What is IACRA for drone pilots?

  • IACRA = Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application. It’s a web system the FAA hosts that lets people apply for pilot certifications, ratings, etc., electronically (versus paper).

  • For remote pilots, IACRA is used for applying for the Remote Pilot Certificate (i.e. your FAA “drone license” under Part 107) after you pass the knowledge test.

  • It guides you, checks you meet the regulatory requirements, lets you submit your application, sign documents, etc.

  • If you’ve done anything with “manned” pilot certificates, IACRA covers that too, but for us drone / remote folks, it’s mainly the “Remote Pilot” path.

So IACRA is the portal you use to apply for your remote pilot certificate after you pass the test (or for other certification stuff). But before that, you need some identifiers — that’s where FTN and maybe “N number” (less so for drones) come in.

What are FTN and N-number?

FTN (FAA Tracking Number)

  • The FTN is your unique identifier in the FAA’s certification / records system. It’s how the FAA tracks you (your tests, your applications, your records) instead of just relying on name/SSN, which can cause confusion.

  • You need an FTN before you schedule your knowledge (PSI) test.

  • If you already have an FAA certificate (manned or unmanned), you already have an FTN — you just may not remember it. It’s permanent.

  • On your IACRA profile, your FTN is displayed in your user info.

  • Note: There are cases where people see two FTNs (e.g. one used by PSI for a knowledge exam, another in IACRA), which can complicate things. Some pilots have reported this.

So bottom line: FTN = your FAA “ID number” for certification/testing.

N-Number

  • An N-number is the registration identifier (tail number) for a manned aircraft in the U.S. (the “N” prefix comes from “United States” registration in aviation).

  • For drones / small unmanned aircraft, the “N-number” is less relevant in the context of pilot certification. Drones (depending on size and use) may need registration (e.g. via FAADroneZone), but that’s separate from your pilot certificate.

  • In IACRA / pilot certificate realm, the “N-number” is more often something you worry about when dealing with manned aircraft ownership or registration. In the remote pilot / UAV path, your main identifiers are your name, FTN, etc.

So you don’t usually worry about N-numbers when applying to be a remote pilot, unless you also fly manned craft.

Steps: From IACRA → PSI Exam → Remote Pilot Certificate (for drones)

For an unmanned aircraft pilot:

  1. Meet eligibility / decide to apply

    • Must be at least 16 years old, able to understand English (read/speak/write) etc.

    • Study for the aeronautical knowledge topics (regulations, airspace, weather, etc.) — for the “Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG)” test.

  2. Get an FTN via IACRA

    • Go to IACRA (https://iacra.faa.gov) and register (if you don’t have an account).

    • In registration, select “Applicant,” fill in your personal/contact info. Skip the “certificate info” section if you don’t already have a certificate.

    • After registration, your FTN will be shown / available on your profile page.

  3. Schedule your knowledge (PSI) exam

    • Go to the PSI exam site: https://faa.psiexams.com/FAA/login (or via the “schedule exam” link).

    • Log in (or create an account there). You’ll be prompted to verify your eligibility, which includes entering your FTN (so PSI can match your record).

    • After that, choose the test you want (for remote pilot it’s “Unmanned Aircraft – General / UAG”).

    • Pick a test center, date/time, pay the fee (usually ~$175)

  4. Take the exam

    • On test day, bring required IDs (government photo ID etc.).

    • Take the test (60 multiple-choice questions for UAG) within the time limit.

    • Once you pass, you’ll get a Knowledge Test Exam ID (sometimes called the Test Report / AKTR) from PSI.

  5. Finish your IACRA remote pilot application (FAA Form 8710-13)

    • Go back to IACRA, log in, and “Start New Application” → select Application Type = “Pilot,” Certification = “Remote Pilot.”

    • In that application, there’s a section to input or associate the knowledge test you took (enter the Test ID). But note: sometimes your test result takes a bit (e.g. up to 48–72 hours) to show up in IACRA.

    • Fill out all the rest: personal info, supplemental questions (language, drug convictions if any), etc.

    • Review & submit; sign electronically (acknowledgments, etc.).

  6. Identity validation / certifying & certificate issuance

    • You may meet with a Submitting Official (certifying officer, flight instructor acting as recommending instructor, etc.) who will validate your identity (your ID) and confirm your application details.

    • Once that’s done, the FAA processes your application. A temporary remote pilot certificate can become available via IACRA (you’ll get an email) in about a week.

    • The permanent certificate is mailed to you later.

  7. Fly (legally) as a remote pilot

    • Keep your certificate accessible when flying.

    • To keep your certification valid, you’ll need recurrent training / knowledge recency every 24 months.