Register for Classes

Before Registering for Classes

New students must apply to South Seattle College and complete the Steps to Enroll before they can register for classes. North Seattle College and Seattle Central College students must apply to South Seattle College to register for classes. If you have been absent from the college for at least 3 years, you will also need to re-apply.

Current students should check their student account to ensure they do not have registration holds. You can check holds in the Tasks tile in your ctcLink Student Homepage.

Check the Academic Calendar to see when signing up for classes opens each quarter. Veterans, current military, and dependents may be eligible for early registration (the Friday before registration for current students begins). Contact the Veterans Affairs & Benefits Office at ssccva@seattlecolleges.edu for more information.

Confirm your enrollment appointment time. Current students may register anytime on or after their enrollment appointment time. New students do not have an assigned enrollment appointment and enroll during the new student registration period. See the Academic Calendar for new student registration date(s).

Students may register for classes on a space available basis if they have met class pre-requisites or have instructor permission to join the class. Classes may be added through the first 10 days of the quarter (Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters) and the first 4 days of the Summer quarter. If the class is full prior to the first day of the quarter, you can choose to be added to the class waitlist.

Check the Class Schedule for class offerings. Students can seek help selecting classes from an advisor at the Advising Center. We also recommend reviewing the How to Browse and Search for Classes guide.

IMPORTANT: Students utilizing the Senior Tuition Waiver or State Employee Tuition Waiver are required to register with the Registration Office following specific guidelines and deadlines. Review the Tuition Waivers & Discounts page for details.

Running Start  and Career Link students have a separate registration process, and students should check with the respective program.

Students can register for classes online in their ctcLink student account or in-person at the Registration Office. Check the Academic Calendar for registration deadlines and refunds.

Online Registration

Review the Enroll in a Class (Mobile Friendly) guide for more details and screenshots on registering for classes through the Class Schedule.

  • Navigate to the Class Schedule.
  • Click “Login” on the bottom left corner and log in to your ctcLink student account. 
  • On the left bar, select “Class Information” followed by “Class Search.”
  • Search for your intended class(es) for the intended quarter. Make sure to review the class information particularly the time, location, status, and enrollment requirements.
  • Click on the three dots on the top right end of the class box to add the class(es) to your “Shopping Cart” for later or “Enroll” now (only possible when registration is open for you). 
    • Permission Numbers may or may not be required for a class. If it is not required, skip by clicking the “Save” button.
  • Review the Enrollment Results to confirm you have been added to the class or waitlist.

In-Person Registration

Complete the Enrollment Form available in the Student Services Lobby. If your class requires instructor permission, be sure the instructor has signed your form or has provided emailed authorization for you to join the class.

Submit your completed form to the Registration Office in the Student Services Lobby in the Robert Smith Building. You may also email the completed form to ssccregistration@seattlecolleges.edu.

Email Registration

If you have instruction permission via email, you may forward the permission with your name, ctcLink student ID number, class name, and class number to ssccregistration@seattlecolleges.edu for manual registration.

Common Registration Errors

  • Prerequisite errors indicate that you have not met the requirements for registering for the class. You may need to establish English or Math placement or have prior college classes reviewed. Check our Student Assessment Services page for placement information.
  • A time conflict occurs when two classes are scheduled at the same time. To override a time conflict, instructor permission is required from the instructors of both classes. You can forward instructor permission to ssccregistration@seattlecolleges.edu for manual registration. 
  • A closed class error means that both the class and waitlist are full. You will need to register for another class or ask for instructor permission once the quarter begins.
  • The maximum number of credits or enrollment a student can register online is 20 credits for academic students and 25 credits for professional-technical students each quarter. You must meet with an Advisor for permission to go over the maximum number of credits. 
  • A repeat error occurs when the maximum number of registrations is met for a single class. Students cannot enroll in the same class more than three times. You will need permission from the respective Dean to register for a class more than three times. Review our Course Repeat Request page.
  • A hold error means that you have a registration block on your account. You can check holds in the Tasks tile in your ctcLink Student Homepage.
  • A linked class error means that the class is linked to another class, and you must register for both classes.

