Applying for a Certificate

Students earning a certificate can be directed to the instructional division responsible for overseeing the certificate program for application instructions and guidance regarding substitutions.  Generally, students are advised to apply for their certificate after all courses required for the certificate are completed and posted to their transcript. Students are also advised to seek guidance on substitutions from program coordinators and deans.

(Cosmetology Certificate students do not need to apply for the certificate.)

Business/CIS Division:

BUS/CIS Division Certificate Residency Requirements:

• At least one course being used towards the certificate must be taken at Fullerton College (this does not apply to Paralegal Studies Program).
• Paralegal Studies Program requires that all required courses be taken at Fullerton College.  6 units of equivalent elective courses at another ABA-approved college may be transferred.

BUS/CIS Division Certificate Applications:

• Certificate Applications and the Petition to Substitute Certificate Requirements form are currently available on the BUS/CIS Division’s website under their respective programs.
• Advise students to only submit the certificate graduation application when “all” grades are noted on the application, and after petition to substitute certificate requirements forms are approved (if applicable).
• BUS/CIS Certificate application deadlines:
  • • Fall completion due by January 1
    • Spring completion due by June 1
    • Summer completion due by September 1

BUS/CIS Division Petition to Substitute Certificate Requirements form:

• Should be submitted whenever a student uses courses that are not listed on the certificate (regardless of equivalency determined by C-ID’s or previous evaluations).
• Courses from other colleges being used must have official transcripts from these institutions on file with the Office of Admissions and Records at Fullerton College.
• A copy of the unofficial transcript(s) and course description(s) must accompany the Petition to Substitute Certificate Requirements form regardless of whether or not the official transcript is on file with Admissions and Records.

Fine Arts Division:

CERTIFICATE APPLICATION for Fine Arts Division Programs. Students may also submit their completed application along with a copy of their unofficial transcripts to Olivia Perez OPerez@fullcoll.edu in the Fine Arts Division. Students can expect to receive their certificate within 6 weeks after submitting their application.

Advise to only submit the certificate graduation application when “all” grades are noted on the application and after substitute certificate requirements have been approved by the faculty person that oversees the certificate program. 

Course substitutions need to be approved by the appropriate faculty member who serves as the main contact for the certificate program in which they are applying for. If the faculty member approves, she/he will email Olivia Perez and let her know which substitutions are approved. There isn’t a separate form to complete for this.  If a faculty member is unavailable, the Dean will review the substitution request and make the determination. Contact information for department faculty, coordinators and dean is found on the Fine Arts Division website.  If a course is being used from another college as a course substitution, then official transcripts need to be on file with A & R.

There isn’t a set deadline for course substitutions as they are usually done before the student submits the applications. Certificates are processed at the end of every semester.

Residency for Fine Arts Division Certificates: Students must have completed at least 50% of the courses required for the certificate at Fullerton or Cypress College.

Natural Sciences Division:

Students can obtain certificate applications from Biotech and Foods and Nutrition program instructors and Horticulture Lab Tech.

• • Biotechnology: Spiridon Dimitratos, and Kimberly Rosales.
  • Foods and Nutrition: Rita Higgins, Colleen Kvaska, Kristy Richardson, and Michelle Loy.
  • Horticulture, Edward Kim, EKim@fullcoll.edu

The following steps apply to Biotech and Food and Nutrition Certificates only. Once students have the application, they must do the following:

1. 1. Make sure that all information on the application is legible!
   2. Attach unofficial transcripts with all completed courses (courses in progress are not accepted).
   3. If they are finishing up classes that are needed for the certificate, they can submit the application two weeks after the semester ends, as most grades are posted by that time.
   4. If they are using course substitutions, they will need to seek approval from the Department Coordinators of their certificate program (Spiridon Dimitratos for Biotech and Rita Higgins for Foods and Nutrition). I will need the substitutions in writing (email from either coordinator is sufficient). If using courses from other colleges, they will need the acceptance from the coordinators and provide unofficial transcripts with the application for verification.
   5. Residency Requirement is that they have taken at least 2 of the required, not elective, courses at Fullerton College.
   6. All applications are submitted to Antoinette Triefenbach <ATriefenbach@fullcoll.edu> either in person, or via Email. Right now with COVID email is the best way.

