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ctcLink for Prospective and New Students

Apply for Admission

Prospective students use the statewide ctcLink admissions portal to apply to North Seattle, South Seattle, and Seattle Central Colleges.

To learn more about admissions to our colleges and to get assistance, please visit our admissions team web pages:


Activate Your Account as a New Student

After you submit your application, your college admissions office will review and process your application and send you an email. Your admissions email will include your unique ctcLink ID number.

You will use your ctcLink ID number to activate your account. (You only need to activate once.)

  1. Go to the ctcLink Gateway page.
  2. Select “Activate Your Account”.
  3. Use your first name, last name, date of birth, and ctcLink ID number to activate your account.

Watch this video to go over the ctcLink account activation process.


Students Are Required to Report COVID-19 Vaccination Status by Nov. 1

ALL students are required to report their COVID-19 vaccination status or file an exemption by Nov. 1, 2021. You can report your status now using ctcLink. Details and instructions are available online.  
 
Students who do not report their vaccination status or file an exemption by Nov. 1 will not be allowed to register for Winter Quarter 2022 classes until they complete the process.  
  
This step has been taken for everyone’s health and safety and to meet the requirements of Governor Inslee’s higher education proclamation for fully vaccinated college campuses.

Registration Tips

Like any system, ctcLink has a few quirks. We've developed a list of four important tips that will help you get the most out of ctcLink when registering for classes. 

  • Do I really need a permission number for every class? (No, not for every class.)
  • Make sure to select the appropriate academic term.
  • Remember to include Common Course Numbered (CCN) classes in your search.
  • Don't forget to uncheck the “See Open Classes Only” box.

Learn more at the Registration Tips for ctcLink web page.

Review the full help guide: How to Browse and Search for Classes.
 

Navigating and Using ctcLink

Your ctcLink account gives you access to the following applications:

  • "Manage Classes": Class Enrollments and registrations
  • "Financial Aid": Manage financial aid awards and applications.
  • "Academic Records": View past classes with grades and get unofficial transcripts.
  • "Profile": View or update personal information.
  • Your ctcLink ID and password are also the credentials to access your Canvas account (but note that Canvas is a separate application).

For step-by-step guide on using and navigating ctcLink, visit the ctcLink Resources for Students web page. 

Still Have Questions?

If you still have questions, refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Students web page.