California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) METRC Account Registration is the mandatory onboarding process every annual cannabis licensee must complete to gain access to the state’s track-and-trace system, Metrc, before moving a single gram of cannabis. Failure to register within five business days of receiving your annual license credentials triggers an immediate compliance hold, blocks tag orders, and exposes your business to disciplinary action under Business and Professions Code 26067.
According to the DCC’s 2025 annual report, more than 11,400 active annual licensees use Metrc daily, and the agency has flagged onboarding errors as one of the top three causes of license suspension since the sunset of provisional licensing on January 1, 2026. Getting registration right the first time means tags arrive on time, inventory matches reality, and your first state inspection does not turn into a citation.
- 📋 Exactly which fields to complete inside the DCC licensing portal before METRC credentials are issued
- 🔑 How to claim your Metrc credentialing email and finish the New Business Training on time
- 🏷️ How to order plant tags and package tags without triggering a rejection
- 🧾 Three full walkthrough scenarios showing real licensees completing the process from start to finish
- ⚠️ The 12 most common mistakes that delay onboarding and how to avoid every one
What the METRC Account Registration Is and Who Must File It
The METRC Account Registration is the credentialing process that links your active DCC annual license to California’s official track-and-trace system, operated under contract by Franwell, Inc. The registration is required by California Code of Regulations Title 4, Division 19, Section 15048, which orders every licensee to record commercial cannabis activity in Metrc from seed to sale. Registration is not optional, and it is not a one-time form — it is an account that you maintain for the life of your license.
Every annual licensee in California must register, regardless of license type. That includes cultivators (Types 1 through 5B), manufacturers (Types 6, 7, N, P, and S), distributors (Types 11 and 13), retailers (Types 9 and 10), microbusinesses (Type 12), testing laboratories (Type 8), and cannabis event organizers when handling product. Provisional licensees no longer exist after the January 1, 2026 sunset, so any licensee onboarding today is annual by default.
The registration also names a single individual as the Account Manager, the person legally responsible for the account under BPC 26067. This person must be an owner or employee of the licensed business, must hold a valid email address tied to that business, and must complete the New Business Training before any other users can be added. The Account Manager is the agency’s single point of contact for compliance questions, recall notices, and audit requests.
The consequence of skipping or delaying registration is severe. Without an active Metrc account, you cannot legally accept transfers, sell product, or move inventory across the supply chain. The DCC has issued Notices to Comply and monetary penalties up to $30,000 per violation under CCR Title 4, Section 17800 for licensees who operate without finishing onboarding.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every item below before you open the DCC portal or click your credentialing email. Onboarding stalls most often because filers reach a required field and have to stop to hunt for a license number, an EIN, or a designated email. The pre-filing checklist saves hours and avoids rejected submissions.
- Active DCC annual license number. This is the 12-character identifier (for example, CDPH-10003456 or C11-0000123-LIC) printed on your license certificate. Without it, the credentialing email cannot be matched to your account, and Metrc will not generate your facility.
- Legal business name as registered with the DCC. This must match the name on your license certificate exactly, including punctuation. A mismatch between the DCC record and the Metrc account name flags the account for manual review and can delay tag orders by 7 to 10 days.
- Premises address and APN (Assessor’s Parcel Number). Metrc uses the premises address to anchor your facility record. If your premises diagram on file with the DCC licensing portal shows a different address, the system will not let you submit.
- Designated Account Manager’s full legal name, title, email, and phone number. This person receives the credentialing email and becomes the primary contact for the account.
- Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or SSN for sole proprietors. Used to verify the business identity against the DCC record and the California Secretary of State filing.
- Owner identification. A government-issued photo ID for every owner listed on the license, in case the DCC requests verification during onboarding.
- List of facility users and their roles. Decide in advance who will be a Manager, who will be a regular User, and who needs read-only access. This avoids retroactive permission cleanup.
- Banking or payment method for tag orders. Metrc tag orders are paid by credit card or ACH; plant tags cost $0.45 each and package tags cost $0.25 each as of the Metrc California pricing page.
- Strain list and inventory at hand. Cultivators need to load existing immature plants and mature plants into the system within five business days of credentialing.
- New Business Training completion certificate. The Account Manager must finish the course on the Metrc Learn portal before the account fully activates.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
There is no single “form” to download for METRC Account Registration. Registration happens in three connected places: the DCC licensing portal, the Metrc credentialing email, and the Metrc California learning portal. You access the workflow only after the DCC issues your annual license. The agency triggers the credentialing email automatically once the license is in active status.
