BTC’s Administrative Assistant program is not accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year.
If you’re interested in similar programs, please visit our Business Area of Study page.
Train for a career as an administrative assistant, administrative secretary, office administrator, or office manager, and work in your choice of business and office settings. Bellingham Technical College's Administrative Assistant program will prepare you for success in today’s business world as you use your math, communication, and technical reading skills—and discover your personal strengths.
This program will prepare you for a career as an administrative assistant so you can provide office support and customer service in a variety of industries including health care, education, legal, finance, insurance, manufacturing, construction, and government.
Data are provided on a program (not credential) level
66% BTC graduate placement rate1
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.
BUS 150 | Math for Business | 5 CR |
AENGL 100 | Applied English | 5 CR |
OR |
BUS 188 | Business English | 5 CR |
OR |
ENGL& 101 | English Composition I | 5 CR |
CMST& 210 | Interpersonal Communication | 5 CR |
ACCT 141 | Practical Accounting I | 5 CR |
OR |
ACCT& 201 | Principles of Accounting I | 5 CR |
BIT 100 | Survey of Business and Information Technology | 2 CR |
BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business | 5 CR |
BUS 123 | Records Management | 3 CR |
BUS 191 | Technical Communications | 5 CR |
BUS& 201 | Business Law | 5 CR |
BUS 276 | Field-Based Experience | 5 CR |
CAP 101 | Microsoft Computer Applications | 5 CR |
CAP 111 | Skillbuilding and Document Formatting | 5 CR |
CAP 114 | Microsoft Outlook | 3 CR |
CAP 138 | MS Word | 5 CR |
CAP 142 | Microsoft Excel | 5 CR |
CAP 143 | Adobe File Management | 3 CR |
CAP 146 | Microsoft Access | 3 CR |
CAP 148 | MS PowerPoint | 3 CR |
IT 107 | Using Cloud Services | 3 CR |
Administrative Assistant students are encouraged to choose elective credits from any 100 level or higher courses with the following prefixes: ACCT, ACCT&, BIOL&, CHEM&, BUS, BUS&, CAP, CMST&, CS&, ECON&, ENGL&, HIST&, HT, HUM&, IT, MATH&, PHYS&, POLS&, PSYC&, SOC&, and SPAN&. | 15 CR |
Job openings are expected to be plentiful, especially for well-qualified and experienced administrative assistants. Rapidly growing industries, such as personnel supply, computer and data processing, and management and public relations, will also generate new job opportunities.
The average annual wage in this field is $41,330, with an earning potential of about $50,627 per year.
Administrative assistants are needed in a variety of industries. Employment for administrative assistants is projected to grow 19 percent in Washington State and decline by 9 percent across the United States according to O*Net OnLine
If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.
Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email BusinessITNav@btc.edu