IACRA General Information

Frequently Asked Questions and Helpful Suggestions

What is IACRA? Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application 
• It is the FAA paperless way to apply for an FAA certificate or rating over the internet/online. There is no need  
  to do a paper 8710-1 form except for your unofficial records. 
• You can print off an 8710-1 from IACRA when the process is complete.
• It guides the user through the FAA's airman application process. 
• It helps ensure applicants meet regulatory and policy requirements through the use of extensive data 
  validation. (Example: Enough hours for each certificate or rating, knowledge test verification, etc.)
• It uses digital signatures to protect the information's integrity. 
• It eliminates paper forms for the 8710-1 application.
• It prints temporary airmen certificates. No need to go the FAA, no need to send anything by mail.
• It interfaces all the FAA databases in order to complete the application and verify information.

Why do I want to register and use IACRA?
• It assists with certificate renewal so that a temporary certificate can be provided at the end of the Flight 
  Instructor Refresher Course. (NO additional paperwork.)
• The FAA expects to eliminate paper applications in the future.
• Once you are registered, it is generally quicker and easier than the old methods. 
• It is also easier to get the form correct with the built in correction system.
• You can use it to recommend all future pilot applicants with fewer mistakes.
• You can use it to apply for all future certificates and ratings. There is less paperwork and less wait time to 
  receive your new certificate.

Important Things to Know
• Dial up internet connections are not recommended for use with IACRA due to the slow speed. A faster cable 
  connection or wireless connection works well.
• Pop up blockers must be temporarily disabled for some of the IACRA functions. (Either hold down the 
  control key while you click, or disable the pop up blockers generally found in the “tools” section on the menu 
  bar at the top of the computer screen.)
• You must have an email address to register with IACRA. You can get a free email address from sources 
  like https://www.yahoo.com/mail or http://www.google.com/accounts. Go to the mail section and create an 
  account. (This is not a recommendation or advertisement, just a possible place to get a free email account if 
  you don’t have one yet.)
• Go to https://iacra.faa.gov/iacra the FAA website for IACRA. You can also go to https://www.faa.gov and 
  search for IACRA.

Training Site
• The FAA has a great training aid on the web site to help you learn the system. 
• Go to www.http://iacra.faa.gov/iacra 
• Click the next to last topic on top of the left page - Training and Documentation. 
• Click IACRA Training at top of next page. You can also download IACRA Instruction Manuals from this 
  location.
• You will see: Welcome to the IACRA Training Site. 
• Under First Time/ click Generate Logins. Explore to your heart’s content.

How do I get help with IACRA?
• Use the help buttons on each IACRA page for information and help.
• Contacting the AVS Support Central Help Desk. AVS Support Central aids users when they have support 
  issues with IACRA. The following information outlines AVS Support Central daily operations: The Help Desk is 
  available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    • Telephone number: Toll-free at 866-285-4942 (Public Customers) or at 405-954-7272 (Government 
      Employees). 
   • The fax number is 405-954-9339. 
    • E-mail address: 9-AMC-AVS-Support-Central@FAA.GOV 
    • The Web address for IACRA is www.http://acra.faa.gov/iacra 
• For policy related questions please contact your local FSDO.
• If you have an IACRA support-related question, contact National AVS IT Service Desk at: Phone Public 
  Customers 1-877-287-6731.
• Email 9-NATL-AVS-IT-ServiceDesk@faa.gov

What if I am unable to use IACRA for some reason? Can my certificate still be renewed through the Mary A. Schu Aviation Flight Instructor Refresher Course?
• Yes, of course. The best way is to go to the Mary A. Schu Aviation REGISTRATION PAGE and click on 
  the link for filling out the 8710-1. Fill in all the information.
    Send it to us electronically.
    The date is the last day of the class you are attending. 
    You do not have to fill in your flight hours. None are necessary for certificate renewal. 
    You do not need a medical to renew.
• It would be helpful to receive this at least two weeks in advance of the class, however, as soon as possible.
• A temporary certificate will come in the mail from the FAA. 
• You will use the course completion certificate we provide at the end of the FIRC for your temporary certificate 
  until the permanent FAA certificate arrives. 
• There is a $25 fee for this service unless you are in a contracted group course. 

