Overview

Who We Are 

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) has been serving the community since 1973 with free, noncredit educational programs and services to empower our community.

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) has been serving the community since 1973 with free, noncredit educational programs and services to empower our community. Students enroll in NOCE’s noncredit programs to enhance basic skills, gain employable skills, prepare for credit courses, for self‐sufficiency or to enhance civic participation. Noncredit programs offered at NOCE include adult basic skills (High School Diploma and Literacy Programs), English as a Second Language (ESL), U.S. citizenship, parenting, older adults, short‐term vocational, and programs for adults with disabilities.

In addition, NOCE offers a wide selection of community education courses such as Kids’ College and Teen Program, fitness, home decorative arts, business skills and fine/applied arts. NOCE offers adults (18+) the opportunity to earn a high school diploma as well as nearly a dozen career education certificates. Tuition-free noncredit career certificates include the areas of administrative professional, early childhood education, electrical technology, funeral service assistant, management, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, and quality assurance for medical devices. 

Who We Serve 

NOCE serves more than 29,000 students annually, ranging from preschoolers to seniors, at three Center locations in Anaheim, Cypress, and Wilshire (Fullerton) as well as over 100+ community-based locations in partnership with K12 schools, churches, community centers, senior centers, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers.

NOCE serves more than 29,000 students annually, ranging from preschoolers to seniors, at three Center locations in Anaheim, Cypress, and Wilshire (Fullerton) as well as over 100+ community-based locations in partnership with K12 schools, churches, community centers, senior centers, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers. NOCE is proudly accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. NOCE is a stand-alone institution, serving as the noncredit arm of the North Orange County Community College District, which also includes credit-based Cypress College and Fullerton College. Part of the California Community College System, all NOCE courses are approved by the state of California.

History of NOCE

Prior to the creation of the present North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD), adult education classes were administered by the Fullerton Junior College District.

Forty‐eight students were enrolled in 1930 which, based on attendance records housed at the NOCE Student Records Office, included classes in gymnasium, swimming, machine shop, engineering, art/metal working, Spanish, wood turning, typing, bookkeeping, commercial French, commercial Spanish, accounting, welding, commercial law, lip reading, and college shorthand.   NOCCCD was created in the mid‐1960’s and included adult education. Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) also had an adult education program and for a number of years the two programs operated simultaneously. In 1972/73, NOCCCD absorbed the AUHSD program. Since then, noncredit enrollments have continued to grow, thus proving that there is a need for noncredit education in North Orange County. In 1998, the NOCCCD Board of Trustees renamed adult education to its current NOCCCD North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE).