Bellingham Technical College provides student-centered, high-quality professional technical education for today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities. With over 39 degrees and 55 certificates, there are a variety of careers and programs to choose from.
We understand that attending college is a big decision and we're excited to work alongside you to help you achieve your goals. This Explore Your Pathway page is to assist you with learning the basics about college, how to explore BTC’s programs, and providing you the information you need to begin at BTC. Be sure to check the bolded terms below in the glossary of terms.
Visit the Meet with Student Services section below for modified availability of departments.
Bellingham Technical College is an open-admission institution, so every student is generally accepted to BTC when the application is completed! When determining the degree or certificate you would like to study at BTC, you will want to explore the program page and the program’s entry tab for further information.
Each BTC program will have minimum entry requirements students must complete to be eligible to register for program classes. Some programs only require minimum assessment or test scores to be met, while some programs have required prerequisite classes. If a program has prerequisite classes, you will be considered an Early Program student when you are completing the prerequisite classes. To determine if you met the program’s entry requirements, you will need to complete step two in the admissions process, assessing your starting point.
When exploring the program page, you will want to find when the program classes start. Some programs are set up in a cohort model, which means they start first quarter classes during specific quarters throughout the school year. For example, our Process Technology program admits new students into the program each Fall and Winter quarter, the Pastry Arts program only admits new students once a year in Fall quarter, and our Engineering AAS programs admit new students quarterly. Be sure to plan ahead and view the academic calendar below to view dates for new student registration and quarter starts.
A program may require general education classes. These classes can be taken any quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) and can be taken before your program classes start or incorporated into your program class schedule.
Need help choosing a program at BTC? Take the Career Coach Assessment! Choosing a BTC degree or certificate program that directly matches to your personality and interests is more likely to lead to career satisfaction and success after graduation.
If you still need assistance after you take the Career Coach Assessment, you can set up a Career Exploration appointment with a College Navigator. Navigators can help you clarify goals, interests, and values to plan for a rewarding career. They work with students in all stages of the career planning process, from developing career goals to gaining the interviewing skills needed to land your dream job. Call Admissions & Advising at 360.752.8345 to schedule a Career Exploration appointment.
Now that you decided on your program, you are ready to start the Admissions Steps. Follow the four simple admissions steps to begin your next chapter at BTC.
It is recommended that you complete admissions steps one, two, and three before new student registration opens for your intended quarter start date. Find the new student registration and quarter start dates on the academic calendar below. You can still complete the admission steps and register for classes after new student registration opens, but many classes are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
While you are beginning the admission steps, it is recommended to be simultaneously completing the funding steps too. View more information about tuition & fees, program cost estimates, funding resources and more on the Paying for College page.
As a technical college, we focus on hands-on learning. In addition to tuition and fees, programs may have additional costs such as supplies, tools, clothing, textbooks, etc., that are required. View the estimated materials and textbook costs on your program page.
Career Coach is a free online tool which can help you identify your interests and aptitudes, while helping you discover BTC degree and certificate programs that match your unique skills, interests, and strengths. It also provides extensive information about occupations, wages, and training using Emsi’s comprehensive labor market data.
As a future student, this tool will help you identify a program of interest before you apply to BTC. There are three assessments you can complete: a 6-question assessment, a 30-question assessment, and a 60-question assessment. All three will give you a thorough understanding of your unique interests and the career fields that match. As a current student at BTC, you can use Career Coach to build and share your résumé. You can also apply to open positions in your field of interest, posted by employers on Career Coach’s job board.
Sign up today to create a free Career Coach profile or simply take a Career Coach assessment to discover the career field and BTC program best for you!
To learn more about Bellingham Technical College's degree and certificate programs, join us for a FREE Program Info Session. Sign up is required; see links below to register. If you do not see an Info Session for the program you're interested in, please email outreach@btc.edu for more information.
Join us for a BTC Campus Tour to see where hands-on learning takes place at BTC! This guided walking tour will include general college services, campus resources, and up to two (2) program labs.
