> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://controlplanecorporation-jakob-ess-2-0-0.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a Service Account

> Create a service account within your org and generate API keys for programmatic access to Control Plane resources.

## Overview

Follow the steps below to create a [service account](/reference/serviceaccount) within your [org](/reference/org).

## Prerequisites

* Review the [service account](/reference/serviceaccount) reference page.
* Have [permissions](/reference/policy#permissions) to create a [service account](/reference/serviceaccount).
* Optional: Install the [CLI](/cli-reference/installation).

## Create using the Console

1. Create a new service account using one of the following methods:
   * Click `Service Accounts`, then click `New`, or
   * Click the `Create` dropdown in the upper right corner and select `Service Account`.
2. Enter a unique name and an optional description.
3. Optional: Select a group for the service account to inherit the group's permissions.
4. Optionally, click `Tags` and enter any [tags](/core/misc#tags).
5. Click `Create`.
6. Click `Keys` to generate a new token.
7. Enter an optional key description and click `Add`. Copy or download the generated key. Click `Done`.

## Create using the CLI

Refer to the [serviceaccount create](/cli-reference/commands/serviceaccount#serviceaccount-create) and [serviceaccount add-key](/cli-reference/commands/serviceaccount#serviceaccount-add-key) commands for details and examples.

## Next Steps

After creating a service account with a key, it can be referenced in a [policy](/reference/policy) to grant permissions to any Control Plane resource.

After permissions are granted, use [browser-less CLI login](/guides/browser-less-cli-login) to authenticate and run CLI commands.