FAQ: CCC Student ID Verification
The following Frequently Asked Questions pertain to the ID.me Identity Verification integration completed February 24, 2024 and the DMV Wallet Identity Verification Integration completed in the fall of 2025.
On this page:
General - Colleges
Q. Why is the California Community Colleges (CCC) system using an Identification (ID) Proofing (or Verification) solution?
A. To reduce application and enrollment fraud across the system caused by bad actors.
Q. When was the ID Verification feature be added to the CCCApply process?
A. Integration of ID.me ID verification went live in production on February 2, 2024. The integration of DMV Wallet with Mobile Driver’s License (mDL) pilot will be released in Fall 2025.
Q. How has the vendor for ID Proofing been chosen?
A. ID.me was selected through a Request For Information (or RFI) - managed by the CCC Chancellor’s Office and program and technical security staff from multiple CCC college districts. DMV Wallet was selected for pilot due to its ease of use and because it is a no cost solution for identity verification. DMV Wallet also provides an identity verification option for students 18 years or older who cannot use ID.me for verification.
Q. How will ID Verification work in the admissions application process?
A. New students will be encouraged to verify their identity following the OpenCCC account creation process before submitting a new application. Existing students will encounter the verification page the next time they login to CCCApply or edit their OpenCCC account profile.
Q. How does this implementation benefit colleges?
A. The integration of ID verification software reduces the manual workload for colleges in identifying potential fraud, allowing staff to focus on legitimate applicants, especially for vulnerable students who cannot use ID verification.
Q. How can I download the DMV Wallet app?
The DMV website offers step by step instructions and FAQs about downloading, setting up and using the DMV Wallet app with your CA Driver’s License.
IT Departments
Q. How does the verification integration align with our existing systems?
A. The identity proofing system integrates seamlessly with CCCApply, ensuring minimal disruption and providing a smooth user experience. Three new data fields have been created to capture the student’s opt-in time, a confirmation time, and the student’s verification status. This data will be passed to the college with the submitted application data via SuperGlue. Learn more about the new fields here in the Identification Verification Status Change Report.
Q. What cybersecurity measures are in place to protect student data during verification?
A. ID.me and DMV Wallet adheres to strict cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive student data. Further details about their security protocols, colleges are encouraged to join the CCCApply Private Fraud Support Group - a secure online group within the CCCTechnology.info support site. To join the private group, please contact SSS Director, Jane Linder, jlinder@ccctechcenter.org or send a request using your institutional email address to CCCTC Staff Support at staffsupportccctc@openccc.zendesk.com.
Q. Are there regularly scheduled downtimes for routine maintenance?
A. For ID.me , routine maintenance windows are typically scheduled 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Eastern on Saturdays but are not always taken. When they are used, it is rarely for the full hour; nevertheless, that is the reserved designated time slot. All updates on maintenance and status can be found on ID.me Status. A good practice is to subscribe with your email address or an RSS feed to stay up to date.
DMV Wallet does not have any scheduled maintenance windows.
Faculty and Staff
Q. What happens if a student already has an ID.me or DMV Wallet account?
A. More than 8 million Californians already have a verified ID.me account, more than 2.7 million Californians have a DMV Wallet Mobile Driver’s License account. If a student has already verified their identity with ID.me or DMV Wallet, they will be directed to login to their ID.me or DMV Wallet account as part of the verification workflow. Instead of creating an account - as first time students will do - existing account holders will login to their account and then will be immediately routed back to continue the CCCApply application process. The process takes a few seconds to a couple of minutes.
Q. What considerations have been made for specific student groups, like minors or international students?
A. The verification opt-in page will not display to minors and they are not required to complete the verification process. Colleges will be able to manually verify other student groups via the OpenCCC Account Creation Tool. Further communication and training materials will address these to ensure inclusivity and fairness.
Q. What is the routine maintenance process for ID.me and DMV Wallet?
A. For maintenance windows, users will be presented a Maintenance Screen. They will not be presented an option to login or create an account. Users are not automatically redirected.
