FFL License Format

The ATF has stringent rules about what the numbers and letter in an FFL number represent. This guide will help you verify that you have a valid FFL.

An FFL Number MUST be 15 digits long, not counting the dashes.
— Example FFL Number: 4-65-934-01-3M-01768

• 1st set must be a 1 digit number (Part of the RDS Key). This number represents one of the 7 regions of the country where the FFL is located. 2 & 7 are not used.
  1. Southeast
  3. Midwest
  4. Central
  5. Southwest
  6. North Atlantic
  8.Mid Atlantic
  9. Western

• 2nd set must be a 2 digit number (Part of the RDS Key). You can use this number to verify the state of the FFL. Some states have more than one code.

  • 01 – ME

  • 02 – NH

  • 03 – VT

  • 04 – MA

  • 05 – RI

  • 06 – CT

  • 11 – NY

  • 13 – NY

  • 14 – NY

  • 16 – NY

  • 22 – NJ

  • 23 – PA

  • 25 – PA

  • 31 – OH

  • 33 – CA

  • 34 – OH

  • 35 – IN

  • 36 – IL

  • 37 – IL

  • 38 – MI

  • 39 – WI

  • 41 – MN

  • 42 – IA

  • 43 – MO

  • 45 – ND

  • 46 – SD

  • 47 – NE

  • 48 – KS

  • 51 – DE

  • 52 – MD

  • 54 – DC or VA

  • 55 – WV

  • 56 – NC

  • 57 – SC

  • 58 – GA

  • 59 – FL

  • 61 – KY

  • 62 – TN

  • 63 – AL

  • 64 – MS

  • 66 – PR or VI (Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands)

  • 68 – CA

  • 71 – AR

  • 72 – LA

  • 73 – OK

  • 74 – TX

  • 75 – TX

  • 76 – TX

  • 77 – CA

  • 81 – MT

  • 82 – ID

  • 83 – WY

  • 84 – CO

  • 85 – NM

  • 86 – AZ

  • 87 – UT

  • 88 – NV

  • 91 – WA

  • 92 – AK

  • 93 – OR

  • 94 – CA

  • 95 – CA

  • 98 – GU (Guam)

  • 99 – HI

• 3rd set must be a 3 digit number (Geographical Location). This number represents the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code where the FFL is located.

• 4th set must be a 2 digit number. This number represents the FFL Type.

• 5th set must be a single number 0 through 9 and a single letter A through M except I (FFL Expiration Date)
  The number refers to the last number of the year of expiration. (For example, 1 could mean 2011 or 2021)
  The letter refers to the month of expiration.  The letters go A through M, skipping “I.”
  A – January
  B – February
  C – March
  D – April
  E – May
  F – June
  G – July
  H – August
  J – September
  K – October
  L – November
  M – December
  (Example: An FFL with an expiration of 3M means the license expires on 12/1/23.)

• 6th set must be a 5 digit number (Part of the RDS Key). This number is the unique code for each FFL.