> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/plan/community-events/public-registration.md).

# Public View: Register for an Event

How the public registration experience works for community events in PEARS.

This article describes the public-facing registration experience that participants see when registering for a community event.

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**TIP:** If a registrant visits the registration link for an event that has already ended, they see a friendly "not open for registrations" message instead of an error page.
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#### Find the event

From the organization's public event page, find the desired event and click **Register Now** to begin the registration process.

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**TIP:** The public event list includes a **Status** filter (Any, Open, Closed) that lets registrants narrow the list to events still accepting registrations, and a **Date Range** filter for showing only events within a chosen date range. The search box matches both the event name and the event **Details** text, so events can be found by keywords that appear only in the description. Event cards also display a **Waitlist Available**, **Registration Full**, or **Registration Closed** badge so the registrant can tell at a glance whether they can sign up before opening the event detail page.
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**TIP:** Opening a link to an **internal** event while signed out sends the registrant to the PEARS login page; after signing in, members of the event's organization are taken straight to the registration details. Users who aren't members of that organization see a clear message explaining they must be a member to view its internal events.
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#### Enter attendee information

The registration form requests the attendee's name and email; a signed-in registrant is registered under their account's name and email instead. Under **Select your role**, choose one of the registration types the event offers, such as **Participant** for someone attending or **Non-Participant** for someone registering others without attending. Click **Continue** to advance.

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**TIP:** A registrant who isn't signed in may be asked to complete a short Cloudflare security check before the form can be submitted. Most people never see it, because it only appears when Cloudflare can't confirm the visitor is a person. The same check protects the forms for adding group members, creating an account, and resetting a password.
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#### Complete additional fields

Provide any additional details required by the organization. Required fields are marked with red asterisks. The specific fields vary by event. Click **Next** after completion.

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**TIP:** If the event has sessions, the form includes a session picker. Sessions grouped into a **breakout block** appear as a single item showing the block name, its description, how many session options it holds, and the time span across them. Selecting the block reveals its sessions, and only one can be chosen. Sessions outside a block can all be selected. A session that has reached its capacity shows as full and can't be picked; if every session in a block is full, the whole block is unavailable. See [Event Sessions](/plan/community-events/event-sessions.md).
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#### Register additional people (optional)

If the event allows group registrations, indicate whether you are registering additional people by selecting **Yes** or **No, Continue**. Choosing **Yes** prompts you to enter their information; selecting **No, Continue** advances you to the next step.

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**TIP:** If the event organizer has not enabled group registrations, this step is skipped and you proceed directly to the review page.
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#### Review and pay

Review all attendees, subtotal, and total costs on the order summary page. To use a promo code, click **Apply Promo**. To remove a promo code that has been applied, click the trash icon <i class="fa-trash">:trash:</i> next to the code. Select your preferred payment method under **Pay With**. Click **Complete Registration** to submit, or **Checkout** if the selected payment method is paid online.

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**TIP:** Review specific payment instructions for each method. For example, checks may need to be made payable to a specific organization.
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#### Confirmation

A "You're Going" confirmation page displays with registration and event details. You can edit your registration before the deadline or add the event to your calendar with the **Add to Calendar** button under **Save the Date**.

For a registration with one session, the calendar entry uses that session's date, time, and location. With two or more sessions, **Add to Calendar** opens a list of the sessions, each with its own **Google**, **Outlook**, and **Download .ics** links, so every session gets its own calendar entry.

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**TIP:** On a group registration, the registrant's confirmation page lists every session the group attends, once each, with who is attending. **Everyone**, **Mine**, and **No Emails** filters appear when they narrow the list; **No Emails** shows the sessions of group members who have no email address of their own and so don't receive their own confirmation.
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## Create a PEARS Account After Registering

The confirmation page offers a **Save Time and Sign Up for an Account** card so a registrant can create an account to speed up future sign-ups and review their registrations.

Clicking **Create Account** sends a verification link to the email address on the registration. The registrant must open that link and verify the email before they can set a password.

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**NOTE:** Verification is required. A password cannot be set until the person proves they can receive email at the address on the registration, which prevents someone who typed another person's email — or a shared placeholder address — from gaining access to that person's registrations.
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**TIP:** If the registrant's email domain signs in through single sign-on, the card instead reads **Sign In with Your Organization Account**. Those registrants sign in with their organization credentials rather than setting a PEARS password.
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## Join a Waitlist

If no registration type has an open seat and the organizer enabled a waitlist, the event page shows "This event is at capacity. Join the waitlist and the event organizers may contact you if a spot opens up." and the button reads **Join the Waitlist**. If other registration types still have seats, the button reads **Register Now**, and choosing a full type that has a waitlist changes the form's **Continue** button to **Join the Waitlist**.

Joining the waitlist asks only for a name, email, and registration type — there is no registration form, payment, or session selection. A "You're on the Waitlist!" page confirms the signup and a confirmation email follows. If a spot opens up, the event organizers send an invitation with a link to complete a real registration.

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**TIP:** Being on a waitlist does not hold a seat. Returning to the event page shows "You're on the waitlist for this event." and a **View Waitlist Status** button. To add another person, use the **Join the waitlist again** link on the waitlist confirmation page.
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## Related Documentation

* [Event Waitlists](/plan/community-events/event-waitlists.md) — How organizers enable and manage waitlists.
* [Event Sessions](/plan/community-events/event-sessions.md) — Sessions and breakout blocks on the registration form.