Routine maintenance windows for ID.me are typically scheduled 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 AM Eastern on Saturdays but are not always taken. When they are taken, it is rarely for the full hour but that is the reserved designated timeslot. All updates on maintenance and status can be found on ID.me Status. It is recommended users subscribe via email address or an RSS feed to stay up to date.
The California DMV has not specified any routine maintenance windows for DMV Wallet.
Students
Q. How long will the ID Verification process via typically take?
A. Most students find that the ID Verification process with ID.me or DMV Wallet is quick, often taking just a few minutes. The duration largely depends on the chosen method of verification and the readiness of the required documentation.
Q. Does the information I provide to ID.me or DMV Wallet when verifying my identity have to match the information in my California Community College (CCC) student account?
A. Yes, you must use the same First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name, as well as the same Date of Birth and Address on your CCC student account. If you use a different Name, Date of Birth, or Address in ID.me/DMV Wallet, your OpenCCC Account will be updated to match the account information in ID.me/DMV Wallet.
Q. How long does my verification last?
A. Once verified through ID.me or DMV Wallet, California Community College (CCC) students have an identity verification status of “verified” for one year from the date of their verification confirmation or until they change any of the following information in their OpenCCC Account profile:
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Date of Birth
Address
Q. Why should students consider using the ID.me or DMV Wallet Verification Solution?
A. The Verification Solutions offer multiple benefits to students. Primarily, they ensures a higher level of security and authenticity in the application process, reducing the risk of identity theft or fraud. Moreover, with a verified identity, the application process may become smoother, and colleges can process your application faster and more efficiently.
Q. If I encounter issues during the ID Verification process, what support can I expect?
A. ID.me is committed to assisting students throughout the verification process. If you face any challenges with the verification process, ID.me provides a 24/7 helpdesk service. This ensures that all applicants, even those who encounter difficulties with the self-service option, receive the guidance they need promptly.
DMV Wallet has a chatbot for support, but does not have live support online or over the phone. In person support is offered at some DMV locations. If you have trouble verifying your identity with DMV Wallet, verify with ID.me instead.
Q. When a student creates or logs into their verification account and begins to verify their identity but the system times out before completing the transaction, does the app display a timeout message/page?
A. For ID.me , yes. The timeout is 15 minutes from the latest point of activity, and a notification will be presented on screen. Users will be directed to the ID.me login page to initiate the session. Once they login back in, they will pick back up at the last step they were previously on and will not be required to redo any previously completed steps.
For DMV Wallet, there is no set timeout period, but the application may require you to log back in after a set amount of time. That time period is controlled by settings on your mobile device and settings within the app.
Q. When a student encounters an error while in the verification application, what messages are displayed, and what actions are taken?
A. For ID.me users, any unsuccessful attempt will automatically present an option to re-attempt the last step or present the opportunity to enter a video chat with a Trusted Referee. Users will not be routed back to CCC to initiate the ID.me sign-in page. Usually, the session within ID.me is reinitiated by returning to the ID.me login screen. If students were in the process of creating an account versus already logged into an existing account, they would return to the account creation screen.
For DMV Wallet users, visit mDL Q&A - California DMV to see what steps to take after an error message is displayed.
Q. Will my information be used by the government?
A. No, identity verification is only for educational purposes only.
Q. What is Biometric Information?
A. Biometric Information is a form of data related to biometric characteristics which may be used to identify you. Biometric Information includes things like fingerprints, voiceprints, scans of a hand, facial geometry recognition, and iris or retina recognition.
Q. How will my Biometric Information be used?
A. Biometric Information is only used to complete the transaction it was collected for, which may include identify verification and fraud prevention and analysis.
Q. I got a new phone, what do I do to avoid sign-in issues?
A. For ID.me users, if you got a new phone number and don’t have access to the phone you used to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA), you must update your settings. This also applies if you lost your phone or changed phone providers. To update the phone number you use for your ID.me account, you’ll need to sign in to your ID.me account, confirm your email address, enter your information, then set up a new MFA method.
