# Sign Up Process

**URL:** <https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/sign-up-process/13524>\
**Category:** Getting Started with Alpaca\
**Created:** [January 23, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/sign-up-process/13524 "2024-01-23T15:43:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![andrew\_sal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.alpaca.markets/andrew_sal/32/5795_2.png) [@andrew\_sal](https://forum.alpaca.markets/u/andrew_sal)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.alpaca.markets/t/sign-up-process/13524/1 "2024-01-23T15:43:56Z")

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Hi everyone,  
I wanted to use the free api to create a trade bot using the paper account but I noticed that during the registration, there seems to be an approval process. Does this approval require a credit check? Secondly do I need to be on a waiting list in order to receive access to the api?