Students can drop classes online in their ctcLink student account, via email, or in-person at the Registration Office. Check the Academic Calendar for deadlines for dropping and withdrawing from classes, and refunds.

Students may drop a class through the 10th instructional day of the quarter through their ctcLink student account. These classes will not appear on your transcript. Dropped classes can be eligible for either a 100% or 50% refund on tuition and fees depending on the day dropped.

Students may withdraw from a class after the 10th day and through the last day to withdraw deadline and a “Withdrawal” grade for the class will appear on your transcript. Withdrawn classes can be eligible for either a 50% or 0% refund on tuition and fees depending on the day dropped. Withdrawal grades do not impact your grade point average (GPA).

Instructors may drop students for non-attendance after the 3rd instructional day of the quarter if you never attended in-person classes or engaged in coursework or assignment for online classes. However, it is the student’s responsibility to drop classes. Students cannot officially drop a class by notifying their instructor or by ceasing to attend class.

If you are receiving financial aid, be sure to contact the Financial Aid Department to determine the potential impact of dropping classes and potential repayment. 

Dropping Online

Review the Drop/Withdraw from a Class guide for more details and screenshots on dropping classes.

  • Log in to your ctcLink student account and select South Seattle College. 
  • In your Student Homepage, select the “Manage Classes” tile.
  • On the left bar, select “Drop Classes” and select the intended term and college.
  • Click the checkbox for the class you want to drop. You can select more than one. 
  • Once you select the classes, click the “Next” button at the top right corner.
  • Review your classes before clicking the “Drop Classes” button at the top right corner. 
  • Select “Yes” to confirm the drop. The next page will confirm if the class was dropped.

Dropping via Email

Email ssccregistration@seattlecolleges.edu with your name, ctcLink student ID number, class name, and class number to drop your classes.

Dropping In Person

Complete the Enrollment Form available in the Student Services Lobby. Submit your completed form to the Registration Office in the Student Services Lobby in the Robert Smith Building. You may also email the completed form to ssccregistration@seattlecolleges.edu. 

During registration, you can add yourself to the waitlist of a class that you want to take but is full. You can also simultaneously register for a class and add yourself to the waitlist of the preferred section that is already full. This is called swapping classes.

The waitlist process allows students to become enrolled for classes through their ctcLink account. As spots become available in a full class, students on the waitlist can automatically be enrolled in the class, in the order they appear on the waitlist. Moving off the waitlist is not guaranteed.

If you are registered for a class off a waitlist, a notification will be sent via email or Message Center in ctcLink. Waitlists run through the day before the quarter begins. Once the quarter begins, permission is needed from the instructor to register for a class from the waitlist or a full class.

Check Waitlist Status
In your ctcLink student account via the Class Schedule (click on “Login” on the bottom left corner), select “Enrollment” on the left bar. Click “View Wait List” for the intended quarter.

How to Swap Classes

Swapping classes is ideal for students who need or want to take a specific class, but their preferred class-section (day, time, modality) is already full. The Join a Preferred Class Waitlist guide provides details and screenshots on how to swap classes.

Students on the waitlist will move to the class in the order of their waitlist position. If there is an opening in the class for your waitlist position, you will automatically be enrolled in the preferred class section and removed from the original class section. If there are not enough openings in the preferred class, you will remain enrolled in the original class section.

Common Waitlist Registration Issues

There are many factors that might delay or deny waitlisted students access to a class. Here are a few common issues.

  • The waitlist will not enroll you in a class if you are already enrolled in a different section of the same class. You must use the swap feature so that the system makes the swap. 
  • You have met the maximum number of credits for the quarter. 
  • You have a time conflict with another class. 
  • You have a registration hold on your account. 
  • You do not meet the pre-requisites for the class.