printer/driver.
4) In the main dialog: Actual size (100%), Background graphics ON, and if available set 600 dpi.

Customer

If the QR still doesn’t show, what else should I change?

Technician

Step 2 — Driver path and print features
• Printer Properties → Preferences: turn OFF EconoMode/Toner Save, watermarks, or overlays that can drop vector fills.
• Try a different driver flavor: if using PCL, switch to PostScript; if on PS, try HP Universal PCL or Microsoft IPP Class. Many people find the Part 107 certificate QR appears after switching.
• In Advanced, uncheck Enable advanced printing features to send a simpler print stream.
• If your queue was added as AirPrint/IPP Everywhere, consider a Standard TCP/IP port with the vendor driver for this print.

Customer

The box is still blank in the viewer. Is there a setting inside Acrobat that hides the QR layer?

Technician

Step 3 — Acrobat display & security
• Edit → Preferences → Security (Enhanced): temporarily disable Protected Mode at startup/Enhanced Security, then relaunch Reader and try again.
• View → Show/Hide → Navigation Panes → Layers: if a barcode layer is hidden, enable it.
• Document Properties → Fonts: if the QR uses a barcode font that isn’t Embedded, printing as image or exporting to PNG will bypass that dependency.

Customer

Will the airport or the FAA be able to scan it? Any rules on scaling or margins?

Technician

Yes. For FAA verification keep it clean and life-size:
• Use Actual size (100%) — don’t Fit or Shrink.
• Set 600 dpi if available; avoid “Draft” or “Toner Save”.
• Print on bright white paper; keep the QR area flat (no folds).
• If the result still won’t scan, export the page from Acrobat as a PNG 300–600 dpi and print that.

Customer

My coworker on a Mac tried the IACRA temporary certificate and the QR didn’t show either. Any Mac-specific tips?

Technician

On macOS:
• Download the PDF and open in Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac. In Print → Advanced → enable Print as Image.
• In Printers & Scanners, prefer a vendor driver (HP/Canon/Brother) over AirPrint when possible — some AirPrint/CUPS filters drop vector barcodes.
• If still blank, export to high-resolution PNG and print that image.

Customer

I need this today. What’s the fastest path to get a valid QR on the Part 107 test pass certificate?

Technician

Fast path (Windows/Mac):
1) Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader → Print → Advanced → check Print as Image.
2) Use Actual size, Background graphics ON, 600 dpi, and disable Toner Save.
3) If still missing, switch driver (PCL ↔ PS) or try IPP Class. Reboot the printer and reprint.
If you’d like, I can remote in — the remote pilot certificate QR not showing is a 10-minute fix we handle often.

Customer

That worked — “Print as Image” brought the QR back and my phone scans it. Anything else to save for next time?

Technician

Summary: If your Remote pilot test pass certificate prints without QR, download the PDF, print from Acrobat with Print as Image, keep Background graphics ON, use 100% scale/600 dpi, and if needed switch drivers (PCL/PS/AirPrint/IPP). This resolves most FAA/IACRA QR missing cases. Need help? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when a remote pilot/Part 107 certificate prints without a QR code: open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader, enable Print as Image, set Actual size (100%) with Background graphics ON, print at 600 dpi, and turn off toner-save modes. If the code still doesn’t appear, switch between PCL and PostScript drivers or use IPP Class, or export the page to a 300–600 dpi PNG and print.

FAQ

Step-by-step (Windows 11)

1. Download the remote pilot test pass certificate PDF or IACRA temporary certificate and open in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. File → Print → Advanced → check Print as Image; set Actual size (100%) and turn Background graphics ON.
3. Printer Properties → disable Toner Save/EconoMode; set 600 dpi; uncheck Enable advanced printing features.
4. If the QR is still missing, change driver (PCL ↔ PostScript) or try a temporary IPP Class queue; reprint and verify with a phone camera.

macOS notes

1. Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader for Mac and enable Print as Image.
2. Prefer a vendor driver over AirPrint; if needed, export the page as a 300–600 dpi PNG and print that image.

Sources

• Adobe — Print a PDF as an image
• FAA — Become a Remote Pilot (Part 107)
• IACRA — Help & information

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