How does the California community college transfer credit system work?

I'm attending a community college in California and thinking about transferring. How does the transfer credit system work here, and are there resources to make sure credits move smoothly to a four-year university?

In California, many students attending community colleges take advantage of the established transfer programs that provide a streamlined process to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. This comes under the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) path.

If you are pursuing an ADT, you complete a special AA or AS degree at the community college. These degrees have been designed to align with the general education requirements of the UC and CSU systems. This means that, if you complete the degree, you meet all lower division general education requirements at any UC or CSU, plus some lower-division major preparation. So, you enter as a junior and need only focus on your upper division major courses.

For the UC system, there is a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) that currently exists for six UC campuses. Under this system, students who meet certain criteria (usually involving GPA and specific course requirements) are guaranteed admission to a participating UC campus.

For both the UC and CSU systems, a valuable resource is Assist.org, which is an online student-transfer information system. Students can use it to find out how course credits earned at their community college can be applied when transferred to a four-year university.

Just a note, it is always a good idea to keep in touch with both your community college guidance counselor and the admission office of the university you're considering. They can provide direct and current advice. Also, making early connections at your target university can only make the transition smoother when it comes time to transfer!