HOW TO REGISTER FOR IACRA
1. Go to https://iacra.faa.gov/iacra on the internet. You can click on this link or hold the CTRL button and click 
    on the link to get there.
2. Register in the IACRA system by clicking on upper right corner “Register for IACRA Account.”
3. Please select the role(s) for which you would like to register. 
    a. Click at least  Applicant and  Recommending Instructor.
    (You may chose more roles if they apply, but for FIRC renewal, for recommending pilots as an instructor and 
    for applying for ratings yourself, only these are necessary.)
4. Click NEXT.
5. Fill in the information on the next page.
6. Create your unique IACRA Login USER NAME.
    a. The user name is between 6 and 12 characters.
       (Example: It can be your name without spaces up to 12 letters.)
7. Create a PASSWORD. This is case sensitive so write it down exactly as you created it.
    a. Choose a password between 8 and 12 characters using at least 1 character from 3 of the following 4 
        character groups: 
    Upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and symbols (no angle brackets (<>)). (For example: 
    abc123$%^ or abcABC123 or ABC123$%^ or use your birth year, month and day and first initial in upper 
    case and second initial in lower case. eg. 19621125Kr.
8. WRITE DOWN THE USER NAME AND PASSWORD AND KEEP THEM SAFE. Remember, the password is 
    case sensitive so write it down exactly as you entered it.
9. Continue registering and filling out all the pages. If you need help use the help button or call the help line 
    listed in Frequently Asked Questions.
10. You will be given a FTN (Federal Tracking Number.) It is one of your discreet identifiers in the IACRA 
    system. (FTN example: A4963421)
11. Enter your FTN in the space provided on the REGISTRATION PAGE. We will use this to renew your 
    certificate through the IACRA system.

WRITE DOWN YOUR FTN AND KEEP IT SAFE, JUST LIKE YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD. 

Congratulations you are now registered in IACRA!

HOW TO APPLY TO RENEW YOUR CFI CERTIFICATE WITH IACRA 
1. Get a USER NAME, PASSWORD and FTN by registering with IACRA at https://iacra.faa.gov/iacra the 
    FAA website for IACRA. You can also go to https://www.faa.gov and search for IACRA. 
2. Have your pilot certificate, CFI Certificate and medical certificate available. (It is not necessary to have a 
    current medical certificate to apply.) 
3. Go to the IACRA login page and insert your User Name and Password.
4. Click - Applicant
5. Click - Start or Retrieve an Application.
6. Click - Start a New Application.
7. Select the Type – Instructors.
8. Click - Start Application.
9. Review the information – Personal, Contact Information, Permanent Address, and Mailing Address. Correct 
    or include as needed.
10. Select the type of certificate you are applying for – Flight Instructor.
11. Select the Certificate Basis – FIRC Flight Instructor Refresher Course.
12. Do you now hold a pilot certificate? – choose yes.
13. Fill in the rest of the information regarding pilot certificates and ratings. This will include your commercial or 
    ATP pilot certificate. It will include your CFI certificate.
14. Click to Edit U.S. Standard Pilot Certificate information.
15. Click that you hold a U.S. CFI - Flight Instructor Certificate.
16. Supplemental Data: You do not have to hold a current medical certificate to renew your CFI.
17. Mark NO - you have not failed a test for this certificate.
18. Aeronautical Experience: No flight hours are required for the CFI renewal. You may leave this blank or fill 
    it out.
19. Review the Applicant Certificate Summary for correctness. If incorrect, do not submit. Contact the 
    IACRA help desk to assist with correcting it.
20. On the back of the 8710-1 near the bottom on the right hand side the following boxes should be marked 
    with an X: Flight Instructor, Renewal, and Training Course.
21. Click Submit Application. You will have an APPLICATION ID NUMBER. Use the File/Print function to print 
    the page for your records. Keep a copy.
22. Click on Review Application to review and print a copy of your application. You will not be able to print 
    another copy of your application after leaving this page.
23. If you haven’t already done so, please enter your FTN into the box on the registration page or 
    email it to me at mary@maryaschuaviation.com.

CONGRATULATIONS! You Have Completed the IACRA Application For CFI RENEWAL. 

The NEXT step is to register for the Mary A. Schu Aviation FIRC. (If you haven’t already registered.)


REGISTER FOR THE MARY A. SCHU AVIATION FIRC IF YOU ARE USING IACRA. The following needs to be done at least 2 weeks prior to attending class.

