Student Resources
Veterans Support - Veterans information about benefits, services, resources and so on.
Come join us! All are welcome
Certification, Documents, Requirements
Military and non-military credit
Early Registration and other services
BTC Contacts and External Resources
Residency for Military, Veteran and Dependent Students
The BTC Veterans Club is a chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA), consists of a board of elected student executives and staff advisors, and convenes weekly for lunchtime meetings open to the general campus community.
The purpose of this club is to foster peer support within the veteran community on campus, give veterans a place to meet one another, and act as a platform for discussing and advocating for veteran’s academic needs. This club is recognized nationally by the SVA as well as internally by the Associated Students of Bellingham Technical College (ASBTC).
Find out more about the National Club – Student Veterans of America
To continue receiving benefits, submit your student schedule each quarter to be certified for the next quarter.
If you are requesting benefits for the first time next quarter, refer to Certifying information and submit required documentation to our certifying official.
Make sure you satisfy the requirement of having your previous college and military transcripts evaluated. There is a limit to the number of quarters you can be certified before this occurs.
Veterans Services will not pay educational benefits if any of the following occurs:
Watch for payment due dates on the College Calendar. Submit your schedule early!
Information about qualifying pay rates and payment dates for Chapter 30, 35, and 1606 is available only through direct contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs at www.va.gov or by phone at 1-888-442-4551.
BTC will accommodate Tuition Assistance for all branches of the military. Check military deadlines for receiving tuition assistance vouchers and bring your voucher to BTC's School Certifying Official.
See Residency for Veteran Students
Our certifying official is available on Tuesday & Wednesday drop in only or by email at pmcconnell@btc.edu.
See Resources for additional people to ask for assistance.
The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that any other college transcripts and military training transcript be evaluated for transfer-in credit. This is not an optional step – all transcripts must be evaluated prior to admission.
You will need to complete an Evaluation Request Form and have official copies of your transcripts from previous colleges and your Joint Services Transcript (JST SMART Transcript) delivered to BTC. Once we have all of your transcripts, and the evaluation request form on file the evaluation process typically takes up to 3 weeks.
Veteran students using education benefits are not permitted to opt out of prior credit evaluation.
BTC Military Transcript Evaluation Policy
Non-Traditional Credit Prior Learning Assessment Policy
All college transcripts must be official copies, in sealed unopened envelopes. It is your responsibility to contact the previous college and request your transcripts. You can hand-deliver, mail in, or have the previous college directly send us these transcripts. Please note there is typically a small fee associated with ordering official transcripts that you will be responsible for.
To order your Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy transcripts you will need to go to https://jst.doded.mil/ (you may receive a certificate error on this website, this site is safe so you can continue). This website will walk you through the steps of ordering your official military transcripts.
Army and National Guard transcripts can only be ordered and delivered online. All other services, there are two types of delivery methods:
To order your Air Force transcripts you will need to go to http://www.au.af.mil/au/barnes/ccaf/transcripts.asp. CCAF provides several options for ordering your official transcript as detailed on their website. You may also view your unofficial transcript online through this website at any time. All official transcripts are hard copy, as they do not have the ability to send transcripts electronically at this time.
If you do not have previous college credits, you will need to take the ACCUPLACER placement test. ACCUPLACER is not a pass/fail test. It simply measures your current skill level. Your scores will help you choose the right classes, make a plan, and obtain any needed support services. Starting off with Accuplacer means a more successful college experience.
See Assessment
As a Veteran enrolled in a BTC educational program, you get to register first for next quarter classes! Watch for your registration access time in myBTC portal and register right after your assigned time.
BTC Veteran Graduates are given Veteran Honor Cords for the Commencement Ceremony. Pick up your Veteran Honor Cord during Commencement check-in.
If you are a Veteran with non-resident status whose separation date is within the last three years, we would like to review your residency status.
The VA School Certifying Official at BTC is able to assist Veteran students and Children/Spouse of disabled, POW/MIA or Deceased Veterans with residency questions and paperwork.
See Residency for Veteran Students for more information.
Our Advising and Career Services office has staff available who are acquainted with Veteran concerns. See BTC Contacts.
Contact us at veterans@btc.edu
Malcolm Oliver
Director of Multicultural and Student Support Services
360-752-8345
veterans@btc.edu
Patti McConnell
Veteran Certifying Official
Available on Tuesday & Wednesday drop in only
pmcconnell@btc.edu
Kayla Scammon
Admissions Recruiter/Prospective Veteran Students
360-752-8483
Kayla.Scammon@btc.edu
Diane Pollard
Registration Specialist/Residency
360-752-8579
Diane.Pollard@btc.edu
Melissa Mejia
Registration
360-752-8466
Melissa.Mejia@btc.edu
Military service does not change your legal domicile or residency status. If you were classified as non-resident during the admissions process and you are Active Military, or a Veteran within 1-3 years of separation, we would like to review your residency status.
After your request for reclassification or waiver has been reviewed, Registration will email the results to you.
If you are a Washington State resident stationed elsewhere, you are still considered a Washington State resident and may take classes online at the Resident rate. If you are Active Military stationed in Washington State, you may be classified as Military Personnel and pay the Resident Rate. To request your status be changed to Military Personnel, submit to the Registration Office
Dependents may be eligible for the resident rate under the Resident or Military Personnel classification. Submit to the Registration Office
If you were classified as non-resident during the admissions process and you are a Veteran within 1-3 years of separation, talk with the BTC Certifying Official or Registration to request your residency status to be reviewed. Documentation may be submitted to the BTC Veteran Certifying Official or to Registration.
The Registration and Enrollment Office will review your Residency status and email the results to you. BTC student Veterans may be eligible for one of these classifications.
If you are a Washington Resident and a Veteran who has returned to Washington within a year of separation, you are still considered a Washington State resident.
There are three criteria for a Veteran student to be classified as Military Personnel.
Students classified as MILITARY PERSONNEL pay the Resident Rate.
The BTC Tuition Waiver is for US Citizens and permanent residents who have been living in other US States or Territories during the last year. As a Veteran, you can qualify for this waiver.
If you are eligible for this classification, your Student Schedule will read:
Students eligible for BTC’s Tuition Waiver pay the BTC Tuition Waiver Rate which is higher than the resident rate, but significantly lower than the non-resident rate. See Tuition Rates.
As a Veteran Dependent, you will submit your Certificate of Eligibility, or you will submit the documentation required of the service veteran plus proof of your relation to the veteran, such as military documentation, marriage license, birth certificate.
A veteran dependent student may be eligible for one of these classifications or waivers.
WAIVER for Children/Spouse of Totally Disabled or POW/MIA or Deceased Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members
Submit this request form/checklist and all required documents to BTC's Veteran Certifying Official.
If you are eligible for this Waiver, your Student Schedule will read:
Students eligible for this waiver pay zero tuition and class fees. Tuition will be $0.00 (zero) immediately. Fees will be “paid by waiver” overnight. If you have tuition or fees showing as due on your student account more than 1 business day after registering for classes, email registration@btc.edu.
The VA School Certifying Official at BTC is able to assist Veteran students and Children/Spouse of disabled, POW/MIA or Deceased Veterans with residency questions and paperwork.
See Resources to identify the Residency contact in Registration if you have additional residency questions.
