Vaccine Clinic Appointments—IMPORTANT! BTC is not responsible for scheduling any vaccine appointments. All inquiries and appointments must be made through the Whatcom County Health department. Below are the contacts to make appointments:
At Bellingham Technical College, the Process Technology Program will prepare you for a position as a process technician or operator for employers in power generation, refining, manufacturing, and many other industries. Process technicians work to ensure the safety standards of production and assembly lines, and oversee quality for an employer’s processes. Currently, our primary employers in Washington State are the four refineries in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Graduates have also gone to work in other water treatment, power generation, and manufacturing facilities in our region, across Washington State, and beyond.
Manufacturing is the most diverse sector of the U.S. economy, from the immense variety of goods produced to the technology used to create them. Turning ideas and materials into valuable products requires highly skilled employees who are trained in advanced manufacturing. BTC’s programs in advanced manufacturing are ideal for students with mechanical aptitude or a strong foundation in math, science, and technology. You’ll learn skills needed for a career in high demand, dynamic industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, and energy.
84% BTC graduate placement rate1
$67,6002 / $84,6563 starting annual wageThis program has rolling admission.
Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.
AMATH 111 | Applied Technical Math | 5 CR |
PTEC 101 | Introduction to Process Technology | 5 CR |
PTEC 102 | Process Technology I (Equipment) | 5 CR |
CMST& 210 | Interpersonal Communications | 5 CR |
CTE 108 | Job Skills | 1 CR |
PTEC 103 | Safety, Health & Environment I | 5 CR |
PTEC 104 | Process Drawings | 2 CR |
PTEC 105 | Process Technology II (Systems) | 5 CR |
CHEM& 110 | Chemical Concepts w/Lab | 5 CR |
AENGL 100 | Applied English | 5 CR |
PTEC 110 | Process Instrumentation I | 5 CR |
Program Elective (PTEC 190 series) | 3 CR |
PHYS& 110 | Physics for Non-Science Majors w/Lab | 5 CR |
PTEC 203 | Safety, Health & Environment II | 5 CR |
PTEC 211 | Troubleshooting | 5 CR |
Program Elective (PTEC 190 series) | 3 CR |
PTEC 205 | Dynamic Process Control (Simulators) | 5 CR |
PTEC 212 | Industrial Processes & Equipment | 5 CR |
PTEC 270 | Project I (or PTEC 290 Internship I in summer) | 5 CR |
PTEC 207 | Process Quality Control | 5 CR |
PTEC 215 | Process Technology III (Operations) | 5 CR |
PTEC 272 | Project II (or PTEC 291 Internship II in summer) | 5 CR |
PTEC 190 | Food Processing | 3 CR |
PTEC 191 | Non-Refining Processes | 3 CR |
PTEC 192 | Pulp & Paper Processing | 3 CR |
PTEC 193 | Upstream Process | 3 CR |
PTEC 194 | Wastewater Treatment | 3 CR |
PTEC 195 | Biodiesel Fundamentals | 3 CR |
PTEC 196 | Green Energy | 3 CR |
PTEC 197 | Cooperative Education | 3 CR |
PTEC 198 | Basic Mechanical Skills | 3 CR |
PTEC 199 | Power Generation | 3 CR |
PTEC 290 | Process Technology Practicum/Internship I | 5 CR |
PTEC 291 | Process Technology Practicum/Internship II | 5 CR |
Over the next 10 years, according to future retirement data, there will be a great need for trained process operators in the industry, both locally and nationally. Process Technology Program students can expect to earn excellent wages and continue to have job opportunities. Employers across a range of industries want to hire people with strong problem-solving and hands-on skills, who are trained and ready to go.
A total of 84% of BTC Process Technology graduates are employed within nine months of graduation. Of graduates employed in-field, their median wage nine months after graduating is $96,811. Please see “Employment Information” above for more details.
Criminal convictions may restrict or prevent student participation with internships and employment in this industry.
Our processing technology graduates are readily employable and actively recruited by local, regional, national, and international industries. BTC collaborates with local industry, employers, and our state and local governments to determine the skills our workforce requires to keep the economy strong.
Process technicians may find career opportunities in a variety of industries including: chemical, petrochemical, refining, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, power generation, utilities, food and beverage, and water treatment. In many instances, process operators will interface with other technical personnel, such as maintenance electricians, instrument technicians, chemical laboratory technicians, plant engineers, industrial trainers and managers.