After submission and acceptance, it takes about a month to receive the certificate in the mail. This may change as we get back to being on campus, and if we move to being more of an electronic process vs. campus mail for signatures.

Physical Education Division:

Where can students get their certificate applications? The certificate application is available in the PE Division Office, Room 1206, or may be emailed to the students. 

Do you accept a certificate application if a student has classes still in progress that they are planning to use towards the certificate? We do not accept a certificate application until all classes have been completed. Students must submit an unofficial transcript with their application. 

For Certificate course substitutions, do students have to fill out a form or email a specific individual? Who should students contact to request Certificate course substitutions? For a course substitution, the student needs to meet with the advisor of the certificate. For Yoga and Pilates, Alix Plum is the advisor. The PE Dept. Coordinator, currently Tim Byrnes, is the advisor for all the other certificates. 

If a student is approved to use a course from another college or university, are they required to have official transcripts on file with Admissions and Records? If a student is requesting to use a course from another college or university, we require Official transcripts from the college along with the page from the college catalog showing the class description.  Other college official transcripts do not have to be on file with Admissions. 

 Are there due dates or deadlines to submit the certificate applications and/or certificate substitutions? Students must submit the application once they have completed the program.  

How long after the certificate application is submitted can a student expect to receive their certificate? Students should receive their certificate no later than 4 – 6 weeks.  

Tech and Engineering Division:

• Advise students to only submit application when “all” grades are noted on the application.
•  At least one half of the units toward the certificate must be completed at Fullerton College.
• Certificate applications are found here: https://techeng.fullcoll.edu/certificate-applications/
• If the certificate is not on the website, please advise student to email Tina Maertens, TMaertens@fullcoll.edu for the application.
• * Cosmetology Students do not need to apply for their certificates.  Certificates are automatically issued after successful completion of the program.
• To request a course substitution, students are advised to connect with the department coordinator. (Dept Coordinator info found at the bottom of this page: https://techeng.fullcoll.edu)
• Approved course substitutions from another college require that the official transcripts, either be attached to the graduation application in a sealed envelope or on file with Admissions and Records.  If the official transcript is on file with Admissions and Records then students should make a note on the application that the official transcripts are on file with Admissions and Records.
• Certificates usually take 4-6 weeks to process. For questions regarding the certificate applications, contact Tina Maertens, TMaertens@fullcoll.edu.

CTE Promo Videos:

• Automotive
• Biotech
• Business (Entrepreneurship)
• Cinema and Television Production Facilities
• Cinema and Television Program
• Construction
• Drone Technology
• Fashion Design
• Career Education (Spanish)
• Machine Technology
• Photography

New Drone Videos:

• English: https://youtu.be/W_tNA7CNX2I
• Spanish: https://youtu.be/Et5vZcTb9ss

You Tube Channel for the Business and CIS Division:

• Business
• Cyber Security
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Paralegal Studies
• Real Estate
• Accounting
• Study Abroad 2022 – Seville Spain

Career Education FullColl YouTube Channel

CTE FullColl Instagram

• Certificate Programs in the BUS/CIS Division include: Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, International Business, Paralegal Studies, Real Estate, and more.
• Videos to promote programs from this Division can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZz9tHq8j_Ds7W951CJO38w

Technology and Engineering Division Website

• 2020-2021 Dept Coordinators for Tech and Eng
• Certificate Programs in the Tech and Engineering Division include: Administration of Justice, Architecture, Automotive, Construction, Cosmetology, Fashion, Interior Design, Journalism, Machine Technology, Photography, Radio & TV/Video Production, Printing Technology, Welding Technology, and more.

Fine Arts Division Website

• Certificate Programs in Fine Arts Division include: Advertising and Graphic Design, Digital Arts, Illustration, Museum Studies, Music, Theatre Arts, and more.

