Admissions and Records

Course Repetition

Fullerton College's course repetition policy governs how many times you may retake a course and earn credit for it. Students who are not eligible for a course will be blocked from registering. Review the rules below, and file a petition if you believe an exception applies to your situation.

Need an exception to the Course Repetition policy?
File a Petition to Repeat a Course with the Admissions & Records Office.

Submit a Petition to Repeat a Course

Grade Rules at a Glance

Passing Grade

A, B, C, CR, or P

Most courses with a passing grade may only be repeated as specified in the College Catalog. Once you reach the maximum allowable repetitions, you will be blocked from registering.

Students who earn a passing grade in a course with an approved C-ID number may not enroll in any other course within the District with the same C-ID number.

Substandard Grade

D, F, NC, NP, or W

You may repeat the same course — or a course with a matching C-ID number — no more than two times at colleges within the District in which a substandard grade was assigned.

Additional repeats require a petition documenting verifiable extenuating circumstances.

Incomplete Grade

I — Cannot Re-enroll

If you receive an Incomplete (I) grade, you cannot re-enroll in the course. You must complete the specified coursework within one year with the instructor who assigned the incomplete.

In Progress Grade

IP — Must Re-enroll

If you receive an In Progress (IP) grade, you must re-enroll in the course the following term.

Lapse of Time Exception

5+ Years Since Completion

If at least five (5) years have passed since you completed a course with a passing grade, you may submit a petition to repeat it. Petitions must be approved before you will be permitted to register. (5 CCR § 55043)

Repeatable Courses

Catalog-Designated Only

Some courses in the College Catalog are designated as repeatable and may be taken for credit more than once. Check the catalog for your specific course to see if it qualifies and how many times it may be repeated. (5 CCR § 55041)

Policy Details

If you previously received a D, F, NC, or NP in a course taken at Fullerton College and then repeat that course, you may file a Course Repeat Adjustment Request to exclude the substandard grade(s) from your GPA calculation. (5 CCR § 55042)

On repetition, the last grade earned will count toward your GPA and the previous grade(s) will be discounted. Only the first two substandard grades within the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) may be excluded from GPA calculations.

Your permanent academic record will be annotated so that all coursework — including repeated and forgiven courses — remains legible, ensuring a complete and accurate academic history.

Important: Courses deemed comparable based on a matching C-ID number may not be used to exclude a substandard grade of another course. Fullerton College also reserves the right to adjust repeated courses without a Course Repeat Adjustment Request Form before processing student-initiated petitions, graduation applications, or GE certification requests.

Certain courses designated as repeatable in the College Catalog may be taken for credit multiple times. You may repeat a repeatable course only up to the maximum number of repetitions specified in the catalog.

Each repetition is recorded on your transcript and credit is granted accordingly. Units earned from repeatable courses may count toward your total unit load for financial aid or degree requirements.

Per current District policy, only three types of courses may be designated as repeatable:

  • Courses required to meet a CSU or UC major requirement for completion of a bachelor's degree
  • Intercollegiate athletics
  • Intercollegiate academic or vocational competition

Enrollment in a repeatable course is limited to a maximum of four enrollments. Additional enrollment limitations apply to active participatory courses in physical education, visual arts, and performing arts — students are limited to four total enrollments within each related content group in those areas. (5 CCR § 55041)

California Regulations

Under Title 5, Section 55040, the general rule is that a District may not permit a student to repeat a credit course in which a satisfactory grade (A, B, C, CR, or P) was previously earned. The following exceptions are permitted by regulation:

  • Courses properly designated by the District as repeatable
  • A subsequent enrollment due to significant lapse of time (§ 55043)
  • Variable unit courses offered on an open-entry/open-exit basis
  • Extenuating circumstances (§ 55045)
  • Occupational work experience courses
  • Students with disabilities repeating a special class
  • Legally mandated courses
  • Courses necessary due to significant changes in industry or licensure standards

These regulations apply across the District — a student may not repeat a course or its equivalent taken at either Fullerton College or Cypress College without meeting one of the above exceptions.

For the finality of grades assigned by instructors, see California Education Code § 76224. Grade changes are handled separately from course repetition.