Required Identity Verification for California Community Colleges Enrollment

Required identity verification is a step in the California Community Colleges enrollment process that confirms the information provided belongs to the real student submitting it.

Beginning August 11, 2026 students must complete identity verification before their information can be sent to the college they selected.

Yes. ID.me is updating parts of its identity verification experience to make the process faster, clearer, and easier for students to complete. Students may see a simplified document upload process, real-time feedback when submitting an ID image, and clearer consent language during the video selfie step.

These updates are designed to improve the student experience and reduce abandonment during verification. For the most current instructions, students should use ID.me’s official help resources.

Identity verification helps protect authentic students, reduce submission and financial aid fraud, and strengthen the security of admissions and enrollment processes.

It also helps colleges provide admissions, enrollment, student services, and financial aid support to legitimate students while protecting public resources and preserving equitable access to education.

Yes. Identity verification is becoming a required step for students getting started with the California Community Colleges.

However, students may complete verification through different approved pathways depending on their age, circumstances, where they are getting started, and available documentation.

Your information cannot be sent to your college until your identity has been verified through an approved verification pathway or you have been cleared through an approved local college verification process.

No. Identity verification confirms identity only.

The California Community Colleges do not collect or store citizenship or immigration status through the identity verification process.

Information required for international student admission will continue to be handled through the appropriate international student process.

Students may complete identity verification through one of several approved pathways:

• Online identity verification using DMV Mobile Wallet or ID.me
• Trusted organization data sharing or pathway-based validation for special cases
• Local college verification when online verification is not available or cannot be completed successfully

Online identity verification is a student-facing digital process that allows students to verify their identity through an approved verification provider.

Current online options include DMV Mobile Wallet and ID.me.

DMV Mobile Wallet allows eligible students to verify their identity using a California Mobile Driver’s License or mobile identification card.

ID.me is an approved online identity verification option available to students who cannot use DMV Mobile Wallet or who are directed to use ID.me as part of their verification pathway.

No. Most students will complete identity verification using one approved method.

If you are unable to complete verification through one method, you may be directed to another approved option or to local college verification.

Some students may be verified through trusted data sharing with approved education partners instead of completing an online verification process.

This may apply to certain students under age 18, dual enrollment students, special admission students, or students whose identity can be supported through trusted data sharing with partners such as the California College Guidance Initiative, California Department of Education, California Student Aid Commission, or other approved organizations.

Local college verification is an approved process colleges use to verify a student’s identity when the student cannot complete online verification or requires additional review.

Local verification helps preserve access for legitimate students while helping colleges confirm they are working with the authentic student.

Students under age 18 may follow a different verification pathway than adult students.

Many students under 18, including dual enrollment and special admission students, may be verified through trusted organization data sharing or another approved pathway-based process.

Some students under 18 may not be presented with the same online verification options as adult applicants.

If additional verification is needed, the student may be directed to an approved under-18 verification pathway. This may include parent or guardian participation via ID.me “Verify Your Identity as a Teen”, trusted organization data sharing, Socure where applicable, ID.me with parent or guardian involvement, or local college verification.

If a student under age 18 needs additional review, the student may receive instructions by email, text message, or within the process they are using to get started.

Depending on the student’s circumstances, verification may include:

• Parent or guardian participation through an approved verification method
• A verification option designed for under-18 students
• Local college verification
• Verification through a trusted education partner or special admission process

Many dual enrollment students may be verified through trusted organization data sharing or a special admission pathway.

If additional verification is needed, the student or parent or guardian should follow the instructions provided by the college or through the process they are using to get started.

In some situations, students under age 18 may complete verification in person with parent or guardian support, depending on the approved process and local college procedures.
Students and families should contact the college for guidance.

Start in OpenCCC or the form you are using to get started. If DMV Mobile Wallet is available to you, you will be guided to verify your identity using your California Mobile Driver’s License or mobile identification card.

You may be asked to scan a QR code, open the DMV Mobile Wallet application, confirm your information, and return to the process after verification is complete.

DMV Mobile Wallet helps confirm identity information such as legal name, date of birth, and California driver’s license or identification card information.

Yes. DMV Mobile Wallet supports standard California driver’s licenses and AB 60 licenses for identity verification.

A learner’s permit may not be accepted for identity verification. Students should follow the instructions provided in the verification process or use another approved pathway if needed.

If you experience technical difficulties, follow the troubleshooting instructions provided in the app or verification process.

You may also use another approved verification pathway, such as ID.me, or contact your college for guidance if online verification cannot be completed.

Students can visit the DMV Wallet Help Center at dmv.ca.gov/dmvwallet or use support options provided within the DMV Mobile Wallet app.

For general OpenCCC or CCCApply support, visit ccchelp.info.

Local college verification may be used when a student cannot complete online identity verification or requires additional review.

This may include students who:

• Do not have access to required technology
• Experience technical difficulty with DMV Mobile Wallet or ID.me
• Have identity documentation that requires additional review
• Are under age 18 and need parent or guardian support
• Are participating in a special admission pathway
• Cannot complete electronic verification successfully

Local verification is an approved alternate pathway for students who need it. It does not remove the required identity verification step.

Students must be verified through an approved pathway before their information can be sent to the college or processed according to applicable procedures.

Contact the admissions office at the college you plan to attend.

The college will provide guidance based on its approved local process.

Documentation requirements may vary based on the college’s approved process and the student’s circumstances.

Your college will tell you what information or documentation is needed.

Local verification helps the college confirm it is working with the authentic student and not someone attempting to misuse another person’s identity or bypass the verification process.

This protects legitimate students, college services, and public resources.

Colleges may receive verification status and verification source information, such as whether the student was verified through DMV Mobile Wallet, ID.me, or a local college verification process.

No. The student’s DMV photo is not shared with the college through DMV Mobile Wallet verification.

No. Identity verification confirms identity only.

The California Community Colleges do not collect or store citizenship or immigration status through the identity verification process.

Approved identity verification methods are designed to align with applicable identity verification, privacy, accessibility, and student records requirements.

The Chancellor’s Office and CCC Technology Center continue to use a layered approach to fraud mitigation, student identity protection, data integrity, and responsible stewardship of public resources.

Yes. Identity verification is one part of a broader fraud mitigation strategy.

Completing verification reduces risk, but multiple factors may still be assessed to identify and prevent fraudulent activity.