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Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for using Student Online Services. This document attempts to answer some of the most common questions about using SOS.

If your question is not answered below, please use our online contact form or contact the registration office directly during normal business hours. Student information is not released over the phone. Registration offices may have different hours during high-peak times, breaks, or over the summer.

Protect your records!

Always return to the Student Online Services (SOS) home page when you have finished your transaction(s) to ensure that other individuals do not see your personal information.

You should also change your SOS PIN to another four- to six-digit number once you begin using SOS.

What is SOS?

Student Online Services is your center for important student services. From this Web page you can take charge of your education with registration, grades, financial aid and more! SOS is intended for use by current and past Pierce College students.

When can I use SOS?

Most services (those requiring an SID and PIN) are available seven days a week, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m., except for holidays when the college is closed. [See the complete academic calendar.] Other services (bookstore, list of closed/cancelled classes, bulletin) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What is my SID?

Your SID is your Pierce College Student Identification number; it is assigned to you by the college. This number is between 925000000 and 934999999. If you have previously been assigned an SID that starts with a letter, continue to use this SID.

If you do not know your SID number, you may obtain it by presenting picture ID at registration at any Pierce College campus or site, or by contacting the Registration Office:

Please make a note of your SID to access your on-line records in the future.

What is my inquiry PIN?

When you start at Pierce College, you are assigned a default inquiry PIN number: your birth date in the form mmddyy. For security reasons, you should change your inquiry PIN to another four- to six-digit number. See below for how to get your inquiry PIN if you've forgotten it.

Note that this does not apply for your Registration Access Code, which is assigned through your advisor each quarter! (Use your Registration Access Code to check your wait list, too.)

How do I get my PIN if I've forgotten it?

If you've forgotten your inquiry PIN, go to the registration office at the campus where you attend classes. You'll need photo identification to have registration staff retrieve or reset your inquiry PIN. In order to protect your records, we cannot give out your inquiry PIN by e-mail or phone.

You must contact your advisor to get your Registration Access Code.

How do I register using SOS?

  1. Are you a currently enrolled student? Then you can use the SOS for registration. Otherwise, you'll need to enroll in Pierce College, see an advisor, and register in person or by fax.
  2. Check your registration time to see when you can begin registering for classes.
  3. Contact your advisor for an advising appointment. He or she will have your six-digit Registration Access Code, and can help you decide on a good schedule as well. If you are using self-advising, your PIN is sent to you each quarter by postal mail. Remember, your Registration Access Code is not the same as your SOS PIN.
  4. Decide on a schedule. You can use the schedule planner to pick classes and times that work for you! You can also go directly to registration through the schedule planner.
  5. Double-check to make sure the class(es) you want are still available. The schedule planner includes this information, but you can also use the class availability service to search by item number.
  6. Register for the classes that you've selected, using your SID and Registration Access Code.
  7. Once you've registered, you can pay through SOS, in person at either college, or by mail.

Why won't my PIN work for online registration?

When you meet with your advisor, you'll receive a special six-digit Registration Access Code. If you are self-advising, then you'll receive your Registration Access Code by postal mail prior to your registration time.

How do I get an official transcript?

Official transcripts can only be released with a signature. See the transcripts page for more information and to download a request form.

Why can't I get to my records or use SOS services?

If you tried using a service during the available hours (see above), and were not able to access your information, you may have a hold or outstanding debt, such as unpaid parking tickets or library fines. Contact the registration office to see if you have a hold on your account. If the last time you attended classes at Pierce College (then Fort Steilacoom Community College) was prior to 1986, you were not assigned a PIN. Contact the registration office for more information.