ESL Program Important Information:

Are you looking to improve your English skills or prepare for the U.S. Citizenship test? At NOCE, we offer free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults 18 and older.  

Start class anytime and learn at your own pace with in-person and online classes! 

English as a Second Language Registration/Information

Sign up for one of the upcoming informational sessions to learn more about the ESL program. You’ll be able to ask questions, learn about the classes, and explore additional resources.

Types of ESL Classes

At your convenience, you can take day or evening classes at one of NOCE’s main campuses (Anaheim, Cypress, and Fullerton) or go to a community site near you (churches, elementary schools, community centers).

ESL classes are offered online and in-person. NOCE also offers various specialty classes to assist you in reaching your unique goals:

• ESL Workforce Prep – Gain workforce prep skills while learning English
• ESL Career Pathways – Gain new job skills while learning English with our I-BEST courses
• ESL College Preparation – English skills to prepare for college
• ESL Specialty Classes – Focus on grammar, conversation, computer skills, writing, vocabulary, speaking, and American idioms.

Why Learn English? 

Get a Better Job and Earn More Money – Increase your job opportunities as a bilingual speaker and earn more for your family. 

Earn a Degree – Get your high school diploma, career certificate, or college degree as a fluent English speaker. 

Make New Friends – Expand your social network. Speak in English with your children and their teachers. Communicate with your doctors and co-workers. Fit in with your new friends! 

Achieve Your Goals – Learning English takes dedication and determination. Achieve your goals and enjoy new opportunities.

Use Technology – We will help you learn English through technology. Learn how to get an e-mail or type your resume and search for jobs online.  

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Deepen connections with the children in your life, learn additional parenting skills, and raise children who thrive.

NOCE’s tuition-free parenting classes provide a fantastic learning opportunity for parents and other adults at no cost. Adults who take the classes gain new ideas, learn positive parenting techniques in a friendly and safe environment, or explore intriguing topics that help enhance their own wellness and family life overall.

Parenting Class Focus Areas

• New and Special Interest Classes

  The Parenting Program offers modern, relevant learning opportunities for adults ages 18 and up. Some of the latest classes developed by Parenting Program faculty include:

  • Babies Love Music: Expectant Parents Through 14 Months (PARN 147) – coming Fall 2026
  • Healing Homes: Trauma-Informed Parenting in Foster and Adoptive Care (PARN 280) – coming Fall 2026
  • Navigating Loss: Supporting Families Through Grief and Change (PARN 355) – began Summer 2026

  Check back frequently for additional info on other new and specialty classes!
• Child and Family Wellness (Building Trauma-Informed Communities) Classes

  With the information and skill-building exercises provided in these classes, parents, family members, resource families, and other adults learn ways to develop trust, build healthy relationships, healthy behaviors, and communicate with children to be effective as a parent and develop lifelong resiliency. Adults learn how to model desired behaviors (“do as I do” skills) that reduce the effects of stress and enhance well-being of themselves and the children in their lives.

  The foundational class, Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), introduces key concepts important to understanding parents’ and children’s childhood experiences. Pediatricians routinely assess children for ACEs because the impact of ACEs on health can be profound. 

  Other Child Wellness courses delve into a variety of other topics. For more information on Child Wellness/BTIC courses, visit the Child and Family Wellness page
• Practical Parenting: Love and Logic® Classes

  NOCE’s Love and Logic^® classes are free of charge to our community. 

  The Love and Logic^® approach to parenting helps adults raise self-confident, motivated children who are ready for the real world. Love and Logic® classes provide loving, yet powerful tools for parenting young children, adolescents, teens and even adult children. 

  NOCE’s Love & Logic® classes provide skills that parents, resource families, grandparents, and caregivers of school-age and teen children, or teachers, can use right away. The course skills include techniques for creating positive relationships. Love and Logic® skills also provide a method for adults to encourage children to develop age-appropriate self-reliance and good decision-making skills.

