Maintenance Notice - Today, Sept. 29
Access to CCCApply will be unavailable beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9 a.m. as we transition to our new application system, CCCStart. Access will return by Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. when prospective students will be prompted to use the new system. Learn more

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Admissions & Records • Staff Resource

CCCStart Staff Guide

Help students move from OpenCCC account access and identity verification into the right CCCStart path, then through one of four distinct application journeys with clear, consistent guidance.

Fullerton College Start Page CCCStart Applicant Help (opens in a new tab)
How to use this page

From First Sign-In to Student Support

This staff guide follows the student experience from OpenCCC account access and identity verification into the four CCCStart application journeys. Use it to quickly identify where a student is in the process, see what they should expect next, and find the right guidance or support when something goes wrong.

Start: Account & verification Then: Choose the student's journey As needed: Staff guidance, FAQ & support
On this page Account & Verification
Staff guide
On this page
Before the CCCStart journey

Account Access & Identity Verification

Before students reach the four application journeys below, they create or sign in to the OpenCCC account used to access CCCStart, then encounter the identity-verification step before moving into the CCCStart application questions. Use this sequence to identify exactly where a student is before troubleshooting the application itself.

OpenCCC / CCCStart access

Create or Use an OpenCCC Account

OpenCCC is the account students use to access CCCStart. New applicants create a California Community College account, receive a CCCID, and are then redirected into CCCStart. Students who already have an OpenCCC account should use that existing account rather than create another one.

Open the Fullerton College Start Page View account help (opens in a new tab)
Staff cue: If the student cannot access an existing OpenCCC account, use OpenCCC account recovery/support rather than creating a duplicate account.
Identity verification

Choose a Verification Option

After OpenCCC account access and before the student moves into the CCCStart application questions, the identity-verification step appears. On that screen, the student can choose:

CA DMV Wallet ID.me Verify Later

Fullerton College also offers in-person verification through Admissions & Records in Building 2000. Applicants under 18 at the time they apply are not required to verify their identity.

View Identity Verification Options (opens in a new tab)
CCCStart application

Begin the CCCStart Application

After the verification screen, the student continues into CCCStart. Selecting Verify Later does not prevent the student from completing and submitting the application, but applicants age 18 or older will not be processed until verification is complete.

See the four student journeys

“Verify Later” does not remove the verification requirement.

Applicants 18 and older can submit first, but Fullerton College will hold the application until verification is complete. Once verified, the application can move into Fullerton's processing workflow.

Four distinct CCCStart paths

Which Student Are You Helping?

All four CCCStart journeys use the same four main application areas, but the sections inside those areas change depending on the student's journey. Choose the student's path below to see the screens staff should expect.

Use the journey to orient the student, not to answer for them.

CCCStart determines the student's journey from their answers. Staff can explain what a question means, but the student should answer based on their own circumstances.

Standard credit path

Regular / Credit Journey

The standard credit journey has the broadest set of application sections. Additional military questions can also appear conditionally under Supporting Information.

Watch Full Journey ↓

Personal Information

  • My Journey
  • Biographic Information
  • Contact Information
  • Race & Ethnicity
  • Additional Information

Academic History

  • High School and Adult School Attended
  • High School Information
  • Colleges Attended

Supporting Information

  • Release Statement
  • Military Information Conditional Appears when triggered by the student's military answers.

Program Materials

  • Fullerton College program materials
What staff should notice: This is the broadest standard credit path. Additional Information and High School Information are present. Military Information appears only when triggered by the student's answers.
Conditional military questions: Additional Military Information appears under Supporting Information if the student answers Yes to either being a current or former member of the U.S. military or having a parent, guardian, or spouse in the military.
Regular / Credit full walkthrough Video unavailable. Please refresh the page.
Primary training video

Watch the Complete Regular / Credit Journey

Use the full walkthrough for staff training and for students who need a screen-by-screen view of the standard credit application.

Staff approach

Helping Students Move Through CCCStart

The goal is not to explain every screen.

Keep the conversation focused on the student's next action. Use the journey videos in the Application Journeys section when a student needs more detailed, screen-by-screen help.

Find the starting point

Confirm whether the student needs to begin, resume, or troubleshoot an existing application.

Identify the next action

Guide the student to the next concrete step instead of walking through the entire process at once.

Escalate to the right team

Separate CCCStart technical issues from Fullerton College admissions and enrollment questions.

Your role

Guide, Not System Expert

Staff do not need to memorize every possible CCCStart path. Student answers can change which questions appear, so focus on orientation, reassurance, and the right handoff.

