SAM Student HelpSkip to start of content.

Sign In

Sign in to SAM at sam.cengage.com unless you are using a learning management system (LMS).

Note You can only access SAM with one browser, device, tab, or window at a time. If you sign in and are already signed in somewhere else, your previous session will end and you will lose any unsubmitted work or unsaved changes.

If you access SAM from a learning management system (LMS) such as Blackboard®, Canvas™, or Moodle™, see Sign In Through Your LMS.

If you don't have a SAM or Cengage account, create your account.

  1. In your browser, go to sam.cengage.com.
  2. Enter your username and password.
  3. Click Login.

If prompted, activate your account.

If prompted, enter your institution key or update your profile.

Create account

Complete the following steps only if you do not have a SAM or Cengage account.

If you access SAM from a learning management system (LMS) such as Blackboard, Canvas, or Moodle, see Sign In Through Your LMS.

  1. In your browser, go to sam.cengage.com.
  2. Click New User.
  3. Enter your institution key.

    If you don't have an institution key, ask your instructor. The institution key is an 8-digit number used to make sure your account is associated with the right school.

    1. Type the institution key and click Submit.
    2. Confirm that the correct school is shown and click OK.
  4. Enter your account information.
    Field Description
    First Name Minimum 2 characters, maximum 50 characters.
    Middle Initial Optional: Maximum 1 character.
    Last Name Minimum 2 characters, maximum 50 characters.
    Username (Email) Email address used for the SAM/Cengage account.

    6 to 50 characters.

    Important You can use your SAM account to sign in to other Cengage content and services.

    If you already have a Cengage account, enter it instead of creating a new account.

    If needed, set a different Communication Email to receive communications.
    Password
    Passwords requirements:
    • 6-17 characters
    • Letters, numbers, and underscores only
    • At least one capital letter
    • At least one number
    Communication Email Email address to which you want communications sent in addition to your username.
    Important Required if your username is not a valid email address.

    Maximum 128 characters.
    Join our mailing list Optional: You can receive occasional emails about Cengage products or promotions.
    Birth Year Select your birth year from the list provided.
    Note The following characters are not allowed in Name, Username, ID#, or Alias: 
    ~ ` ^ * " $ % # ! \ / > < & ; : | ,
  5. Select I have read and agree to the Cengage Terms of Use and Privacy Statement.
  6. Click Create Account.

Your account is created and a confirmation message is displayed.

Activate account

Complete the following steps if you are prompted to activate your account after signing in.

  1. Click OK to dismiss the prompt.
  2. Check the email address you used for your account and find an email message with the subject Welcome to Cengage.

    If you do not see this message, check your spam or junk folders.

  3. Click the activation link in the email message.
  4. Complete the requested user profile information.

    You cannot change your username while activating your account.

    Field Description
    First Name Minimum 2 characters, maximum 50 characters.
    Middle Initial Optional: Maximum 1 character.
    Last Name Minimum 2 characters, maximum 50 characters.
    Password
    Passwords requirements:
    • 6-17 characters
    • Letters, numbers, and underscores only
    • At least one capital letter
    • At least one number
    Communication Email Email address to which you want communications sent in addition to your username.
    Important Required if your username is not a valid email address.

    Maximum 128 characters.
    Join our mailing list Optional: You can receive occasional emails about Cengage products or promotions.
    Birth Year Select your birth year from the list provided.
    Note The following characters are not allowed in Name, Username, ID#, or Alias: 
    ~ ` ^ * " $ % # ! \ / > < & ; : | ,
  5. Select I have read and agree to the Cengage Terms of Use and Privacy Statement.
  6. Click Update Account.
  7. If prompted, enter your Cengage password and click OK to link your Cengage account with SAM.

Your account is activated. You will not be asked to activate your account again.

Enter institution key or update profile

Complete the following steps if you are prompted to enter your institution key or update your user profile after signing in.

  1. Enter your institution key.

    If you don't have an institution key, ask your instructor. The institution key is an 8-digit number used to make sure your account is associated with the right school.

    1. Type the institution key and click Submit.
    2. Confirm that the correct school is shown and click OK.
  2. Complete the requested information in your SAM user profile.

    Do not change the email address for your account.

    Field Description
    First Name Minimum 2 characters, maximum 50 characters.
    Middle Initial Optional: Maximum 1 character.
    Last Name Minimum 2 characters, maximum 50 characters.
    Communication Email Email address to which you want communications sent in addition to your username.
    Important Required if your username is not a valid email address.

    Maximum 128 characters.
    Join our mailing list Optional: You can receive occasional emails about Cengage products or promotions.
    Birth Year Select your birth year from the list provided.
  3. Select I have read and agree to the Cengage Terms of Use and Privacy Statement.
  4. Click Create Account.

Your new SAM account is created and linked with your Cengage account.