Natural Sciences Division Website

• Certificate Programs in the Natural Sciences Division include: Biotechnology, Horticulture, Nutrition and Foods Skills, and more.

Physical Education Division Website

• Certificate Programs in the PE Division include: Dance Teaching, Personal Trainer, Pilates, and more.

Social Sciences Division Website

• Certificate Programs in the Social Sciences Division include: Child Development and Educational Studies

• Fullerton College Career Education/CTE Website
• Career Coach
• Career and Life Planning Center
• Career Matrix 2018
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• ONET Online
• Salary Surfer
• TalentED: Website that highlights priority industry sectors in Orange County
• Employment Websites
  • Jobrapido
  • Indeed
  • SimplyHired

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Employment Development Department
• Orange County Occupational Employment Projections 2012-2022

FC-CTE Pathways General Flyer-Two Sided

• If you have any questions or need any help with the Articulation process, please contact 714.992.7010

  CTE Director
  Fullerton College
  321 E. Chapman Avenue
  Fullerton, CA 92832
  714.992.7010
  cte@fullcoll.edu

Aug_2021_ New Adjunct Training CTE   (Paralegal Studies, Cosmetology, & Welding Technology discussed)

• FCAP_Guide_for_Counselors
• FCAP Current FC Student Application BT WOT

Points of Interest and Clarification_AJ & Crime Scene Investigation  – Counselors Notes and Suggested Sequence

Department Newsletters:

• April AJ Newsletter 2021
• March AJ Newsletter 2021
• Feb. AJ Newsletter 2021
• January AJ Newsletter 2021

• Prof. Alan Ray, Architecture Program Coordinator, has approved the following substitutions for Spring 2025 – Fall 2025 on the Architecture Associate in Science Degree and Architectural CAD Technology Certificate:

  • ARCH 227_F Internship in Architecture can be replaced with TECH 295_F, CSTR 030_F, or CSTR 035_F.
  • CSTR 035_F CA Accessibility and Energy Codes can be replaced with any of the following: CSTR 112_F, CSTR 031_F, CSTR 030_F, CSTR 060_F, CSTR 028_F or CSTR 041_F.

  A Petition to Substitute Graduation Requirements will be required for these substitutions for the Architecture Associate in Science Degree. There is not a Petition to Substitute requirements for the certificate. 

• Become an Architect with an AS
• Points of Interest and Clarification for Architecture AS and Cert (includes suggested sequence)

New School of Architecture & Design (9/22/21 Presentation)

• NewSchool_Fullerton Counselor Presentation_9-22-2021

• Art Dept. Families of Courses (Limit 4 in Family) as of 01/01/14
• Suggested Sequence_Illustration Certificate
• Suggested Sequence_Art AA Degree
• Suggested Sequence_Art History ADT
• Suggested Sequence_Studio Arts ADT

Automotive Technology

The Automotive Technology Department has revised all courses to 100 level which means they are also CSU transferable. These changes are effective in Fall 2024 and should be reflected in the 2024/25 catalog.

A&R has confirmed that students will not need to submit Petitions to Submit Graduation Requirements for old or new corresponding courses when applying for the Automotive Technology Associate in Science Degree. The Automotive Technology Department has also confirmed that students do not need to request substitutions for old or new corresponding courses when applying for certificates.

• Automotive Technology New Course Numbers and Changes Fall 2024
• Automotive Program Changes Fall 2024

Additional Counseling Notes & Resources:

• Students who are new to the Automotive field should begin the program in Auto 131.  If there is room in their schedule, they may also consider taking Auto 65 or Auto 81.
• Autocoursesandprograms-revised 8-5-22
• A Day in the Life of an Automotive Tech video
• TalentEd Advanced Transportation Occupations and Wage Ranges
• Fast Track to An Automotive Tech Career at a Community College
• Points of Interest and Clarification – Automotive
• Automotive Technology Course Sequence – Fall_2019

• TalentED Priority Industry Sectors: Biotechnology
• Fullerton College Biotech Website
• Biotech Brag Sheet 2022 – Sheet1