For DMV Wallet users, you will need to install the CA DMV Wallet app and re-enroll in the mDL program. For more details, see mDL Q&A - California DMV.
Q. What are the Device Requirements to verify your identity?
A. ID.me allows you to use a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or a computer. Your device must have the following:
Access to the internet, with an updated browser
A working webcam or a selfie camera
DMV Wallet users must use a smartphone. For more information on device requirements, see How to Enroll in the mDL Pilot.
Q. What tips and/or best practices do you have with photos?
A. Use the following tips to capture a clear photo of your document:
Take a photo of the document head-on, avoiding angles.
Adjust the orientation to match the document's layout. For example, use landscape for wide documents.
Make sure the document fills the frame, with all four corners visible, and avoid any cutoffs.
Disable the camera flash to minimize glare.
Position the document on a dark table or surface for a contrasting background.
Remove any other objects from the photo.
Q. Can I speak to a Video Chat Agent in languages other than English?
A. For ID.me users, you can verify in over 240 languages over a video call. If your primary language is one other than English, tell the Video Chat Agent the language you want to speak during your verification.
DMV Wallet does not offer video chat support.
Q. What MFA options are available without a smartphone?
A. For ID.me users, choose Passkey MFA from your computer to set up your computer as the method to sign in. If you don’t have a smartphone or computer, use the phone call option to receive a call to your landline phone.
DMV Wallet users are required to use a smartphone to use the mDL app.
Q. Is my Social Security Number (SSN) required to verify my identity using ID.me or DMV Wallet?
A. Yes, a SSN is required for identity verification. If you choose not to provide your SSN (Social Security Number) for IAL2 verification, contact your home college to ask for manual verification.
Q. What are the alternatives if I choose not to provide my SSN (Social Security Number)?
A. If you choose not to provide your SSN (Social Security Number) for IAL2 verification, we have established two viable alternatives:
ITIN Holders: Users with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) can use it as a substitute during Supervised Remote proofing.
International Users: When prompted to enter your Social Security number, select I don’t have a Social Security Number. After selecting the button, enter and upload your passport information. Similar to ITIN holders, you must complete the Supervised verification process.
Incarcerated Students
Q. I am an incarcerated student interested in applying to a California Community College. How does the new ID verification process affect me?
A. We recognize the challenges incarcerated students face in providing standard ID documentation. The Chancellor's Office is working closely with ID.me and the California DMV to develop alternative verification methods that consider the unique circumstances of incarcerated students while still maintaining security.
Undocumented Students
Q. I am an undocumented student. Will I be required to provide identification documents that could reveal my immigration status?
A. Protecting student privacy is our top priority. The ID verification process does not require documentation that would disclose immigration status. For ID.me, acceptable forms of ID include a Mexican Matrícula Consular card, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or a verified ID.me account linked to an ITIN.
For DMV Wallet, any resident of California who has a valid, unexpired driver’s license, including an AB60 driver’s license, can use it to create their mDL on the DMV Wallet app.
AB 60 driver’s licenses are for individuals who are unable to provide proof of legal presence in the United States but who meet California DMV requirements and are able to provide proof of identity and California residency. Learn how to get an AB60 license here: AB 60 Driver’s License.
Q. What measures are in place to ensure my data is secure if I go through the ID verification process as an undocumented student?
A. Extensive cybersecurity protocols protect all student data, including immigration status. ID.me is committed to safeguarding sensitive student information and will not share documentation provided for ID verification with any external entity. You can verify your identity while feeling confident your privacy is protected.
Q&A - ID Verification User Flows
See ID.me Identity Verification Integration and DMV Wallet Identity Verification Integration for user flows.
Q&A - ID Verification Support
Students should contact the CCC Helpdesk for assistance.
Phone: (877) 247-4836 or TTY: (877) 836-9332
Email: support@openccc.net
Colleges should contact CCCTC Staff Support for assistance:
Email: staffsupportccctc@openccc.zendesk.com
Online Forum: CCCTechnology.info