The first stop is the DCC licensing portal at aca6.accela.com/bcc, where you confirm your contact information, designate the Account Manager, and request that the credentialing email be sent. The DCC publishes the official onboarding guidance on the Track-and-Trace page, which is the only page you should rely on for current procedures.
The second stop is your business email inbox, where the credentialing email arrives from no-reply@metrc.com. The email contains a one-time link to set your Metrc password, accept the Metrc User Agreement, and finalize your facility record. The link expires in 72 hours, so check your spam folder right away if it does not appear within one business day.
The third stop is the Metrc Learn portal, where the Account Manager completes the New Business Training. The training takes about three hours and ends with a credentialing quiz. You cannot order tags or add users until the training certificate posts to the account.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the DCC METRC Account Registration Line by Line
This is the spine of the article. Every field, page, and click is broken out into its own section so you know exactly what to enter, what it looks like when done right, and what goes wrong when it is not.
Part 1, Field 1: License Number
The first field asks for your DCC-issued annual license number. This is the identifier the system uses to match your application to your Metrc facility record.
Enter the full 12-character license number exactly as it appears on your license certificate, including the prefix and any hyphens. For example, Maria Lopez, the Account Manager for Sunrise Cultivation, types CCL19-0001234 into the License Number field.
A common nuance is that some legacy licensees have two license numbers — an old CDFA number and a new DCC number. Always use the DCC number issued after the July 2021 consolidation; the legacy number will not match.
The most frequent mistake on this field is dropping the leading zeros (typing CCL19-1234 instead of CCL19-0001234). The consequence is an instant rejection and a forced restart of the credentialing workflow, which can add three to five business days.
A common misconception is that the “Application Number” you used during the licensing process can be substituted here. It cannot. The system rejects application numbers at this stage and only accepts active license numbers.
Part 1, Field 2: Legal Business Name
The system asks for the legal business name on file with the DCC. This is not your DBA or trade name unless your DBA is what appears on your license.
Type the business name exactly as printed on your DCC license certificate, including commas, periods, and the entity suffix (LLC, Inc., Corp.). For example, Sunrise Cultivation Holdings, LLC must include the comma and the LLC.
A nuance comes up for licensees who have changed their business name since the original application. If you filed an amendment with the DCC and it has not yet posted to the public license record, use the old name and update the account after the change posts.
The most common mistake is using the trade name instead of the legal name. The consequence is a name-mismatch flag that bumps your account into manual review and freezes tag orders.
A misconception is that the field is case-insensitive. It is not. Sunrise cultivation holdings, llc will not match Sunrise Cultivation Holdings, LLC for cross-system verification.
Part 1, Field 3: License Type
This field confirms the license category attached to the account. The drop-down lists every category the DCC issues, from Type 1 (Specialty Outdoor Cultivation) through Type 13 (Self-Distribution).
Select the category that matches your license certificate. For example, Carlos Reyes, owner of Reyes Distribution Co., selects Type 11 — Distributor from the drop-down.
A nuance arises for microbusinesses (Type 12). You must select Type 12 once and the system unlocks the sub-activity checkboxes for cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. Check only the activities your license actually authorizes.
The common mistake is selecting Type 10 (Retailer) when the license is actually Type 9 (Non-Storefront Retailer), or vice versa. The consequence is that the wrong premises template loads, and you have to back out and restart.
A misconception is that you can change the license type later. You cannot. A change in license type requires a new license application with the DCC.
Part 1, Field 4: Premises Address
This field captures the physical address of the licensed premises. Metrc anchors your facility record to this address.
Enter the street address, city, state, and ZIP code exactly as listed on your license certificate. For example, Reyes Distribution Co. enters 4421 Industrial Way, Stockton, CA 95206.
The nuance here is that suite numbers and unit designations matter. If your license shows Suite B, you must include Suite B. Drop it, and the address fails validation against the DCC premises diagram on file.
The most common mistake is using a mailing address (P.O. Box) instead of the physical premises address. The consequence is automatic rejection because Metrc does not allow P.O. Boxes for facility records.
A misconception is that the address can be updated later through Metrc. It cannot. Address changes require a license amendment with the DCC first, then a Metrc support ticket.
Part 2, Field 5: Account Manager Name
This field designates the single individual responsible for the Metrc account. Under CCR Title 4, Section 15048, each license must have one and only one Account Manager.
Type the Account Manager’s full legal name, first and last, exactly as it appears on their government ID. For example, Maria Elena Lopez (not Mari Lopez or M. Lopez).
The nuance is that the Account Manager must be either an owner listed on the license or a current W-2 employee of the licensed business. Independent consultants and attorneys cannot serve as the Account Manager.