DO

Keep guidance simple

  • Ask what the student is trying to accomplish.
  • Help them identify the screen or journey they are on.
  • Use clear language such as “start,” “continue,” and “next step.”
  • Point to a journey video when a visual walkthrough will help.
  • Send technical issues to CCCStart support and Fullerton-specific questions to A&R.
AVOID

Over-explaining the system

  • Do not ask students to create a second OpenCCC account if they already have one.
  • Do not guess how a student should answer an application question.
  • Do not promise processing results or admission outcomes from a CCCStart screen.
  • Do not send students between offices when a direct support route is available.
  • Do not use screenshots as a substitute for accessible instructions when text will work.
At the counter, phone, chat, or outreach event

Common Student Situations

Short guidance staff can use to move the conversation forward.

“I already have an OpenCCC account.”
Guide them to use the existing account.

If they cannot access it, use OpenCCC account recovery/support rather than creating another account.

“I selected Verify Later.”
They can continue and submit the application.

Applicants age 18 or older must still complete identity verification before Fullerton can process the application. Point them to the Fullerton identity-verification page for CA DMV Wallet, ID.me, or in-person options.

“I don't know how to answer My Journey.”
Explain what the section does. Do not choose answers for the student.

Their answers affect which questions and sections appear later in CCCStart.

“The website isn't working.”
Identify which system the problem belongs to.

OpenCCC sign-in, password, CCCID, or profile issues go to OpenCCC support. CCCStart application-page or navigation issues go to CCCStart support. Fullerton-specific verification, status, processing, and enrollment questions go to Admissions & Records.

“I submitted. What happens now?”
First confirm whether identity verification is still pending.

If they selected Verify Later and are age 18 or older, they must complete verification before the application can be processed. Otherwise, move them to Fullerton College enrollment guidance and A&R for college-specific next steps.

Frequently asked questions

CCCStart FAQ for Fullerton Staff

Is CCCStart the same thing as CCCApply?
No. CCCStart is the new student entry and application platform that is replacing CCCApply over time. During the statewide transition, different colleges may still use different systems. A student's OpenCCC account is the common account used to access the appropriate application system.
Does a student need a new OpenCCC account?
No. Students who already have an OpenCCC account should use that existing account. If they cannot sign in or need to recover account access, direct them to OpenCCC account recovery/support rather than creating another account.
What happens during identity verification?
After creating or signing in to the OpenCCC account and before moving into the CCCStart application questions, students encounter the identity-verification step. On that screen they can verify with the CA DMV Wallet or ID.me, or select “Verify Later.” Fullerton College also offers in-person verification through Admissions & Records. Applicants under 18 are not required to verify. Applicants age 18 or older who choose Verify Later can submit, but the application will not be processed until verification is completed. View Fullerton's identity-verification guidance (opens in a new tab)
Why do different students see different questions?
CCCStart uses the student's answers (especially in My Journey) to determine which application questions and sections are relevant to that student.
How does a student know the application was submitted?
CCCStart displays a confirmation after submission, and students can review the status of their selected programs from within the application.
Can a student change information after submitting?
Some information can be updated after submission, but changes are limited. Use official CCCStart guidance for application edits and contact Fullerton Admissions & Records for Fullerton-specific corrections or next steps.
Who should handle a student problem?
Use OpenCCC support for account access, password, CCCID, or OpenCCC profile issues. Use CCCStart support for CCCStart application-platform questions. Use Fullerton College Admissions & Records for identity verification and Fullerton-specific processing, status, enrollment, and next steps.
Know where to send the student

Support & Escalation

Use the issue, not the screen the student happens to be viewing, to decide where support belongs.

OpenCCC Account Support

Sign-in, password, CCCID, or OpenCCC profile issues

OpenCCC is the account layer used to access CCCStart. Use OpenCCC support when the problem is with account access or account information rather than the CCCStart application itself.

Open the OpenCCC support request (opens in a new tab)
Fullerton College Admissions & Records

Identity verification, application status, Fullerton processing, and enrollment next steps

A&R should handle Fullerton-specific identity-verification questions and issues that depend on Fullerton College records, requirements, or processing.

Contact Admissions & Records View Enrollment Steps
Staff tip: For OpenCCC account issues, the student's CCCID is useful when known. For CCCStart technical issues, ask the student to have their CCCStart/CAS ID available when possible. Never collect or send passwords or identity-verification documents.