The Assessment Center at Bellingham Technical College provides testing and proctoring for the college placement test (ACCUPLACER Next-Generation), GED examinations and other programs, and industrial and career related testing. BTC’s Assessment Center is a member of the National College Testing Association and follows its professional testing standards. BTC is committed to ensuring equal access for participation in any college program, activity, or event.

Please be aware that we monitor the testing center via recorded video cameras. Cheating and misconduct are not tolerated in the Assessment Center. Testing candidates are expected to conduct themselves with honesty, integrity at all times, during all phases of the testing process, and agree to abide by the terms and conditions of testing set forth by the Assessment Center.

Guided Self Placement

Before a new student meets with a College Navigator for a mandatory GET Started advising appointment to enroll in classes, they need to have achieved placement. To enroll in degree programs at BTC, both an English and math placement are required. There are multiple methods for a new student to assess their starting point at BTC. They may use one or more of the following:

• Submit official Washington State High School transcripts from within the last three (3) years for evaluation
  • We cannot accept out-of-state High School Transcripts for placement.
• Submit official transcripts from other colleges or universities for evaluation
  • Must be from a regionally accredited institution.
• Submit other test scores for evaluation (ACCUPLACER, Compass, Asset, Smarter Balance, SAT, ACT etc.)
• Complete Bellingham Technical College Guided Self-Placement Assessments

Guided Self-Placement (GSP) consists of online English and Math assessments. They define and demonstrate requirements that are specific to the different courses in which a student can place. Guided self-placement is intended to support students to be successful in their coursework. It is designed to help them make an informed choice about which level of classes are most appropriate to start. The assessments are free, and can be accessed online at any time.

Guided Self-Placement English and math Assessments:

www.btc.edu/GuidedPlacement

Official transcripts/scores must be sent directly from the institution to BTC: Electronically via Transcripts@btc.edu or by mail to BTC Admissions & Advising, 3028 Lindbergh Ave, Bellingham WA 98225                                                                                                 *You must have an application to BTC on file for your transcript to be evaluated

Transfer ACCUPLACER Scores

If you would like to take the ACCUPLACER at BTC and have your scores transferred to another college, please inform your Proctor at the time of testing.  Below are instructions on how to transfer your scores: 

1. You may print your ACCUPLACER score report by logging in to your ACCUPLACER account using the email address that you registered during your testing session at  ACCUPLACER Student Portal. 

   Instructions

   • Go to the ACCUPLACER student portal.

   You’ll need to provide your name, date of birth, ctcLink ID number, and where you took the test. If you don’t remember your student ID, contact the school where you took the test.

   • Submit your information and click “Send Reports.”

   We’ll send a link to view and print your test results to the email address you provided when you took your ACCUPLACER test.

   • Check your email.

   If you don’t see an email with your ACCUPLACER score report, make sure you’re checking the same email address you gave when you took the test. If you still can’t find your score report, contact the school where you took the test.

CASAS Exam

Thursday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Any student taking a course in our Transitional Studies building or participating in an IBEST program will need to take the CASAS exam for the purpose of tracking student progress. If you are a student this will benefit, the exam is given through the Assessment Center at no cost to the students.  

The CASAS exam consists of Reading, Listening, and Math and is not a pass or fail the exam; and it is simply a measurement tool. Students that show a need for an extended time will receive a letter to share with their instructors to help with extended time facilitation. For questions and additional information, please contact the Transitional Studies department at 360.752.8341.  

Students required to take CASAS exams:  

• Accuplacer score below a certain range  
• ELA students  
• IBEST program students  
• High school 21 students
  

Beginning April 3, 2023: Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Go to GED Registration and Appointments to register and make your test appointments. Each of the four tests costs $30, payable online with a debit/credit card. A valid, government-issued photo ID is required at time of testing. GED tests are generally available weekday mornings and afternoons; the actual schedule is available through GED Registration and Appointments once registration has been completed.

Test Scoring:

The GED test will have a passing score of 150 on each test part. Therefore, you will need to reach a score of at least 150 on each part and a total score of 600 across the four-part battery in order to receive your GED test credential. The retest fee is $30 and must be paid before each retest.

GED Transcripts:

All GED transcripts must be requested through www.ged.com. Bellingham Technical College does not keep GED records.

For Accommodations:

Go to GED Accommodations if you feel you have an accommodation that may require:

• Extended time
• Private room
• Calculator
• Frequent Breaks
• etc.

Documentation Guidelines for Candidates for GED Accommodations.

Accommodations Supporting Documentation

Important Information

As of January 2, 2014, a new version of the GED is in place and offered exclusively on the computer. Pre-2014 test scores will not carry over to the new version, so students that did not successfully complete all five exams with a 450 average or higher by December 13, 2013, will need to re-test all sections.

Beginning April 3, 2023: Tuesday & Wednesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

ATI TEAS, the Test of Essential Academic Skills is required for BTC’s Veterinary Technician and Dental Hygiene programs.