  Courses include:

  • Parenting the Love & Logic Way^®
  • Love and Logic: Supporting Youth with Challenging Pasts^®
  • Love and Logic: Supporting Youth with Special Needs^®

  For more information, view the Love and Logic® page.
• Child-and-Me Classes

  Child-and-Me classes promote bonding and expand adults’ knowledge and skills to support the physical, mental, and social-emotional development of children through music, movement, reading, arts, crafts, games, field trips, and more.

  Child-and-Me courses are offered in a hybrid modality, in which enrolled adults enjoy weekly in-person class meetings and weekly online learning activities, too. 

  Note: In Child-and-Me courses, a parent or other adult (including moms, dads, grandparents, resource families, nannies, or other adults) is the registered NOCE; the adult student must attend all of the course meetings with the child.

No-Cost and Convenient Parenting Courses

NOCE Parenting Courses are free and are for any adult who loves or cares for children, including caregivers and any adult family member. Parenting Courses are convenient – available at NOCE centers, community locations, and online. 

View the current NOCE Course Schedule to browse Parenting Program courses. Start dates vary. Plan to enroll when registration opens and two weeks in advance of the course start date if possible. (Note: NOCE Parenting Program offers open enrollment so you can join a class already in session if space permits.)

Student Spotlight

Raúl Güereque

NOCE Parenting Program Student

Raúl Güereque, a stay-at-home father and longtime educator, discovered NOCE’s Parenting Program through the California Community Colleges website. Although not local to the area, he was drawn to the program’s flexible, tuition-free online courses—an ideal fit for his lifestyle while raising two young daughters. Having stepped away from the classroom, Raúl was looking for a way to stay mentally engaged and grow as a parent beyond books and podcasts. NOCE offered him the opportunity to reconnect with education, focus on personal development, and build confidence during his healing journey.

Since joining, Raúl has experienced meaningful growth in both his parenting and personal relationships. The supportive environment—shaped by educators like Parenting Instructor Chivonne Carter and fellow parents—has helped him feel connected and empowered. He hopes to return to teaching in the future, potentially focusing on parenting or mental health, areas where he’s found renewed passion. Raul highly recommends the Parenting Program to any parent seeking connection, growth, and practical tools for everyday life.

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“Child-and-Me” Course Descriptions

• Babies Love Music: Expectant Parents and Parents with Babies through 14 Months (PARN 147)

  (PARN 147) This course will begin in the 2026 Fall Semester, August – December.

  NEW! Music nurtures early development, emotional connection, and nervous system regulation in infants and caregivers. In this class, parents and caregivers will discover ways to create music that calms, engages, and promotes babies’ learning while fostering brain growth and bonding. 
• Developmental Movement (PARN 260, PARN 262)

  Parents are introduced to the latest information about their child’s development and parenting skills, through lectures, discussion, observation, and hands-on learning. Learn appropriate activities and developmental stages for your child(ren) that prepare them for preschool and/or kindergarten.

  • PARN 260 Developmental Movement – Ages 1-2
  • PARN 262 Developmental Movement – Ages 3-4.5

  Visit the Developmental Movement page for more information on the classes.
• Joyful Parenting (PARN 101, PARN 200)

  Enjoy self-esteem-building activities with your child through songs and music, arts and crafts, and other fun activities.  Parents will learn techniques for school readiness and activities to do at home while your child will learn about socialization, sharing, and following directions. A snack time allows for the instructor to share lecture/discussion topics with parenting tips.

  • PARN 101 Joyful Parenting: Creative Art/Music – Ages 1.5 – 2.5
  • PARN 200 Joyful Parenting: Art, Music, & Movement – Ages 2.5-5
• Nature Nurtures: How the Outdoors Shapes Childhood (PARN 160)

  Families explore nature through hands-on activities, nature walks, wildlife observation, and creative projects. The course fosters curiosity, observation skills, and lasting connections with nature, while offering flexible asynchronous access to lectures and resources.

