Thank you for choosing Bellingham Technical College. We are excited to work with you to achieve your goals! Before being eligible to register for classes, new students need to complete the first three admissions steps.

If you are a Veteran, Impact student, International student, Transfer student, Undocumented, L&I or Running Start student, be sure to check the Student Types page for additional information for your specific circumstance.

Start Your Application   

Go to the Online Admissions Application Portal. Create an account and log in. From the dropdown menus on the application homepage, choose: 

• College – Bellingham Technical College 
• I will be enrolling as… -- First Year 
• Program – Professional Technical (Includes most BTC Degrees and Certificates) 

  • Note: If you do not see your degree/certificate choice here, check out the other Program options.

• Term – [Choose Preferred Start Term] 
• Degree or Certificate – [Check our program webpages to find the correct degree or certificate title]

Look for Your Welcome Email 

After you apply, you’ll get a “Welcome to BTC” email within 5 business days. It will include your student ID number (ctcLink ID) and remaining admissions steps.
Tip: Check your spam or junk folder—sometimes the email ends up there.

Apply for Financial Aid 

Visit our Explore Financial Aid page to learn how to pay for college. Having a financial plan is important. Students who do not pay by the tuition and fee due date are dropped for non-payment.

Once you have applied to BTC, and received your Welcome Letter email, you are now ready for the next step; determining your academic starting point. 

• Complete the Guided Self-placement in math and English to determine your starting point; a free short assessment questionnaire to determine your comfort with math and English.
  Guided Self-Placement English and math Assessments

If you would like credit for prior coursework visit our Transfer Student page and review steps to submitting official transcripts. 

Need help with this step? Email Outreach@btc.edu for assistance. 

Now that you have completed Admissions Steps one and two, you are ready to schedule a GET Started appointment! The GET Started appointment is a mandatory meeting with on our College Navigators. During this appointment, you will have the opportunity to review the results of your Guided Self-Placement, discuss your specific goals in attending BTC. create a Degree, and determine which classes to register for.

The link to schedule your GET Started appointment is included in the email you'll receive upon submitting your Guided Self Placement Assessments.

Important Notes: 

GET Started appointments are offered in person or virtually through Zoom. In person appointments available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admissions Steps 1 and 2 must be completed prior to scheduling the appointment.

If you completed your math and English placement steps and have questions about scheduling a GET Started appointment, please email advising@btc.edu 

If you are receiving L & I benefits please review our Vocational Retraining page. 

Pay Tuition and Fees 

You are considered officially enrolled when your tuition and fees are paid in-full. Tuition and fees are due in-full by the date indicated on the College Calendar. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. To view current tuition and fee rates, please visit Tuition, Fees, Rates & Costs.  

Pay online with a Visa or MasterCard credit (not debit) card, or pay at the Cashier window, located on the main floor of the College Services (CS) building, where you may use cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, or financial aid award. 

Student ID Card

A photo ID or student ID card is required for some registration transactions.

Student ID cards are available, at no cost, in the Student Center - Morse Center 221 (MC 221). Please bring photo ID during normal business hours.

Your Student ID qualifies you for discounts on Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA) bus passes and at many local vendors, plus access to the Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College libraries.

Textbooks

Find textbook lists or take your printed class schedule to the Campus Store, located in the A-Building Hallway, Room 5. Tip: We do NOT recommend purchasing texts for any other quarter than the current one in which you are registered.

eLearning

If you are taking any online or hybrid classes, be sure to setup and check your BTC email for instructions on how to access your classes. To setup your email and explore your online classes, please visit the Student Links page.

• I applied to BTC. Where do I find my ctcLink ID number?

  You will receive a "Welcome to BTC" email with your ctcLink ID number within 10-14 business days after you submit the application. Check your email’s junk or spam folders, as sometimes the email can go there! If you don’t receive an email with your ctcLink ID number, please contact admissions@btc.edu.

• What’s the difference between applying and registering?

  Applying to BTC is the first step in the admissions process, the application to BTC. As an open-door institution, every student is generally accepted to BTC when they submit the application!  Registering refers to registering for classes. Students can register for classes in step three of the admissions process. Programs and classes may have entry requirements or pre-requisites, so be sure to check your program page’s entry information tab for further information.

• I’ve previously attended BTC in the past and would like to re-enroll at BTC. What’s my next step?

  Connect with Admissions at admissions@btc.edu to determine your next step in the admissions process and for help with any questions.
  

• I’m trying to register for classes but have a block on my account. What’s my next step?

  Admissions steps one, two and three need to be completed to be eligible to register for classes! In step three, your College Navigator will set up an academic plan for you and teach you how to register for classes. If you have already completed step three, your GET Started appointment, log-in to your myBTC (ctcLink student account) or connect with Registration. Also, be sure to check your myBTC account for your registration access time.

• I forgot to put a program OR I put the wrong program on my application, how do I change my program?

  Please fill out a Program Change Form. Once it is processed you will receive a confirmation email. Please be sure to let the Student Financial Resources office (Finaid@btc.edu) know about the change if you are receiving funding.  

  If you have already completed your GET Started appointment, also notify your College Navigator about your program change.
  

• I don’t know what I want to study at BTC, who can help me?

  Visit the Getting to Know BTC page to learn more about career exploration, meeting with an Admissions & Advising staff member, and the basics about getting started at BTC.

• What do I do if I am a non-award seeking student?

  After applying to the college, and completing the Guided Self Placement Assessments, contact advising@btc.edu for scheduling assistance.