This page provides a step-by-step guide for signing in to a new OpenCCC Account.
OpenCCC 2.0 is currently available in the Pilot environment only. Last update: June 9, 2021
Sections:
About the Sign In Process
What is an OpenCCC account and why do students need one?
OpenCCC is the California Community Colleges federated identity initiative, which includes a student account system that assigns each user a unique California Community Colleges ID number (CCCID), and allows access to many systemwide online technology applications via a unique single-sign-on account.
Why do users have to sign in to access CCC applications?
The user sign in process provides security and privacy protection - as well as important student education data tracking - for students across the California Community Colleges system. The student account that delivers single sign-on functionality allows users to maintain one set of sign in credentials for all systemwide technology applications throughout their CCC educational history.
Will users be able to sign in with their legacy account?
Yes! The new account system will include all existing (legacy) account information, including the user’s CCCID and application records. These legacy account holders will have to create a new password and complete the new two-factor identity verification process - as will all new users - plus one additional matching step to ensure the system matches the user to their original CCCID account.
Where do users go to sign in?
The process to sign in to systemwide technology applications has not changed. Students will encounter the Sign In page as they engage with CCC applications such as CCCApply, MyPath, Career Coach, and other secure services.
See more FAQs below: Resolving Common Sign In Issues
Sign In Requirements
Users must have an OpenCCC account in order to access most CCC systemwide applications.
If a user doesn’t have an OpenCCC account, they will have easy access to the Create an Account link from the Sign In page.
Users must enter a unique email address or a unique mobile phone number during the account creation process, and validate that credential using a security code to verify their identity.
At least one of the two credentials used to create the account must be validated in order to sign in and/or recover an account.
If both credentials are validated, either one can be used to sign in and/or recover an account.
All users must create and confirm a password that meets security requirements.
All legacy users must reset their legacy password the first time they attempt to sign in.
For security purposes, two-factor validation is used to verify (authenticate) your identity. A time-sensitive security code is sent to the user to their preferred method of contact. The code must be retrieved and entered within 10 minutes of request to validate the user’s identity. Below is an example of the verification code message received by email.
Steps in the Sign In Process
Step 1: Enter email or mobile number on Sign In page.
Step 2: Enter password to validate, or follow a recovery flow.
User Legend
Green | The most streamlined, issue-free, user flow typically experienced by the majority of users. This flow is also known as the “happy path” based on proven efficiency. |
Yellow | Describes various issues that may arise during the process and offers course corrections on the path to account recovery. |
Red | Describes various errors and other alerts displayed to the user that may indicate the user does not have an account. Guides the user to Create Account process. |
Step 1: Sign In Page
All users start on the Sign In page.
Enter your email address or mobile phone number in the Email or Mobile phone input field.
Click the “Next” button to confirm that your entry is unique.
Your Sign In Credential Must Be Unique: Your email address or mobile phone number - whichever you prefer to validate - must be unique to your account. See User Requirements for other tips.
Next: Follow the appropriate next step below.
After entering your email address or mobile phone number, what happens next depends on the result of that first matching process.
Your Sign In Credential is Unique: The email address or mobile number entered is a validated unique match in the system. The user is prompted to the Password page.
Your Sign In Credential is NOT Unique: If the system finds more than one match to the email or mobile number in the system. The user is prompted to enter their legacy Username.
Your Sign In Credential is NOT Validated: If the system identifies that the email or mobile number has not been validated, the user is provided a validation code to verify their identity.
Your Sign In Credential or Password is Not Found. If the system doesn’t recognize your sign in credential(s) or your password, the user will be prompted to recover their account, reset their password, or create a new account (for new users only).
Step 2: Validation Process
If Your Email Address or Mobile Number IS Unique
If the email address or mobile phone number used matches a verified, unique account in the system, the Password page is displayed and the user is prompted to enter their secure password. From a user experience, this is known as the “happy path” and will apply to the majority of users after creating their account to the new system.
Steps:
After entering your unique, validated email or mobile number on the Sign In page:
Click “Next” to display the Password page.
Enter your secure password in the Password input field.
Click “Sign In” to continue to your destination application.
If Your Email or Mobile Number is NOT Unique (Duplicate is Found)
While sign in credentials (attributes) must be unique to an individual, it is possible that an attribute (email or phone) was being shared with a family member in the legacy system. When this happens, the individual who signs in and validates the attribute first will take ownership of that attribute and it will be unique to their account. Any subsequent attempts to use that attribute by another user will trigger the duplicate account process described below.
How will the user know if their sign in credential is not unique (duplicate)?
If the email address or mobile phone number used is not a unique match to an account found in the system, another user has already validated that specific attribute in the new system. The system will display the Username page.
Steps:
After entering your email or mobile number on the Sign In page:
If the system detects that the email or mobile number provided is a duplicate in the system, the Username page is displayed.
Enter your legacy Username in the input field. Click “Next” to display the Password page.
Enter your secure password in the Password input field. Click “Sign In” to validate.
At this point, the system is queried using the email or mobile number, username, and password to try to identify the user.
If the system cannot find a match, the user has some options:
Retry the process by re-entering the email or mobile number, or try another email or mobile number. The system will query again for status.
Click the Recover Account link on the Sign In page.
Click the Forgot your password? link on the Password page.
Contact Support through the Helpdesk.
If the system finds a match to the account, the user is prompted to validate their email or mobile number.