  • PARN 160 Nature Nurtures: How the Outdoors Shapes Childhood Ages 4- 6
• Raising Thoughtful Children (PARN 237, PARN 238)

  Explore interesting topics to support your child’s social-emotional development and build awareness of self, family, community, and the world. Children and adults will experience developmentally appropriate activities together to foster a growth mindset and thoughtfulness towards oneself and others.

  • PARN 237 Raising Thoughtful Children Ages 1.5 – 2.5 years
  • PARN 238 Raising Thoughtful Children Ages 2.5 – 5 years

Check out our searchable current class schedule to see which “Child-and-Me” classes are available each semester or summer term.

Frequently Asked Questions: Child-and-Me Hybrid Courses 

• What does it mean that Child-and-Me parenting courses are hybrid?

  In a hybrid class, you learn both online and in person.

  For NOCE’s Child-and-Me parenting courses, this means you do part of the class online each week with videos, readings, or activities, and the rest in person with your child and teacher. The online part lets you learn at your own speed and think about new parenting ideas without distractions. Then, during the in-person class, you can practice what you learned, watch how the teacher interacts with children, and get help that fits your child’s needs.

  This hybrid model helps parents learn the most by mixing flexible online learning with hands-on experiences that improve real-life parenting skills.
• Why are “Child-and-Me” parenting classes offered in a hybrid format?

  The hybrid model combines the best of online and in-person learning.

  Online, students can learn at their own speed, focusing on parenting and caregiving strategies without classroom distractions. In person, students get to practice these strategies with their children while the teacher gives guidance and feedback. This approach helps students learn in a way that suits them, makes course material easy to access, and links what they learn online to what they do at home and in class with their kids.
• Are children (of the enrolled adult student) expected to engage in the online portion of hybrid Child-and-Me classes?

  The online learning content is mainly for adults.

  Sometimes, teachers might share videos or activities that kids can watch or join in, but these are not required for the course. Usually, kids are expected to join only during the in-person classes.
• Will I need to log into Canvas to be eligible for a passing grade in the class?

  Yes. Students in hybrid classes need to log into Canvas, which is NOCE’s learning system, every week and take part in school activities regularly to pass the class.

  The online activities help with what they learn in the weekly in-person classes.
• How much time online is expected of the enrolled adults each week?

  Students should plan to spend about two hours a week on online learning activities.

  This time is flexible, so you can do it whenever you want. The online materials teach important parenting and caregiving tips. Students are encouraged to use and think about these strategies while spending time with their children each week of the course.
• When does the remote, online portion of hybrid Child-and-Me classes take place?

  In asynchronous hybrid classes, students can log into Canvas whenever they want to do their online learning activities.

  In child-and-me parenting courses, parents and kids can learn fun and interesting things at their own pace without having to attend online meetings at a set time.
• How do I access the online portion of hybrid Child-and-Me courses?

  Canvas, NOCE’s online learning management system, can be accessed in several ways, including from the NOCE website or by downloading the Canvas Student app from an app store on a smart phone.

  Click here to view the video showing you how: YouTube Logging Into Canvas
• I need help to get started using Canvas. What can I do?

  NOCE offers several sources of support and assistance to help students succeed in hybrid courses. 

  • NOCE’s Career Skills and Resource Lab at NOCE Anaheim, has helpful videos on their webpage to help you get started, and in-person assistance.  Click here to navigate to the videos available via the Career Skills and Resource Lab webpage. (Note: The videos are found under the “What is Canvas?” tab in the middle of the webpage.)
  • NOCE Student Tech Support webpage is also a great resource. It includes information on many topics, including how to request to borrow a NOCE laptop or Chromebook (supplies limited; available while supplies last), and other getting-started assistance. Visit: www.noce.edu/tech-support for details.
• I don’t have a laptop or PC to access the online portion of my hybrid Parenting course. Can NOCE help?

