Getting Your FAA Tracking Number and Creating an IACRA Account
Before you can even register to sit the Part 107 Knowledge Test, the FAA requires you to have an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). The only way to get one is by creating an account in IACRA, the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system. This lesson walks through exactly what these two things are, why the order matters, and how to set both up correctly the first time.
What IACRA is
IACRA (Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application) is the FAA's central online system for managing airman certification ? originally built for manned-aircraft pilot certificates and later extended to cover the Remote Pilot Certificate with an sUAS rating. It is where you create your permanent FAA airman profile, and later in the process (Lesson G) it is also where you complete and electronically sign FAA Form 8710-13, the actual certificate application.
IACRA is free to use and is accessed at iacra.faa.gov. Every applicant, regardless of which knowledge-demonstration pathway they use (Lesson C), creates exactly one IACRA account that stays associated with them for their entire aviation career, even if they later add other FAA certificates.
What the FTN is and why you need it first
An FAA Tracking Number (FTN) is a unique identifier the FAA's IACRA system assigns to you personally when you first create your profile. It is not tied to any single certificate or application ? it is a lifetime identifier for you as an individual in the FAA's airman records system.
The FTN matters immediately because PSI, the FAA-authorized testing vendor that administers the Part 107 Knowledge Test (covered fully in Lesson E), requires you to provide your FTN when you register for the test. You cannot schedule the Knowledge Test without one. This makes creating your IACRA account and retrieving your FTN the mandatory first administrative step in the entire certification process ? before you ever walk into a testing center.
What information you'll need to create your account
Setting up an IACRA account requires the same basic identifying information the FAA uses for any airman record: full legal name, date of birth, physical address, a valid email address, and the creation of a username and password for the account. Because this becomes your permanent FAA identity record, use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your government-issued photo ID ? a mismatch here can cause delays later when your identity is verified at the testing center or during certificate issuance.
- Use an email you'll keep long-term: The FAA sends important notices, including test eligibility and certificate status updates, to the email on file.
- Write down your FTN somewhere safe: You will need to reference it again at test registration and, later, when finishing Form 8710-13.
- One account per person, for life: Do not create a second IACRA account if you forget your login ? recover the existing account instead, since duplicate profiles can create identity-matching problems with the FAA.
Real-world scenario: registering for the test too early
Devon decides to save time by calling PSI directly to book a Part 107 Knowledge Test appointment before setting up anything with the FAA. The PSI representative asks for an FTN, and Devon doesn't have one yet ? the booking cannot proceed. Devon has to stop, go create an IACRA account, retrieve the FTN, and only then can complete the PSI registration described in Lesson E. Doing the steps in the correct order ? IACRA and FTN first ? avoids this exact holdup.
The FTN is a prerequisite for every later step ? always create your IACRA account first (illustrative diagram, not an actual FAA system screenshot).
View LargerCreating your IACRA account and retrieving your FTN
This only needs to be done once. Set aside about 10-15 minutes and have a valid photo ID nearby to make sure your details match exactly.
Go to the IACRA website
Navigate to iacra.faa.gov and select the option to register as a new user / applicant.
Enter your identifying information exactly as it appears on your photo ID
Full legal name, date of birth, and current address. Small mismatches (a missing middle initial, a nickname instead of a legal first name) can create identity-verification friction later, so match your ID precisely.
Create your username and password
Choose credentials you will remember or store securely ? you will log back into this same account after passing the Knowledge Test to complete Form 8710-13 (Lesson G), and again every 24 months for recurrent training records (Lesson H).
Locate and record your FTN
Once your profile is created, IACRA displays your FTN. Write it down or store it securely ? you will provide it when registering for the Knowledge Test with PSI.
| Mistake | Why it happens | Correct understanding | Regulation / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| "I can register for the Knowledge Test before setting up anything with the FAA." | Assuming the testing vendor and the FAA are unrelated systems | PSI requires a valid FTN to register for the test, and an FTN only comes from creating an IACRA account first. | FAA/PSI test registration process |
| "I forgot my IACRA login, so I'll just make a new account." | Treating IACRA like a disposable website account | Use IACRA's account recovery options instead ? a duplicate profile can create identity-matching problems with your FAA airman record. | IACRA system guidance |
| "My FTN is tied to the Part 107 certificate specifically." | Confusing a personal identifier with a certificate-specific one | The FTN identifies you as an individual across your entire FAA airman record, not just one certificate application. | IACRA system guidance |
Is there a fee to create an IACRA account or obtain an FTN?
No. Creating an IACRA account and receiving an FTN is free. The fee you will pay later in the process is for the Knowledge Test itself, charged by PSI (covered in Lesson E), not by the FAA or IACRA.
Do I need to complete Form 8710-13 when I first create my IACRA account?
No. At this stage you only need to create your profile and obtain your FTN. Form 8710-13, the actual certificate application, is completed in IACRA only after you've passed the Knowledge Test ? that's covered in Lesson G.
What if I already have an IACRA account from a manned-aircraft pilot certificate?
Use your existing account and existing FTN ? do not create a second one. Log in, and you'll be able to add the Remote Pilot Certificate application to your existing FAA airman profile when you reach Lesson G.
Test Your Knowledge
Answer the questions below to check your understanding. Every answer can be found in the lesson above.