The common mistake is naming the consultant who helped with licensing as the Account Manager. The consequence is a compliance violation under BPC 26067 and a forced re-registration with a qualified individual.
A misconception is that you can have two Account Managers for backup. You cannot. There is exactly one Account Manager per facility, though you can add multiple Managers (a different role) underneath them.
Part 2, Field 6: Account Manager Email
This is the email address that will receive the credentialing link, password reset notices, and recall alerts.
Use a business email address tied to a domain you control, not a generic Gmail or Yahoo account. For example, maria.lopez@sunrisecultivation.com rather than mariathegrower@gmail.com.
The nuance is that the email must be unique to this Account Manager and not shared with any other Metrc account in California. Reused emails trigger a duplicate-account error.
The most common mistake is typing the email with a typo (such as .con instead of .com). The consequence is that the credentialing email never arrives, and you must call DCC support to reissue, adding two to three business days.
A misconception is that personal email addresses are fine for small operators. They are technically allowed, but the DCC strongly recommends a business-domain email so that account access does not depend on a personal account that could be deactivated if the manager leaves the company.
Part 2, Field 7: Account Manager Phone Number
The phone number is used for two-factor authentication and urgent compliance contact.
Enter the 10-digit phone number with area code, no dashes or parentheses. For example, 2095551234.
The nuance is that the number must be a direct line, not a general business switchboard. The DCC’s recall protocol requires reaching the Account Manager within four hours.
The common mistake is entering a landline that cannot receive SMS codes. The consequence is that two-factor authentication fails, and the Account Manager is locked out of their own account.
A misconception is that the field accepts international numbers. It does not. Only U.S. numbers with a valid area code are accepted.
Part 3, Field 8: New Business Training Completion Date
This field records the date the Account Manager finished the New Business Training on the Metrc Learn portal.
Enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format. For example, 03/14/2026.
The nuance is that the date must be on or after your license issuance date and within 30 days of submission. A training completion older than 30 days requires a refresher course.
The common mistake is entering the date the training was started rather than completed. The consequence is a system rejection that asks you to upload the certificate, which adds a manual review step.
A misconception is that any past Metrc training counts. It does not. The New Business Training is California-specific and must be the version current at the time of registration.
Part 3, Field 9: User Agreement Acceptance
This field is the digital signature line accepting the Metrc User Agreement and the DCC’s data-sharing terms.
Click the checkbox and type your full legal name in the signature field. For example, Maria Elena Lopez types Maria Elena Lopez and the date auto-populates.
The nuance is that the signature must match the Account Manager name in Field 5 exactly. A mismatch flags the submission for manual review.
The common mistake is having an assistant or consultant sign on behalf of the Account Manager. The consequence is a fraudulent-signature flag and possible referral to the DCC enforcement unit under BPC 26031.
A misconception is that you can edit the User Agreement terms. You cannot. The agreement is a take-it-or-leave-it contract, and refusal blocks the account.
Part 3, Field 10: Initial Tag Order
After the account is active, the first action is ordering tags. Cultivators order plant tags; everyone else orders package tags.
Enter the quantity of tags you need for the first 30 days. For example, Sunrise Cultivation orders 500 plant tags at $0.45 each for a total of $225.
The nuance is that minimum orders apply: 100 plant tags or 100 package tags per order. Orders below the minimum are rejected at checkout.
The common mistake is ordering far more tags than needed in the first month, hoping to save on shipping. The consequence is a cash-flow hit and the risk of unused tags expiring if the license is not renewed.
A misconception is that tags are free. They are not. Every tag is paid for by the licensee, and the cost is non-refundable once the order ships per the Metrc California pricing page.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three full walkthroughs based on the most common onboarding profiles in California: a small outdoor cultivator, a multi-license distributor, and a storefront retailer.
