Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communications. A wireless communication system may use access preferences to indicate a preferred access for communicating signaling for a control plane service. In some aspects, an AMF and a UE may establish access preferences for one or more control plane services and communicate signaling for the control plane service based on the established access preferences. In some cases, the UE may transmit modified access preferences for a control plane service to the AMF, and the UE and AMF may communicate signaling for the control plane service based on the modified access preferences. In some aspects, an AMF may also restrict the accesses used by a control plane service. A UE may also request that certain accesses are restricted for use by a control plane service.