Admissions and Records
Priority Registration
California Code of Regulations, Title 5, § 58108 • Education Code § 66025.81 (AB2881)
Priority registration gives eligible students an earlier opportunity to register for classes. Review the eligibility categories to find out if you qualify, then submit the appropriate petition or contact the program office that serves you.
Eligibility overview
New & Returning Students
Must complete orientation, assessment, and a student education plan to qualify.
Continuing Students
Enrolled last primary semester, within the 100-unit limit, and in good academic standing.
Support Program Students
Veterans, Foster Youth, DSS, EOPS/CARE, and CalWORKs students may qualify through their program office.
Student Parents
Parents of a child under 18 receiving more than half of their support may qualify under AB2881.
Bachelor's Degree Holders
Not eligible for Levels 1 and 2, but may petition to be placed after those levels.
Special Admit (K-12)
K-12 students concurrently enrolled at Fullerton College are not eligible for priority registration.
When Do I Register for Classes?
Find Your Registration Appointment
Students can view their registration appointment time in myGateway. Log in and follow this path:
Tools → Student Tools → Student Services → Registration Appointment Time
In your Student Profile, select the correct term, then select Registration Notices to view your Time Tickets. You can register once your appointment opens. Follow the published add and drop deadlines for each course. It is your responsibility to officially register for and drop classes through myGateway.
New & Returning Students
Visit the Get Started page to submit your information through CCCStart if you are:
- A new student getting started at Fullerton College for the first time.
- A returning student who has not registered for or attended classes for a full academic year (Fall through Summer).
- A student who previously submitted information but never attended Fullerton College.
The Get Started page explains the steps to enter or return to the college. Review the priority registration requirements below to find out what you need to qualify for an earlier registration appointment.
To qualify for priority registration, new students must complete all three of the following:
- Online Orientation - completed in myGateway
- Assessment - completed via high school transcript at the Fullerton College Assessment Center or through a counselor
- Student Education Plan - completed with a counselor
Once these requirements are met, registration appointments for new students are based on date you submit your information to the college.
A returning student previously attended Fullerton College or Cypress College and received a grade or "W."
To qualify for priority registration, returning students must meet both the Continuing Student requirements and the New Student requirements:
- Complete Online Orientation, Assessment, and a Student Education Plan
- Not have exceeded 100 units (not including basic skills courses)
- Be in good academic standing
A student with a previous bachelor's degree is not eligible for Levels 1 and 2 of priority registration, but may be prioritized by completing the priority registration petition to be placed after Levels 1 and 2.
Continuing Students
For priority registration, a continuing student is enrolled at Fullerton College and receives a grade or "W" for the previous primary semester (Fall or Spring). Continuing students may qualify for priority registration for the upcoming semester.
To qualify for priority registration, continuing students must:
- Not have exceeded 100 units (not including units in basic skills courses)
- Be in good academic standing:
- Not have been academically dismissed
- Not have been on probationary status for three (3) consecutive terms
Once these requirements are met, registration appointments will be based on units/hours earned at both Fullerton and Cypress Colleges. If you attended both institutions, units/hours from both colleges are combined.
You can find your number of earned units/hours by viewing your unofficial transcript in myGateway.
Support Program Students
Students in the following programs may qualify for priority registration through their program office. Priority registration through these programs is not automatic - you must contact the appropriate office.
Veterans & Military
Current or former members of the Armed Forces who received an honorable, general, or other than honorable discharge are granted priority registration for any academic term.
Submit a copy of your military ID (CAC), DD214, NGB 22, or NOBE (DD2384) to the Veterans Resource Center before the registration period begins.
Veterans Resource Center
Student Support Center (SSC), Suite 101
Foster Youth (FYSI)
Current or former foster youth may qualify for priority registration through the Foster Youth Success Initiative. Contact the FYSI office to confirm your eligibility and any program-specific exceptions to general priority registration requirements.
DSS (Disability Support Services)
Students with disabilities may qualify for priority registration by applying to DSS and uploading disability documentation through the DSS student portal.
EOPS / CARE
Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) supports students with educationally and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. CARE provides supplemental support for single parents receiving CalWORKs/TANF cash aid.
CalWORKs
Students receiving CalWORKs/GAIN (welfare or cash aid) for themselves and their children may qualify for priority registration. Contact the CalWORKs office for priority registration approval.
Review the general requirements in the Continuing Students or New & Returning Students sections, then contact your program office to confirm which requirements and program-specific exceptions apply to you.
Priority Registration Petition
Before submitting this petition, make sure you have completed all three of the following:
- Complete Orientation through myGateway. View the Online Orientation instructions.
- Complete Assessment (opens in new tab)
- Complete your Education Plan with a Counselor (opens in new tab)
Please review all eligibility requirements before submitting a petition. This petition requests an exemption from Registration Enrollment Procedures (California Code of Regulations, Title 5, § 58108). Students may appeal the loss of priority enrollment due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control.
Petitions are reviewed by the Director of Admissions and Records and/or a Fullerton College admissions supervisor. A decision will be emailed within 10 working days.
Student Parent Priority Registration
Under AB2881 (SEC. 3. Section 66025.81), "Student Parent" priority registration applies to students who have a child under 18 years of age who will receive more than half of their support from the student.
Information submitted in this affidavit is handled as a confidential student record under FERPA. All affidavits are reviewed by the Director of Admissions and Records and/or a Fullerton College admissions supervisor. A confirmation of processing will be emailed within 1 to 2 working days.
Before submitting this affidavit, make sure you have completed all three of the following:
- Complete Orientation through myGateway. View the Online Orientation instructions.
- Complete Assessment (opens in new tab)
- Complete your Education Plan with a Counselor (opens in new tab)