  Although students can use a smartphone to access Canvas, another option is to request to borrow a laptop or Chromebook from Student Technology Support Services.

  Parenting Program students are NOT required to fill out the online application. Similarly, Parenting Program students are NOT required to complete an educational plan to be eligible to borrow a laptop. Instead, simply email the Student Tech Support team to inquire about availability and show evidence of enrollment in an online or hybrid Parenting course. If a laptop is available, you will be provided a reservation time/date to pick up a laptop or Chromebook.
• How can I access WiFi while I’m on campus in-person at NOCE centers?

  Free WiFi is available at all three NOCE Centers using EduRoam. Learn more: WiFi Access – North Orange Continuing Education

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Start class anytime and learn at your own pace. New classes are starting soon.

Questions? Call (714) 808-4638 or E-mail ESL4ALL@noce.edu

Need help connecting to your online class and teacher? Want help creating an email account? Need extra practice with English?

Online ESL Student Support Center

Students can click on the teacher’s name to visit the ESL Student Support Center! *Hours are subject to change.

In-Person ESL Student Support Center

Students can visit any of the three ESL Student Support Centers in person! See schedules below. *Hours are subject to change.

Anaheim ESL Student Support Center (7th floor, Room 702)

Cypress ESL Student Support Center (Building TE2/Room 203)

Wilshire ESL Student Support Center (Building 200, Room 214

ESL Students Can:

Each ESL Student Support Center are an encouraging and supportive atmosphere. Hours are flexible—spend as much time as you need when the ESL Student Support Center is open. We are here to help and are available online throughout the semester. You can view the latest schedule for ESL Student Support Center updates. 

Apply and Register for Classes

• Apply for a Student ID: Online Application for All NOCE Programs (Adults 18+)
• Register for Classes: Refer to the NOCE Class Schedule for class details.

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Prepare for a career in the funeral services field with training at NOCE. If you enjoy talking to others and looking for ways to help people. Consider the Funeral Service Assistant Program.

NOCE’s Funeral Service Assistant Program provides an overview of the funeral service industry and offers training on how to start as a funeral assistant. The program is a pathway for interested students to transition to Cypress College’s mortuary science associate and baccalaureate degrees.

What You’ll Learn

• Students who complete the program will learn to:
  • Write newspaper obituary/death notices for publication 
  • Understand the business operations of a funeral home 
  • Create an effective merchandise display 
  • Understand funeral arrangement funding options, and the different types of funeral contracts 
  • Understand and demonstrate respectful communication skills 
• To be eligible, you must:
  • Students must be 18 years or older 
  • Complete an NOCE Admissions Application   
  • Complete an online general orientation at least 24 hours before registering  
  • Recommended: Have basic English reading, writing, and speaking skills, and/or be at an ESL Intermediate High level  
  • Recommended: Have basic math skills
• Program Guide

  Program Guide – Funeral Service Assistant Certificate (2025/26) 

Funeral service assistants are responsible for many tasks. These tasks include, helping funeral directors, and making sure that services run according to plan. Funeral service assistants work as information managers. They schedule meetings and appointments. They organize and maintain electronic files and manage projects. All while providing customer and personal services. 

You’ll get training on leadership skills, practice teamwork, and develop the skills to become a valuable funeral service assistant.   

Career Highlights and Opportunities

• Skills You’ll Need
• Advanced Funeral Service Assistant Career

Frequently Asked Questions 

• What do I receive when finished and how long does it take?

  Students who complete the Funeral Service Assistant program receive a certificate. The program can be completed in as little as nine months.  This program can also provide a way to transfer to Cypress College’s Mortuary Science degree. 
• How much does it cost?

  The Funeral Service Assistant courses are tuition-free. However, students are responsible for covering the cost of textbooks, software, course supplies, and a parking pass.  Your course instructor(s) will provide an estimate for the cost of required textbooks, software, and course supplies during your first course meeting.
• What are the jobs and how much do they pay in California?