Scenario 1: Sunrise Cultivation, a Type 1A Specialty Indoor Cultivator
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| License Number | CCL19-0001234 |
| Legal Business Name | Sunrise Cultivation Holdings, LLC |
| License Type | Type 1A — Specialty Indoor |
| Premises Address | 1820 Greenhouse Lane, Salinas, CA 93901 |
| Account Manager Name | Maria Elena Lopez |
| Account Manager Email | maria.lopez@sunrisecultivation.com |
| Account Manager Phone | 8315557890 |
| Training Completion Date | 03/14/2026 |
| Initial Tag Order | 500 plant tags, 100 package tags |
| User Agreement Signature | Maria Elena Lopez, 03/15/2026 |
Scenario 2: Reyes Distribution Co., a Type 11 Distributor with Two Facilities
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| License Number | C11-0000456-LIC |
| Legal Business Name | Reyes Distribution Co., Inc. |
| License Type | Type 11 — Distributor |
| Premises Address | 4421 Industrial Way, Stockton, CA 95206 |
| Account Manager Name | Carlos Antonio Reyes |
| Account Manager Email | carlos@reyesdistro.com |
| Account Manager Phone | 2095551234 |
| Training Completion Date | 02/28/2026 |
| Initial Tag Order | 2,000 package tags |
| User Agreement Signature | Carlos Antonio Reyes, 03/01/2026 |
Scenario 3: Bayview Cannabis Co., a Type 10 Storefront Retailer
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| License Number | C10-0000789-LIC |
| Legal Business Name | Bayview Cannabis Co., LLC |
| License Type | Type 10 — Retailer (Storefront) |
| Premises Address | 312 Market Street, Suite 2, San Francisco, CA 94102 |
| Account Manager Name | Janet Marie Chen |
| Account Manager Email | janet@bayviewcannabis.com |
| Account Manager Phone | 4155559876 |
| Training Completion Date | 04/05/2026 |
| Initial Tag Order | 1,000 package tags |
| User Agreement Signature | Janet Marie Chen, 04/06/2026 |
How to File the Completed Registration
Filing the registration is not a single action — it is a sequence of three confirmations across the DCC and Metrc systems. Each channel has its own URL, processing time, and proof-of-filing.
Online via the DCC licensing portal. Log into the DCC portal with the credentials you used during your license application. Confirm the Account Manager designation under the Track-and-Trace tab, then click Request Credentialing Email. There is no fee at this step. Processing is instant — the credentialing email is sent within 15 minutes. Save the screenshot of the confirmation page as proof.
Online via the Metrc credentialing email. Open the email from no-reply@metrc.com, click the activation link, set your password, and accept the Metrc User Agreement. There is no fee here either. The link expires in 72 hours. Once activated, save the welcome email and the account activation timestamp.
Online via the Metrc Learn portal. Log into learn.metrc.com, enroll in the California New Business Training, and complete all modules. Training is included in your account at no additional charge. Plan for three hours. The certificate of completion is your proof; download the PDF and store it with your compliance records.
Tag orders by online portal only. Log into your live Metrc account, click Admin, then Tag Orders. Pay by credit card or ACH per the Metrc California pricing page. Plant tags cost $0.45 each and package tags cost $0.25 each. Tags ship within 3 to 5 business days via tracked mail. Keep the order confirmation and the shipping tracking number.
In-person and mail filing are not available. California’s track-and-trace registration is fully online. The DCC does not accept paper forms, faxes, or in-person submissions for METRC onboarding.
What Happens After You File
Within 24 hours of activating your Metrc account, your facility record appears in the live system, and you can log in to view your dashboard. The dashboard shows zero inventory, zero plants, and zero packages until you begin recording activity.
Within 5 business days of credentialing, cultivators must enter all immature plants and mature plants in inventory; manufacturers, distributors, and retailers must enter all packages on hand under CCR Title 4, Section 15048.1. Failure to back-fill inventory in the 5-day window is a reportable violation.
Within 7 to 10 business days, your first tag order arrives. Apply plant tags within 24 hours of receipt for any plant taller than eight inches. Apply package tags as soon as a package is created.
The DCC may run a compliance check at any time after activation. The agency cross-references your Metrc inventory against your premises diagram, your sales records, and the BCC manifest data. Mismatches over 3% by weight or count trigger a Notice to Comply.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using a personal Gmail for the Account Manager email. Triggers two-factor authentication failures when the manager changes phones, and locks the account.
- Naming a consultant as the Account Manager. Violates BPC 26067 and forces re-registration.
- Dropping leading zeros from the license number. Causes instant rejection and a 3-to-5 business day delay.
- Using a P.O. Box as the premises address. Fails validation against the DCC premises diagram and blocks submission.
- Selecting the wrong license type from the drop-down. Loads the wrong premises template and forces a full restart.
- Skipping the New Business Training. Blocks tag orders and prevents user additions, freezing operations.
- Letting the credentialing email expire after 72 hours. Forces a manual reissue request to DCC support, adding 2 to 3 business days.
- Entering the training start date instead of the completion date. Triggers a manual review and a certificate upload requirement.
- Submitting before the license is in active status. The system rejects any submission tied to a pending or suspended license.
- Forgetting to back-fill existing inventory within 5 business days. Creates a reportable variance and a Notice to Comply.