Campus tours will have limited space and availability. To mitigate the risk of COVID-19, each tour registrant is permitted to invite ONE (1) guest to accompany them. Social distancing and a mask which fully covers your nose and mouth will be required throughout the tour. To schedule a BTC Campus Tour, please visit Campus Tour Bookings.
Please note: Campus tours take place on our main campus; therefore, Composites Engineering Technology and Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences will not be included. For a tour of these programs and facilities, please contact outreach@btc.edu.
For group tours, please contact outreach@btc.edu.
Group tours and campus visits for up to 10 people people require a reservation. Please contact us at least two weeks in advance in order to ensure appropriate staffing for your group. We may also be able to provide other prospective student related services, upon request.
Contact the Outreach team and we will try to accommodate your schedule!
Members of the Outreach staff regularly visit local high schools throughout the school year. We can also arrange special visits. Examples of events that our staff attend include:
Contact us via email at outreach@btc.edu,by phone at 360.752.8345, or schedule a time to drop by our office in the College Services Building.
Student Services is available to you Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
See below for department specific information.
Accessibility Resources (AR) is a center for college accommodations, disability and accessibility education, and student development. AR helps students develop self-advocacy, identify barriers to their education, and develop an accommodation plan through an interactive process. Contact AR to discuss your accessibility/accommodation needs. If you are a new student or would like to apply for a new accommodation, please register using the AR Application. Returning AR students should schedule an appointment using myAR. AR staff are available in-person on Thursdays in the College Services Building by appointment only.
Admissions supports students as they apply to the college and navigate the admissions steps, including applying to the college, placement testing, and transcript evaluation. Contact us by emailing admissions@btc.edu, calling 360.752.8345, or dropping by our office in the College Services Building, Monday-Friday, 8-5 pm.
To schedule with the Assessment Center, email assessment@btc.edu or call 360.752.8335.
Advisors can help you explore careers, prepare for an internship, discuss specific program requirements and create a plan of classes to enroll in. Schedule an appointment with Advising by emailing admissions@btc.edu, calling 360.752.8345, or dropping by our office in the College Services Building, Monday - Friday, 8-5 pm.
BTC Counseling provides free, confidential personal counseling services to enrolled students. In addition to this short-term, solution-focused service, the BTC Counselors can also provide information on campus and community resources that may be of help to you. For more information or to book an appointment please visit BTC’s Counseling page or email counseling@btc.edu.
Registration staff assist students with class registration and class changes (adds/drops/withdrawals), provide enrollment verifications, process official transcript requests, maintain student records, notify students when they are not meeting satisfactory progress requirements, verify program course requirements at the time of completion, and mail diplomas to graduates. For assistance from Registration staff, please drop by the College Services Building Monday - Friday, or contact us at registration@btc.edu or 360.752.8350.
TRIO Student Support Services at BTC is a free program for eligible students who are motivated to get the most out of their college experience. TRIO offers personalized support aimed to help students navigate college, connect to the campus community, succeed in classes, graduate with a degree or certificate, and start a career or continue to a bachelor’s degree. If you are a new student, you can apply for TRIO on the TRIO Student Support Services page. Returning TRIO students can schedule a coaching appointment on the Schedule Coaching Appointment page. Coaching is currently offered by appointment only on Mondays and Thursdays in the Campus Center Building.
Student Financial Resources (SFR) supports students as they navigate how to pay for college. Our staff can assist with FAFSA/WAFSA questions, applying for financial aid, scholarships, and loans, paying tuition and fees, applying for Work Study, and additional funding opportunities. Additionally, we can help with Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) Services, questions about veteran’s benefits and support services, funding and services through the WorkFirst Program for students who are low income parents, scholarships for dislocated workers and students with low income through Workforce funding, and the Worker Retraining program for unemployed or displaced workers to update their skills.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties that are impacting your ability to continue your education, consider applying for BTC’s Emergency Funding program for additional financial assistance.
Drop by our office in the College Services Building Monday-Friday 8-5 pm, schedule a Student Financial Resources appointment via phone or Zoom to discuss a specific topic. Or reach us at 360.752.8351 or FinAid@btc.edu.
For additional contact information please visit the Department Directory page. You can also access more information on our Student Resources page.