How to Sign In to Your OpenCCC Account

This page provides a step-by-step guide for signing in to a new OpenCCC Account.

Last update: March 29, 2022

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.

Student Account System & The CCCID

When a new OpenCCC account is created, the system generates a unique student identifier for the user called the CCCID (California Community Colleges ID) and stores the user's validated credentials and personal information data in an Identity Center. The CCCID is the master link between the Identity Center, CCC admission applications, and other systemwide technology services. 

CCCID & Student Data Passed to Colleges

When a user is authenticated to use a systemwide service or application such as CCCApply or MyPath, the CCCID is passed to that service to identify the unique individual. In this way, services and applications can maintain personal accounts for the user anonymously, thus ensuring the privacy and security of the user’s data.

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 does not have an OpenCCC account, they have easy access to the Create an Account link from the Sign In page.

  • Users must enter a unique email address during the account creation process, and validate the 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

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.

Describes various issues that may arise during the process and offers course corrections on the path to account recovery.

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.

  1. Enter your email address or mobile phone number in the Email or Mobile phone input field.

  2. Click the “Next” button to confirm that your entry is unique.

 

 

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.

 

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:

  1. Click “Next” to display the Password page.

  2. Enter your secure password in the Password input field.

  3. Click “Sign In” to continue to your destination application.

The Password page prompts the user to enter their secure password or engage the Forgot your Password process.

 

 

If Your Email or Mobile Number is NOT Unique (Duplicate is Found)


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:

  1. If the system detects that the email or mobile number provided is a duplicate in the system, the Username page is displayed.

  2. Enter your legacy Username in the input field. Click “Next” to display the Password page.

  3. 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.

 

 

  • 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.

 

  1. 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. 

 

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:

  1. Click “Next” to display the Password page.

  2. Enter your secure password in the Password input field.

  3. Take a moment to save your password.

  4. Click the “Sign In” button to continue.

 

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:

  1. Enter your email address or mobile phone number.

  2. Click “Next” to continue to the Password page.

  3. Enter your password in the Password input field.

  4. Click “Sign In” to continue.

Next Steps:

  1. Try entering your email or mobile number again to make sure you entered it correctly.

  2. Try again using an alternate email, or switch to using your mobile number instead. Or visa versa.

  3.  

 

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.

 

Issue: The system doesn’t find a match to the Email address or Mobile Phone number entered.

 

Issue: The Email address is not unique to the user.

 

Issue: The attribute being used to sign in has not been validated yet.

 

Issue: The user is trying to sign in with a landline phone number.

 

Issue: The user needs a new password.

 

Issue: The user needs to update or remove their contact information.

 

Issue: The user needs to update or remove their personal information.

 

Issue: The user wants their account deleted from the OpenCCC system.