1. Go to the Mary A. Schu Aviation REGISTRATION PAGE on this website.
2. Enter your PERSONAL INFORMATION.
3. Enter the FTN in the FTN Federal Tracking Number box.
4. Enter the CERTIFICATE INFORMATION. 
5. Choose your PAYMENT METHOD. 
6. There is no additional charge for renewing through IACRA. It is free with the course registration.
7. Review the application. Make changes if needed to the completed registration page.
8. Click OK to SUBMIT and to start the certificate renewal process.
9. We will complete the final part of the renewal process in class. 
10. Please bring a wireless personal computer to class if you have one. You can use it to complete the 
   IACRA process.

Congratulations! You have:
1. Registered in IACRA, 
2. Completed the application for CFI Renewal through a FIRC with IACRA,
3. Finished registration with Mary A. Schu Aviation.

NOT AN IACRA USER

HOW TO APPLY TO RENEW YOUR CFI CERTIFICATE AND REGISTER FOR THE CLASS IF YOU ARE NOT USING IACRA. 
This is the method we have used for years which includes filling out the FAA 8710-1 correctly. If this is done in advance, we can save some time in the course. We can also use the time at the course to assist those who wish to renew through IACRA but do not have an email address, or a fast internet available to them. 

1. Go to the Mary A. Schu Aviation REGISTRATION PAGE.
2. Fill out the PERSONAL INFORMATION.
3. You must correctly fill out the FAA 8710-1 APPLICATION. Download form on Registration Page. 
    a. You do not need a medical. 
    b. You do not need to fill in the aeronautical experience flight hours.
    c. The course completion date is the last date of the class you are attending, in an 8 digit format: 
       (e.g. 01/17/2010). 
4. Send one copy of the FAA 8710-1 form to me by one of the following methods:
    a) Click to fill out the FAA 8710-1 form on the website and save it to your computer,
5. Print it, and U. S. mail it to us. 
    a) Print out a blank copy and complete by hand. Mail it to us at: 
          Mary A. Schu Aviation
          61085 Ferguson Ct Suite B
          Bend, OR 97702 
6. You can fill out the FAA 8710-1 application, save it to your computer, and send it as an email attachment 
    to mary@maryaschuaviation.com. 
8. Bring a second copy of the FAA 8710-1 to class.
9. Fill out the CERTIFICATE INFORMATION. 
10. PAYMENT method – Choose your method.
11. There is an additional $25 fee for paper renewal (not renewed through IACRA). Go to PAYMENTS 
    and choose method. 
12. If you have already paid, click registration only. 
13. Review the information on registration and the FAA 8710-1 form for correctness. 
14. Click OK to send the registration online. 
15. Complete website registration and send the FAA 8710-1form to us no less than 2 weeks before the 
    class date so that renewal is prompt.
16. When the course is successfully completed, you will receive your temporary CFI in the mail from the 
    FAA. 
17. Your FIRC Class Completion Certificate will be your temporary CFI certificate until the permanent one 
    arrives.

REGISTER FOR THE FIRC IF YOU ARE NOT USING IACRA 
The following needs to be completed at least 2 weeks prior to attending class.
1. Go to the Mary A. Schu Aviation REGISTRATION PAGE on this website. 
2. Enter your PERSONAL INFORMATION. 
3. You must correctly fill out the FAA 8710-1 APPLICATION. Download form on Registration Page. 
4. The date to include on the form is the last day of the class you are attending (e.g. 01/17/2010.) 
5. You do not need a medical. 
6. You do not need to fill in the aeronautical experience flight hours. 
7. There are several ways to do this:
    a) Click here and fill out the FAA 8710-1 application. Save it, print it, and U.S. mail it to us.  
        Send by U.S. mail to:
          Mary A. Schu Aviation
          61085 Ferguson Ct Suite B
          Bend, OR 97702 
    b) You can fill out the FAA 8710-1 application, save it to your computer, and send it as an email attachment 
        to mary@maryaschuaviation.com. 
8. Enter the CERTIFICATE INFORMATION. 
9. Review the application.
10. Choose your PAYMENT METHOD. 
11. Click OK to send the registration to us for review and to start the certificate renewal process. 
12. When the course is successfully completed, you will receive your temporary CFI in the mail from the 
    FAA in up to 120 days. If you do not receive your certificate, please contact Airmen Records at: 
    http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/.
13. Your FIRC class completion certificate will be your temporary CFI certificate until the permanent 
    one arrives.

CONGRATULATIONS! You have 
    1. Registered for the Mary A. Schu FIRC course and 
    2. Filled out the FAA 8710-1 application for paper certificate renewal.
    3. Sent it to us.