  Career opportunities include positions such as funeral service assistant, family service assistant (FSA), funeral greeter, funeral home associate, funeral service apprentice, funeral home attendant. 

  • Average Hourly Wage: $17.00 to $21.00

  Note: Salary and employment outlook is for Orange County, CA, and will vary depending on skill, experience, employer, and geographic location.  

Meet Your Funeral Service Assistant Instructors

Student Testimonial

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The NOCE GED/HiSET Program helps adults prepare for their high school equivalency (GED or HiSET) exams by providing academic support and convenient classes online. Effective 2022 Fall, CASAS assessment is required.

NOCE supports students as they prepare to take the GED/HiSET exams. NOCE offers tutoring and classes at no cost to you! Take the next step with us!   

• Tuition-Free Classes  
• Instructor-Led Lessons  
• Free Tutoring
• Online Classes  

High School Diploma and GED/HiSET Prep Program Overview

Information Sessions

Note: All information sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. You will receive an email with meeting instructions before your workshop(s).

High School Diploma vs. GED/HiSET 

The choice between earning a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED/HiSET) depends on your personal needs. However, here are some important factors to consider in making your decision:   

Have Questions?

• Registration Questions
• GED/HiSET Questions

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Get your diploma and achieve your goals through the High School Diploma Program at NOCE.

Earn Your High School Diploma With NOCE!  

NOCE high school diplomas are issued to adult learners 18 years of age and older. The NOCE High School Diploma Program operates as an open-entry lab where you, as a student, can work individually and at your own pace on various required subjects. All labs have instructors and staff members to assist you with completing your courses.  Select high school subjects are offered online. Take the next step with us! 

• Be a graduate   
• Earn more money  
• Get a better job   
• Transition to college  

New Students: Steps to Register

Part 1: Complete the NOCE Interest Form

• Complete your contact information
• Click submit

Part 2: Create an OpenCCC Account

You will receive a Welcome email from the California Community College Website with your account information and a code. Important: This code is NOT your student ID.

Do you need a step-by-step guide? Visit How to Create an OpenCCC Account – Application Part 1

Part 3: Complete the Noncredit College Application

Complete the form with your information. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact StarHelp at (714) 808-4679 

• In 24-48 hours, you will receive your Student ID.

Do you need a step-by-step guide? Visit How to Apply to NOCE – Application Part 2

Once you’ve applied to NOCE…

2. You must complete a general orientation through myGateway. 

To access myGateway, visit myGateway and use your Student ID and password to log in. 

For step-by-step instructions on how to access the online orientation, check out the page below:

3. Obtain and send your official transcripts from any high school program that you previously attended.

Official transcripts are delivered in a sealed/unopened envelope from the institution. Mail the official transcripts to the NOCE Wilshire Center at 315 E. Wilshire Avenue, Building 300, Fullerton, CA 92832, ATTN: HS RECORDS.

Or Official Electronic Transcripts can be sent to hsrecords@noce.edu. Must be sent directly from an institution or third-party processing company (e.g., parchment.com).

4. After you have completed your orientation, you must meet with a counselor.

Call  (714) 808-4682 or email counseling@noce.edu to schedule an appointment with a counselor. When you meet with your counselor, your Student Educational Plan will be developed and will include what courses you must complete to earn your diploma. 

5. Attend class at your selected high school lab to enroll in your high school subject.

• Anaheim Campus
• Cypress Center

6. Select high school subjects that are offered online.

Register for online classes using  myGateway . Attend class online by logging into Canvas on the start date.

7. CASAS assessment is required (paused June and July 2026 only).

Effective 2022 Fall Semester CASAS assessment is required by NOCE. There will be a CASAS pre-test and post-test administered to High School Diploma and GED/HiSET Prep Program students. Be sure to schedule your CASAS test prior to the first day of classes each academic year.

