Understanding FAA Unique IDs and Certificate Numbers
February 16, 2026
Every airman in the FAA Civil Aviation Registry is assigned a FAA Unique ID — an alphanumeric identifier that serves as the permanent, unambiguous reference for that person in all FAA systems.
FAA Unique ID Format
FAA Unique IDs follow the format A followed by seven digits, e.g. A0000014. These IDs are assigned sequentially and never reused. Once issued, the ID stays with that airman for life regardless of name changes or address updates.
Certificate Numbers vs. Unique IDs
Don't confuse the FAA Unique ID with a certificate number. A certificate number (printed on your pilot certificate) can change when certificates are reissued. The FAA Unique ID is stable and used internally by the FAA and in the Civil Aviation Registry bulk data.
Using AviationDepth
AviationDepth uses the FAA Unique ID as the URL key for every airman profile page — e.g. /pilot/A0000014/john-doe/. This ensures each URL points to exactly one person and never breaks even if a name is corrected in the registry.
Looking Up an Airman
Search by name at AviationDepth Search, or browse by certificate type or state. Each profile page shows all certificates, ratings, type ratings, and medical information published by the FAA.