Waitlist Information

The Coast District utilizes waitlists for closed (full) classes. Students can add themselves on a waitlist until 24 hours prior to the start of the class. Once the class starts, waitlists are turned off and students must request an add permit from the instructor in order to add a class.

How Waitlists Work:

If a class is closed, you may register yourself on the waitlist anytime on or after your registration appointment time.
If a seat becomes available in that course, the next student on the waitlist will be notified via their student (@student.cccd.edu) email. Students with valid cell phone numbers will also receive a text notification. If you are on a waitlist be sure to check your student (@student.cccd.edu) email for a notification at least twice a day (morning and evening).
Students will then have 24 hours from the time the notification is sent, to register and pay for the class or they will be dropped from the waitlist and the next student on the waitlist will be notified.
For lecture/lab classes, the student will only be able to enroll on the wait list for the lab section. If a seat opens in the lab, the student must register for the lab and lecture at the same time.

Waitlist notifications are sent out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays. If you miss you waitlist window and are dropped from the waitlist you may add yourself back onto the waitlist. You will be added to the bottom of the waitlist when you re-add your name to the list.

Note: If the class you want to take at OCC is full, especially mathematics, check offerings at one of the District’s other colleges - Golden West and Coastline.

The following rules apply for students who wish to enroll on a wait list:

A student may only enroll in one waitlist class section per course title (ex. only one section of ENGL A100 class). A student will not be permitted to enroll on a wait list if they are enrolled in another section of the same course.
A student will be permitted to enroll on a waitlist only if they meet the required prerequisite(s) for the class.
The waitlist will be turned off 24 hours prior to the start of the class start date and no new students will be permitted to register on the waitlist.
The drop for non-payment policy applies to all registration, including waitlisted classes. If you are dropped for non-payment, waitlist classes will be dropped along with enrolled classes.
If you add a class after receiving a waitlist notification, be sure to pay any fees immediately to avoid being dropped for non-payment. View our Non-Payment Drop Policy

School of Allied Health Professions programs have a separate acceptance process. Classes in these programs cannot be waitlisted. View the Consumer and Health Science web page for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I see the number of students on the waitlist?
How do I get on a waitlist for a closed class?
1. Make a note of the CRN # (section number) for the closed class.
2. Once your scheduled registration appointment opens, log in to MyCoast, click on the Registration tab, then click on "Add or Drop Classes".
3. Go through the same process you normally would to register for the class, however instead of selecting Web Registered, select the "Waitlisted" option from the drop down then click "Submit".
How do I know what position I am on the waitlist?
How will I know when a seat becomes available? When are waitlist notifications sent out?

If you are in the first position on the waitlist and a seat becomes available, an email will be sent to your student (cccd.edu) email. You will have 24 hours to register for the course, otherwise your waitlisted seat will be released to the next person on the waitlist and you will be dropped from the waitlist. The email you receive will include detailed information about the waitlisted course and instructions as to how you should go about registering.

Make sure to check your student email account every morning and every evening 7 days a week so that you don’t miss the opportunity to add the class! When a spot becomes available, you will NOT be automatically registered in the class—you must take action if you wish to register in the class. Waitlist notifications are sent out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays.
How do I add myself to a class once I receive a waitlist notification?
During your 24-hour waitlist window, do the following:
1. Log into your MyCoast portal.
2. Once logged in, look for the "Registration Tools" card.
3. Click on "Quick Add or Drop Classes".
4. If you see the Registration home page, click on "Register for Classes".
5. If you see the "Select a Term" page, select the term from the "Terms Open for Registration" drop down menu and click "Continue".
6. You should now see the registration screen with a Summary box at the bottom right hand corner that displays the status for all of your classes. If you don't see the Summary box, click on the "Panels" button on the bottom left corner of the screen.
7. Under the Summary box, look for the class that you are waitlisted for. Under the "Action" column for that class, select the "Web Registered" option.
8. Click the "Submit" button.
9. Important: Verify your registration was processed completely by printing your Class Schedule (Web Schedule Bill). You can access the Class Schedule via MyCoast: Registration Tools card > My Class Schedule (Web Schedule Bill).
How do I add myself to a class with co-requisites?
How do I drop myself from the waitlist?
What if I don't get a waitlist notice before the class starts or if I'm unable to add myself to the waitlist?

If you're unable to add yourself on the waitlist or if you're on the waitlist and you do not get a seat in the class before classes start, attend the first class meeting (get there early) to see if the instructor will give you an Add Permit. For online courses, email the instructor to request instructions on how to attend the first class meeting and get an Add Permit with Add Code. Add permits have deadlines – be sure to register for class immediately. Not all instructors may provide you with an add permit due to class capacity.
How do I register if I was on the waitlist and the instructor gave me an add permit?
Follow the steps listed on your Add Permit. The instructions will be similar to the steps listed above in Question 5. If you do not see a "Web Registered" option for the class, drop the course (see Question 7 above), then re-add the course. Make sure you have an add code prior to dropping the class; you cannot be re-added without one.

To re-add the course:
1. Log into your MyCoast portal page.
2. Once logged in, look for the "Registration Tools" card.
3. Click on "Quick Add or Drop Classes".
4. If you see the Registration home page, click on "Register for Classes".
5. If you see the "Select a Term" page, select the term from the "Terms Open for Registration" drop down menu and click "Continue".
6. Click the "Enter CRNs" tab and in the text box, type in the CRN. Click Add to Summary.
7. In the Add Authorization Code pop-up, enter the add code in the box then click Confirm. (NOTE: Add codes are not active and will not work until the first day the class meets.)
8. Click the "Submit" button.
9. Important: Verify your registration was processed completely by printing your Class Schedule (Web Schedule Bill). You can access the Class Schedule via MyCoast: Registration Tools card > My Class Schedule (Web Schedule Bill).
10. Verify with your instructor that you are on the updated official class roster.
If after following these steps, you continue to experience registration issues, please email arinfo@occ.cccd.edu as soon as possible (prior to the add code expiration date) from your student (cccd.edu) email address with the following so we can assist you:
- Student ID number
- Course name and CRN (Example: PUBH A100 - CRN 12212)
- Add code/add permit (provided by instructor)
- Please include a screenshot of the error message when possible

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Frequently Asked Questions