- Ordering fewer than 100 tags in the first order. Falls below the minimum and rejects at checkout.
- Sharing one Account Manager email across multiple licenses. Causes a duplicate-account error and freezes both accounts.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do use a business-domain email for the Account Manager so account access survives staff turnover.
- Do download the New Business Training certificate as a PDF and store it with your compliance binder.
- Do screenshot every confirmation page during onboarding for your records.
- Do add a backup Manager-level user as soon as the account activates so a single illness does not freeze operations.
- Do order tags at least 7 business days before you expect to need them.
- Do verify the premises address character-by-character against your license certificate.
- Don’t let a consultant or attorney complete the credentialing email link on your behalf.
- Don’t use a P.O. Box, a mailing address, or a corporate headquarters address that differs from the licensed premises.
- Don’t wait until day five to begin the New Business Training — it takes three hours and the system can lag.
- Don’t share Metrc passwords across employees, even within the same facility.
- Don’t order more tags than you can use in 60 days; tags expire if the license lapses.
- Don’t skip the two-factor authentication setup; the DCC requires it under CCR Title 4, Section 15048.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most California licensees can complete METRC registration without paid help, but some situations call for a compliance consultant or attorney. The trade-offs are real either way.
Pros of filing on your own:
- Saves the $1,500 to $3,500 a consultant typically charges for onboarding support.
- Builds in-house expertise so future tag orders, transfers, and audits are handled without outside fees.
- Forces the Account Manager to learn the system, which is required by law anyway.
- Keeps sensitive license and inventory data inside the company.
- Gives the owner direct visibility into compliance from day one.
Cons of filing on your own:
- Mistakes on key fields (license number, license type, premises address) can delay onboarding by a week or more.
- The New Business Training takes three hours of focused time the Account Manager may not have during launch.
- Tag-order math and minimums confuse first-time filers and lead to over-ordering.
- DCC support response times can stretch to 5 business days during peak periods.
- Misconfigured user permissions create audit risks that surface only during inspections.
FAQs
Is METRC registration mandatory for every California cannabis license?
Yes. Every annual license issued by the DCC must register a Metrc account before any commercial activity occurs, under BPC 26067 and CCR Title 4, Section 15048.
Can I register before my license is in active status?
No. The DCC only triggers the credentialing email after the license posts as active. Submitting earlier returns an error and freezes your application queue.
How long does the New Business Training take?
Yes, plan for about three hours of focused time. The training has video modules, knowledge checks, and a final credentialing quiz the Account Manager must pass.
Can I name two Account Managers for backup?
No. California allows exactly one Account Manager per facility. You can add multiple Manager-level users underneath, but only one designated Account Manager.
Do I write my legal business name or my DBA in the Legal Business Name field?
Yes, write the legal business name exactly as it appears on the DCC license certificate. DBAs are entered separately under the trade name field.
Can I use a P.O. Box in the Premises Address field?
No. Metrc requires the physical licensed premises address. P.O. Boxes are rejected automatically and block submission.
Do I include Suite or Unit numbers in the Premises Address?
Yes, include every suite, unit, or floor designation that appears on your license certificate. Dropping them causes a mismatch with the DCC premises diagram.
Can a paid consultant act as my Account Manager?
No. The Account Manager must be an owner or W-2 employee of the licensed business under BPC 26067. Consultants are barred from this role.
What date do I enter for the Training Completion Date?
Yes, enter the date you finished the course in MM/DD/YYYY format. The start date or enrollment date will be rejected by the system.
How much do tags cost?
Yes, plant tags are $0.45 each and package tags are $0.25 each per the Metrc California pricing page. Minimum order is 100 tags.
What happens if the credentialing email expires?
No, the link cannot be reused after 72 hours. You must contact DCC support to reissue, which takes 2 to 3 business days.
Can I update the premises address inside Metrc later?
No. Address changes require a license amendment with the DCC first, then a Metrc support ticket. The Metrc address field is locked to the DCC record.
Do I need to back-fill existing inventory after the account activates?
Yes, all plants and packages on hand must be entered in Metrc within 5 business days of credentialing under CCR Title 4, Section 15048.1.
Can I share one Account Manager email across two licenses I own?
No. Each Metrc account requires a unique email. Sharing one email triggers a duplicate-account error and freezes both accounts.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California DCC Cannabis Delivery License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California DCC Cannabis Distributor License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California DCC Cannabis Testing Laboratory License (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California DCC Cannabis Annual Compliance Report (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Cannabis Distributor License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the METRC Track-and-Trace Enrollment (w/Examples) + FAQs