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.

Apply Now!  

Submit an online application through the Online Admissions Application Portal Link. Once you create and log into your account, please select the following from the application homepage dropdown menus: 

1. College – Bellingham Technical College 
2. I will be enrolling as… -- First Year 
3. Program – Professional Technical*  
4. Term – [Preferred Starting Term] 
5. Degree or Certificate – [Please refer to our program webpages for degree and certificate titles]

BTC offers a Baccalaureatete program in Operations Management BAS.
There are two Academic degree-program options; Business DTA/MRP, and Pre-Nursing DTA/MRP (general education courses transferable to a nursing degree program; students interested in our Nursing degree program should select Professional Technical/Assoc in Nursing DTA/MRP). Please refer to our program webpages for more information.

Within 5 business days of submitting your application, you will receive your 'Welcome to BTC' email with your assigned student identification number (ctcLink ID). Sometimes this email can be sent to your junk/spam folders, so be sure to check there too!

Apply for Financial Aid 

Visit the Explore Financial Aid page for more information. To be successful in college, it is important to have a funding plan, as otherwise you might find yourself dropped from your classes for non-payment of tuition.  

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. Students who are pursuing a degree or certificate need to determine their math and English placement. For an overview of the requirements for your degree or certificate, please visit our Degrees & Certificates pages.

• The primary way to determine your starting point is to complete Guided Self-placement; a free short assessment questionnaire to determine your comfort with math and English.
  Guided Self-Placement English and math Assessments

• Another way to determine placement is to have transcripts/test scores sent in. Students can find more information on our Transfer Student page.  

*You must have an application to BTC on file and a Transfer Evaluation Request Form submitted for your transcript to be evaluated. 

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.

You will be sent a link to schedule your GET Started appointment once your transcripts are evaluated or you complete Guided Self Placement. If you completed your math and English placement steps and have not received a link to schedule a GET Started appointment, please email advising@btc.edu 

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 are receiving L & I benefits, need accommodations, or you cannot attend a GET Started appointment before the quarter begins, please contact Admissions & Advising at 360.752.8345.

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.