OAAP Create an Account

Purpose: Use this document as a reference if you haven't already created an OAAP account.

Audience: Students and Staff

Online Admissions Application Portal (OAAP)

The Online Admissions Application Portal (OAAP) has Okta authentication  enabled. Okta is a user authentication tool for applications currently  used by ctcLink. Utilizing Okta for user authentication provides new and  returning students with a secure login experience. This ensures the  protection of their credentials and reduces the risk of unauthorized  access to the OAAP.

To access the Online Admissions Application Portal (OAAP), you can visit the college's official website. It's important to note that each user is only allowed to register one account per email address. However, students have the option to apply to multiple colleges using the same OAAP account.

  • If you have already created a username and password for the Online Admissions Application Portal (OAAP), you can log in to complete your application.
    • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will not be required.
    • Returning applicants will need to reset their passwords during their first log-in.
  • If you are a returning student logging in with your ctcLink EMPLID and need to update your address, email, or phone number, you must do this in ctcLink before applying for admissions.
    • Existing ctcLink EMPLID accounts will use ctcLink Okta to log in to OAAP.
    • MFA is required for ctcLink Okta.

If you have not yet created an OAAP account, follow these instructions.

Create a New Account

  1. Select the Create an Account link.
  2. Activate the Title drop-down menu and select the appropriate Title. This field is optional.
  3. Enter a First Name.
  4. Enter a Middle Name or leave the field blank. 
  5. Enter a Last Name or leave the field blank.
  6. Enter a valid Date of Birth in the MM/DD/YYYY format or select the calendar icon to find your date of birth.
  7. Enter a valid Email Address.
  8. Activate the Password Recovery Options drop-down menu and select one of the following options:
    • Phone Number (Text Message)
    • Phone Number (Voice)

If the applicant no longer chooses to provide a phone password recovery option during the Create Account process, they can remove their phone number from the phone number field. In the Password Recovery Options field, deselect the value by choosing the blank space at the top of the drop-down instead.

  1. Enter a valid Phone number.  This is required if you select a password recovery option. You will receive an SMS or Voice Call to validate the number during the OAAP account creation process.
  2. Create a Username. Enter a unique username within the conditions specified on the page.  A green checkmark (✓)  will appear next to the conditions it meets and a red X (🞭) next to the conditions it does not meet. We recommend that you write your username down so you do not forget it.
    •  Username Conditions:
      • Between 3 and 30 characters
      • All lowercase
      • Must begin with a letter or number
      • Include at least one letter
      • Cannot include special characters other than “_” and “.”
      • Cannot end with a special character
      • Cannot include your first name
      • Cannot include your last name
      • Cannot include your email
      • Cannot include spaces
      • Characters are English (American Standard) alphanumeric characters
  3. Create a Password. Enter a password within the conditions specified on the page. A green checkmark (✓) will appear next to the conditions it meets, and a red X (🞭) next the conditions it does not meet. We recommend that you write your password down so you do not forget it.
    • Password Conditions:
      • At least 8 characters long
      • At least one lowercase letter
      • At least one uppercase letter
      • At least one number
      • At least one of the following symbols: !@#$%^&*
      • Cannot include your first name
      • Cannot include your last name
      • Cannot include your username
      • Characters are English (American Standard) alphanumeric characters
  4. Confirm the Password.
Create an Account page
  1. Select the Submit button.
  2. The Registration Validate One-Time Password (OTP) box appears in the center of the screen.
Enter OTP page
  1. To validate the email address provided in the application, please go to the associated email account and find the email containing the OTP (one-time password). Enter the OTP on this page. If you can't find the email in your inbox, check your spam folder. Notifications regarding the OAAP account will always be sent to the email used to create it.
  2. If you don't receive the OTP verification code or if it has expired, please click on the Resend OTP link.
  3. Enter the OTP provided.
  4. Select the Submit OTP button.
  5. The OTP Verified Successfully message displays.
OTP verified successfully
  1. If you provided a phone number for a password recovery option, a pop-up message will ask for your One-Time Password. Depending on your selection during the account creation process, you will receive an OTP to your phone number via SMS or Voice. Enter your OTP in OAAP to validate your phone number. 
    • Suppose you validated your email address but exited out of the phone number OTP validation message before entering the OTP. In that case, you can still validate your phone number after logging into OAAP.
Mobile validation page.
  1. After your email address and phone number are confirmed, you can log in.
  2. Select the Log in Here button.
  3. The Welcome!  Online Admissions Application Portal (OAAP) for Washington State Community and Technical Colleges page displays.
  4. Enter your Username.
  5. Check the I'm not a robot reCaptcha box to confirm that you are not a robot, and then select the requested images to complete the verification.
    • If you have recently completed reCaptcha in your browser, you may not be asked to complete it again depending on your browser’s cache/cookies settings.
  6. Select the Login button.
  7. The OAAP Username page displays.

The OAAP Username and Password Pages

  1. The Okta login page will appear with your Username pre-populated in the ctcLink ID field.
  2. Select the "Keep me signed in" checkbox to stay logged in even after closing the web browser. When users return to the protected application from the same device and browser, they are automatically logged in without reentering their credentials.
  3. Select the Next button.
    • Unlock account? If you cannot access your account, click the "Unlock account?" link and provide your username and email address when prompted.
    • Help. If you encounter difficulty logging in with your credentials, click the Help link to connect with the college to which you are applying for admissions.
  4. The OAAP Password page displays.
  5. Enter your password in the Password field. Select the eye icon to reveal the password. Click the eye icon again to conceal it. If you enter your password but don't select the Verify button, the screen will time out, and you will receive an "Unable to sign in" message. In that case, please select the "Back to sign in" link at the bottom of the page.
  6. Click the Verify button.
Verify with your password page
  1. The Welcome Message page will display the first time navigating to the OAAP page.
  2. After reviewing, select the Close button to access the Online Admissions Application page.
Welcome Message
  1. You can now verify your phone number if you did not verify it during the account creation process.
    • Select Submitted Applications.
    • Click the arrow next to your name at the top right, then choose Account Settings.
    • A message will display stating Your mobile number is not verified yet. Please click the Update button to activate it.
    • Verify the phone number is accurate and click Update.
    • You will receive an OTP pop-up message and an OTP sent to your phone. Enter the OTP to complete your phone number verification. 
    • You will receive a message that your recovery option has been updated successfully. Click OK or click the "X" to exit the pop-up message. 
Account Settings
  1. Process complete. For information on completing the application, visit the ctcLink Reference Center.