The Validation Code page is displayed and a security code is sent to the user via the email or mobile number they entered.
2. Obtain the six-digit security code from your email Inbox or mobile phone device.
3. Enter the security code on the Validation Code page in the input field.
4. Click “Next” to validate the account.
Once a user successfully validates their account, the system will advise the user that this method should be used for future sign in.
5. The Update Password page is displayed. The user must reset their password with a new string of characters that meet the security requirements displayed.
6. Click “Submit” to save password.
7. The user is auto-directed and auto-logged in to their original destination application.
If Your Email or Mobile Number Has Not Been Validated
If the system detects that the email address or mobile phone number used to sign in has not been validated, the user is taken to the Password page and prompted to enter their password. If the password is identified, the user will be authenticated but required to validate the attribute they used to sign in.
How will the user know if their sign in credential has not been validated?
If the email address or mobile phone number entered is not unique, an error message displays like the one shown below.
Steps:
After entering an email or mobile number on the Sign In page:
Click “Next” to display the Password page.
Enter your secure password in the Password input field.
Take a moment to save your password.
Click the “Sign In” button to continue.
Forgot Your Password? If you forgot your password, or if the system can’t find your password, click the Forgot your password? link to validate a new one.
The user has been authenticated but must validate their sign in attribute before being directed to their destination application.
4. The Validation Code page is displayed with the following message: “We were able to locate your account. Enter the verification code sent to [partially masked email]. If you didn’t get the [email], check your junk folder or resend or try again.”
5. The system sends the user an email with a time-sensitive security (validation) code.
6. Enter the six-digit security code in the input field on the Validation Code page.
7. Click “Next” to continue.
The user is taken to the Edit Profile page to confirm that the attribute has been validated and verified. The user can then accept the attribute as the Preferred Method of Contact, or choose to verify a valid mobile phone number as the preferred method.
If Your Email or Mobile Number is Not Found
Why would the system not recognize my email or mobile phone?
The email address or mobile number entered was not the one used when you created your account (attribute is not in the system)
The email address or mobile number has a typo or was not entered correctly
The password does not match the email address or mobile number in the system
You don’t have an account
Options:
If a user attempts to sign in with an email address or mobile phone number that is not recognized in the system, the user has several options:
Click on Create Account to create your first account (which will assign your unique CCCID).
Retry to enter a unique email address or mobile phone number that was validated when you created your account.
Click on the Recover Account link on the Sign In page to find your account and validate your credentials.
Click on the Forgot your password? link to reset your secure password and confirm that one of your sign in attributes (email or mobile number) is validated.
Steps:
On the Sign In page:
Enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Click “Next” to continue to the Password page.
Enter your password in the Password input field.
Click “Sign In” to continue.
If the system cannot match your email address, mobile number, or password to an existing account, the error message below displays prompting you to try again or contact the Helpdesk for support.
Next Steps:
Try entering your email or mobile number again to make sure you entered it correctly.
Try again using an alternate email, or switch to using your mobile number instead. Or visa versa.
Do you have an account? If you've submitted an application for admission to a California Community College in the past 5 - 7 years, you created an account during the CCCApply application process. To ensure you don’t create a duplicate account, click the Recover Account link on the Sign In page to quickly verify your contact information.
Next Steps:
If you do have an account:
Click the Recover Account link on the Sign In page.
Click the Forgot your password? link on the Password page.
If you do not have an account:
Click the Create Account link on the Sign In page.
User Flow: Sign In Process
The user flow diagram shown below highlights the sign in “happy path” used most frequently by the majority of users.
Resolving Common Sign In Issues
Issue: The user doesn’t have an account.
Resolution: Click on the Create Account link on the Sign In page to establish an OpenCCC account.
Issue: The system doesn’t find a match to the Email address or Mobile Phone number entered.
Resolution: Confirm that the correct email address is being used and spelled correctly and try again. Or, click on the Recover Account link to verify your identity.
Issue: The Email address is not unique to the user.
Resolution: Click the Recover Account link to verify your identity and regain access to your account. Enter a unique email address on the Contact Information screen of the Edit Profile system and complete the validation process.
Issue: The attribute being used to sign in has not been validated yet.
Resolution: One of your two attributes is not validated during account creation. Therefore, return to the Sign In page and enter either your email address or mobile phone number, whichever was not initially rejected.
Issue: The user is trying to sign in with a landline phone number.
Resolution: The sign in process requires an attribute (email or mobile phone) that can be validated to confirm your identity. A unique email address or mobile phone number is required. Sign in with your unique email address to access the Edit Profile service. Edit the Primary Phone number entered with a mobile phone number then complete the validation process. Once validated, you’ll be able to sign in using your mobile phone or your email address in the future.
Issue: The user needs a new password.
Resolution: If you are no longer able to recover your account following the Recover Account link on the Sign In page, contact a Support Representative for assistance.
Issue: The user needs to update or remove their contact information.
Resolution: To remove optional personal information from your OpenCCC account, sign in and click Edit OpenCC from the Settings link in the header menu.
Issue: The user needs to update or remove their personal information.
Resolution: To remove optional personal information from your OpenCCC account, sign in and click Edit OpenCC from the Settings link in the header menu.
Issue: The user wants their account deleted from the OpenCCC system.
To remove your account, please contact a Support Representative for assistance.
Have a different issue? If you’re encountering an issue that isn’t listed here, please contact a Support Representative for assistance.