For more information on the CASAS assessment, please call (714) 808-4049 or text (714) 808-4539.

Returning Students:

Continuing students: 

You will continue working on the subjects on your Student Educational Plan (SEP). CASAS assessment is required (paused June and July 2026 only). Students must complete a Registration Form with their high school instructor to be added to their course. Always take your printed NOCE Student ID/Access Card to the lab to scan in/out.  

Returning students (out over one year): 

Must first meet with their counselor to update their Student Educational Plan (SEP).  After students may enter the high school lab to meet with their instructor to complete the intake process and a Registration Form. CASAS assessment is required (paused June and July 2026 only); note that CASAS pre- and post-assessments are required every year. Always take your printed NOCE Student ID/Access Card to the lab to scan in/out.  

Please Note:

• Anaheim High School Lab students should plan to stay in the lab for two (2) hours on their first day back. Intake appointments are needed in the Anaheim lab; please contact (714) 808-4582 to schedule an appointment.
• Cypress High School Lab students do not have a time commitment on their first day back. 

All returning students must take their Student Educational Plan (an electronic copy is fine) to the lab on their first day and should always take their printed NOCE Student ID/Access Card to the lab. 

Basic Skills CASAS Assessment Information

CASAS Assessment Paused this Summer

Attention students in the High School Diploma and GED/HiSET Preparation Programs — The Basic Skills CASAS Assessment labs will be closed from May 22, 2026, to July 31, 2026.

Both in-person and online CASAS testing will be paused during the 2026 summertime period. CASAS testing will resume on Monday, August 3, 2026. Students may enroll and begin their program of study this summer without delay.

All HSDP and GED Prep students: please plan to take your CASAS pre- and post-test beginning August 3, 2026, once the Basic Skills CASAS Assessment labs reopen.

Need Assistance? Contact StarHelp at (714) 808-4679 or at starhelp@noce.edu

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NOCE high school diplomas are issued to adult learners, 18 years of age and older. Take the next step with us!

The NOCE High School Diploma Program operates as an open-entry lab where you can work individually and at your own pace on various required subjects. All labs have instructors and staff members to assist you with completing their courses.

• Be a graduate
• Earn more money
• Get a better job
• Transition to college

High School Diploma Program Format 

The NOCE High School Diploma offers an environment for you as a student to work at your own pace and supports you as you work on your courses. The NOCE High School Diploma Program is free to students in an open lab setting. As an NOCE student:

• You can attend the labs on your own time (Day, Evening, or Both) during flexible hours. 
• You will have access to free textbooks and learning materials provided in class.  
• You can work at your own pace. 
• Will receive in-time academic support.  
• Your high school faculty may refer you to work with tutors free of charge. 
• Select high school subjects are offered online.

NOCE and its High School Diploma Program are proudly accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Accredited by the
Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200,
Burlingame, CA 94010
Website: www.acswasc.org

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High School Diploma and GED/HiSET Prep Program Overview

Information Sessions

Note: All information sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. You will receive an email with meeting instructions before your workshop(s).

Five Advantages of Obtaining a High School Diploma 

1. Higher Wages 

High school diploma or GED/HiSET earners make 50% more per year on average than non-high school diploma or GED/HiSET earners.

2. Employment

More and more employers are now requiring a high school diploma or GED/HiSET for employment or advancement on the job.

3. College 

Going to college doesn’t have to be an unattainable dream! At NOCE, you can obtain your high school diploma or GED/HiSET and transition to college. Our counselors can help you create a Student Educational Plan to meet your goals at NOCE and beyond.

4. Meet Lifelong Friends

People of all backgrounds and ages attend NOCE’s High School Diploma, GED/HiSET, and College Preparation Programs. Come and meet new people and gain lifelong friends!

5. Pride

Earning your high school diploma or GED/HiSET is a great achievement! It takes dedication and hard work, but once accomplished, your high school diploma or GED/HiSET will open the door to your future.

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