• Effective April 12, 2023, the Nursing, Radiologic, & Surgery Technology programs will no longer require the ATI TEAS assessment as an admissions requirement.
• If you plan to apply before April 12^th, please know that a completed application must include the TEAS with a score at the "PROFICIENT" level or higher in each of the four areas on one transcript, as well as all other program admissions requirements completed.
• Applicants applying on or after April 12^th will not be expected to have taken the ATI TEAS assessment.  

Bring your receipt and photo ID to testing in the Assessment Center. 
During peak times scheduling ATI TEAS testing in our Assessment Center will be limited. Students can take the ATI TEAS test remotely through the ATI website.
Pay $90 at the BTC Cashier (with ctcLink ID number), BTC Campus Store, or Campus Store Online.
Non-BTC students are welcome to take the ATI TEAS test and have their scores transferred to another college. ATI will charge an additional fee to have scores transferred.
For more information regarding ATI TEAS, visit www.atitesting.com.

Beginning April 17, 2023: Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Bellingham Technical College is proud to be a Pearson VUE Select Testing Center. Being a Pearson VUE Testing Center allows BTC's Assessment Center to have an even greater potential to help our students, staff, and our community by providing them with access to certifications and qualifications that develop their skills and knowledge. We are able to provide professional and IT exams, such as those for CompTIA, Cisco, Oracle, HP, VMware and may other leading global programs.

How to Schedule an Exam

All Pearson VUE tests can be scheduled through the Pearson VUE website.

Available Exams

Though we are able to offer many more exams here are some of those we can proctor:

• ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist
• Advanced Deploy vSphere 6.5 Exam 2018
• American Society for Nondestructive Testing: IRRSP Radioactive Materials (RAM)
• Cisco Systems
• CompTIA
• GIAC
• Microsoft: Azure Administrator Certification Transition
• Microsoft: Developing Microsoft SQL Server Databases
• Microsoft: Identity with Windows Server
• Microsoft: Installing and Configuring Windows 10
• Microsoft: Networking with Windows Server
• NACE
• NES: Early Childhood Education
• NES: Elementary Education I & 2
• NES: Special Education
• Oracle Database SQL
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCE)
• WEST-B
• Zend Certified Engineer

Contact the staff in our Assessment Center with any questions you have at assessment@btc.edu or call 360.752.8335.

Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3)

Fee: $35 per test (3 tests in battery); $10 for practice test (recommended in advance).

BTC offers the Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3) test as a challenge test to the Introduction to Computers (CAP 101) course required for some programs. To successfully challenge the CAP 101 course, you must pass all three sections of the IC3 Windows 2007/Office 2010 Exams: Computing Fundamentals, Key Applications, and Living Online. Find more information about the IC3 and test preparation on BTC's IC3 Brochure as well as at www.certiport.com.

ASE - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (Please contact the Assessment Center for scheduling information)

Candidates will select and pay for their exam at www.ase.com Once they have confirmation # they will call the BTC Assessment Center at 360.752.8335 or email assessment@btc.edu to schedule their appointment.

ASE Testing is available Monday - Thursday during regular operating hours.

Certiport Exams

We can proctor the following exams. Please visit www.certiport.com to pay for your exam and add it to your account:

• Adobe Certified Associate
• Adobe Certified Expert
• Outmodes Certified Professional
• Outmodes Certified User
• IC3
• Intuit QuickBooks
• Microsoft Certified Educator
• Microsoft Office Specialist
• Microsoft Technology Associate

NATE (North American Technician Excellence, Inc.)

We can proctor the following exams. Please visit www.natex.org for exam details. Please pay for your exam at the Cashiers window in the College Services Building, you will need to have a prefilled NATE Testing Form with you. Bring your receipt and photo ID to testing in the Assessment Center. Once you have paid for your exam call the BTC Assessment Center at 360.752.8335 or email Assessment@btc.edu to schedule an appointment.

NATE Testing is available Monday - Friday during regular operating hours.

• Ready to Work $100 (2nd attempt $70)
• HVAC Support Exam $125
• NATE Core Exam $155
• Senior Level Technical $200
• NATE Specialty Exam $155
  • ACSV - Air Conditioning Service
  • ACIN - Air Conditioning Installation
  • HPSV - Heat Pump Service
  • HPIN - Heat Pump Installation
  • ADSV - Air Distribution Service
  • ADIN - Air Distribution Installation
  • GSSV - Gas Heating Service
  • GSIN - Gas Heating Installation
  • OLSV - Oil Heating Service
  • OLIN - Oil Heating Installation
  • HGSV - Hydronics Gas Service
  • HGIN - Hydronics Gas Installation
  • HOSV - Hydronics Oil Service
  • HOIN - Hydronics Oil Installation
  • RCSV - Commercial Refrigeration Service
  • RCIN - Commercial Refrigeration Install
  • LCSV - Light Commercial Refrigeration Service
  • LCIN - Light Commercial Refrigeration Install

Proctored Exams

The Assessment Center offers proctored exams for BTC students taking online classes as well as for the general community. There is a $30 community proctored exam fee for non-BTC students, payable at the BTC Cashier, BTC Campus Store, or Campus Store Online. Students must contact assessment@btc.edu or call 360.752.8335 to arrange test material delivery prior to testing.