• 9/29/20 Biotech Level I- Lab Assistant Certificate update from Jon-Michael Hattabaugh
  • Students who take BIOL 272 will now be allowed to use it as a substitute for  BIOL 190/190LF as part of the Level I Certificate requirements. Many times, this applies to Biology/Biochemistry majors who also want to receive the Biotech certificate prior to transfer. In this scenario, they will have to take BIOL 191 and will already have met the CHEM requirement as part of the BIOL 272 prerequisite. Here is a link to the Biotech website that shows the certificates – https://fcbiotech.weebly.com/certificates.html.
  • Note: If the student chooses to substitute 272 for 190 and 190L, they may do so for the purposes of the first certificate. However, they cannot double count 272 as both a core certificate course in lieu of 190 and 190L *and* an elective course for a second or third certificate in the stack. Simply put, if they use 272 instead of 190 and 190L then they cannot use it as an elective later; they must take a *different* elective course instead of 272 in that case. Certificates are awarded by the Department and, for the time being, students can follow up with their Biotech instructors regarding appropriate substitute courses for the level 2&3 certificates.
• Please Note: Students working towards earning the Biotech Lab Assistant Skills Certificate who would like to take the Chemistry Assessment in lieu of a class (Chem 101_F or Chem 107_F) must earn a passing score on the Chemistry Proficiency Test (23+). If students pass the Chem assessment, Counselor can send an email to Antoinette Triefenbach (email: atriefenbach@fullcoll.edu) with the student’s information (name, student ID, verifying that they passed) when they are applying for the Biotech Lab Assistant Skills Certificate.

Transfer – The Associate in Science Biological Technician is eligible for direct transfer to Mira Costa College or Solano College for B.S. in Biomanufacturing.

• Program Information
• Internship Program
• Certificate Application and Petition to Substitute Certificate Requirements
• New Certificate descriptions found here: https://buscis.fullcoll.edu/business-buzzy-blog/
  • • Computer Game Design Certificate
    • Computer Game Programming Skills Certificate
    • Mobile Applications Entrepreneur Certificate
    • Entry-Level Accounting Certificate
    • The Business of Art Certificate
    • Small Business Bookkeeping Certificate
    • Payroll Accounting Certificate
    • Advanced Bookkeeping Certificate
    • Cost Accounting Certificate
• YouTube Promotional Videos for the Division

• Cinema Television Overview

• CYBR Classes_Fall 2024
• (11/08/22)  For questions about course subs for Fullerton College Computer Information Systems Certificates and degrees, please direct questions to Anna Carlin who is serving as the CIS Department Coordinator.
• CIS Certificate Class Sequences and Requirements
• CIS and Cyber Security Flowchart
• Cyber Security Transfer Considerations
• CIS Substitutions Spring 2021
• CIS-Web Design Course Sequence – Fall 2019

• Explore IT – Career Pathways with this resource: https://www.comptia.org/content/it-careers-path-roadmap
• Computer Information Systems vs Computer Science: https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/computer-information-systems-vs-computer-science/ 

Construction Technology

Pending: New Pathway to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science with Cal Southern University

Jonathan Keller, Construction Technology Program Coordinator, is collaborating with Cal Southern University to establish a pathway for the Construction Management Associate in Science Degree program to articulate with Cal Southern Univ’s Bachelor of Applied Science program.  Benefits include transferring up to 90 units towards the bachelors, enabling students to complete the bachelors online in just one year, at a cost of approximately 12K.  The articulation agreement is still pending.  The program anticipates having the agreement finalized by summer 2024.

Best class to take to explore the major: 

• Construction Inspection -> CSTR 06 Plumbing and Mechanical systems or CSTR 07 Electrical Systems
• General Contractor best intro courses-> CSTR 06, 07, 14, 15, and 100.  Follow Construction Tech Cert Required courses.
• Construction Management -> CSTR 30 and (CSTR 100 and 102 – which gives you more of a background on process and what is going on in the field.  Then take CSTR 110.  

How do you become a Contractor?

