> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.pcibooking.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create an Account

> Set up sandbox and production accounts with PCI Booking. Learn what is included, how onboarding works, and how to start integrating.

## How to Get Started

PCI Booking does not offer self-service registration. To get an account, [talk to our PCI experts](https://pcibooking.net/talk-to-pci-experts/) who will set you up.

**Why?** PCI Booking is a feature-rich platform with many interchangeable capabilities. Our team helps guide you to the best integration flow for your specific needs so you don't get lost in the weeds.

## Onboarding Process

During onboarding, a PCI Booking solutions engineer will:

1. **Understand your use case** and recommend the right integration approach (hosted forms, Card By Link, API-level tokenization, or a combination).
2. **Create your sandbox account** so you can start building and testing immediately.
3. **Provide technical guidance** for your development team, including sample code and architecture review.
4. **Create your production account** once your integration is tested and validated.

## Sandbox vs. Production

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Sandbox">
    * Uses test card numbers only (no real charges)
    * Full API access with all features enabled
    * Ideal for development, integration testing, and demos
    * No transaction volume limits during testing
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Production">
    * Processes real card data with live PSP connections
    * Requires completed integration validation
    * Same API endpoints, different API key
    * Full SLA and support coverage
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Both environments use the same base URL (`service.pcibooking.net`) and differ only by API key. See [Testing & Going Live](/getting-started/testing-and-going-live) for details on moving from sandbox to production.

## What You Get

* **API keys** for your sandbox and live accounts
* **Portal access** to configure stored settings (gateway credentials, stylesheets, security settings, and more)
* Access to [developer documentation](https://developers.pcibooking.net) and [API reference](/api-reference/general/authenticate)
* **Dedicated support** from PCI Booking's integration team during onboarding and beyond

## After Account Creation

Once you have your sandbox credentials:

1. **Authenticate** by setting up your API key. See [Authentication](/getting-started/authentication).
2. **Follow the Quickstart** to tokenize your first card and make a test payment. See [Quickstart](/start-here/quickstart).
3. **Configure your portal** with gateway credentials, card form styles, and security settings.
4. **Test your integration** end-to-end in sandbox before requesting production access.

## Next Steps

* [Authentication](/getting-started/authentication) - Set up your API keys and learn about authentication methods
* [Quickstart](/start-here/quickstart) - Start your first integration
* [How PCI Booking Works](/concepts/how-pci-booking-works) - Understand the architecture and how card data flows