CSTR 014 Contractor’s License Law explains the process to become a Contractor

To qualify to sit for the contractors license exam, the applicant must have:

1. 4 years Journeyman direct experience within the last 10 years before applying or
2. 4 years at Supervisor level experience within the last 10 years before applying or
3. With an AS degree in Construction Management, Construction Tech AS, Inspection AS, or business (like the Business Admin AA or AS-T) remove 1 ½ years from the 4 or
4. With a BS degree in Construction Management or business remove 2 years from the 4 or
5. Have been working for a licensed family construction business and the principle has died or
6. Hire a qualifying individual who has the qualifications and have them ‘qualify’ her for the license.

Project Coordinators and Administrators: for students interested in working as project coordinators/administrators (positions that involve working out in the field and working in the office) are recommended to take Construction Management but to also take additional courses that are hands on and more in depth.

What job/career opportunities do your degrees and certificates prepare students for?  (Stories of student successes and struggles are always helpful)

Across the industry Bachelors degrees are becoming more desirable in mid to large construction management firms (ie. Snyder/Langstrom, CW Driver, Grey Construction).

Construction Program – Course Subs

Transfer considerations:

• Cal Southern University Bachelor of Applied Science
• California State University Chico Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Bachelor of Science Degree and Minor Business Administration
  

Cosmetology: Website

Please Note: There are no plans to offer the Esthetician or Barbering Crossover programs in Fall 2024-Spring 2025.

• • Cosmo Enrollment Info Spring 2025
  • 2025 SP_Instructional Techniques Program Info flier
  • Barbering Crossover Program Update 5/2024
    • Not currently being offered. Please check the department website for updates. The department has the intention in the future to offer one Barbering course as a crossover course from Cosmetology to Barbering. This crossover course will be a 200-hour course for those who already have their Cosmetology license or completed the 1600-hour Cosmetology Program and want their Barbering license (dual license).

    Esthetician Certificate Update 5/2024

    • Esthetician courses are not being offered until further notice. We do encourage students to check our Cosmetology website regularly for updates, as this could change in the future.

    The following community colleges offer Esthetician programs:

    • Citrus College
    • Golden West College
    • Cerritos College
    • Saddleback College

• • Program information, requirements, cost, and orientation information can be found here:https://cosmetology.fullcoll.edu/programscourses/ 

Cosmetology Instructor

Program Information found here: https://cosmetology.fullcoll.edu/programscourses/

• The 600-hour program can be completed in 3-5 semesters
• Fall term begins 8/22/22 (& students must be registered prior to participate on 1st day Orientation)
• Recommended 1st semester:
  1. COSM 060 F scheduled every Monday 10:15am – 4pm (Zoom)
  2. COSM 060LF scheduled Cosmetology Classroom Observation every Tuesday 7am – 4:30pm (Zoom) + HYBRID Assignments (3-hours per week)

How to work as a Cosmetology Instructor at a community college in California

Cosmetology Program and SB 803 (Effective January 1, 2022)

• SB 803 reduces the licensing requirements for barbering and cosmetology courses to 1,000 hrs. The removal of 600 hrs reduces the amount of training students will be required to receive in hairstyling and chemical hair services. The FC Cosmetology Department plans to continue offering the current 1,600 hr program until further notice, and are developing and planning to offer 1,000 hr and 600 hr course programs as soon as possible (this may take a few years).  Students will not earn their Cosmetology Certificate from Fullerton College for completing 1,000 of the 1,600 hrs required by the Fullerton College Cosmetology Certificate program.  In light of the changes, you may encounter students that choose to shop around for other 1,000 hr programs.  However, Fullerton College’s reputable Cosmetology Program still remains a more affordable option when compared with private cosmetology schools.  It also remains to be seen if employers will favor cosmetologists licensed with more training versus those licensed with only 1,000 hrs of training.

Transferring Cosmetology hours from another Cosmetology Program:

• Fullerton College’s Cosmetology program does not accept prior hours or operations from other Cosmetology programs regardless of proof of training. All students must start the program from Level 1.

Transfer Program Options:

• SAC State Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Studies
• CSU San Bernardino Career and Technical Studies (B.A., B.S., and Teaching Credential)