We will help you transition to BTC

BTC accepts both traditional and non-traditional credit for equivalency to BTC courses, including:

• College/university coursework from regionally accredited institutions
• AP College Board test scores
• Credit for prior experiential learning (ex. work or military experience)
• Prior approved industry certifications

Apply Now!   

Submit an online application through the Online Admissions Application Portal. Applying online takes approximately 15 minutes, and it’s free! 

Within 10-14 business days of submitting your application, you will receive your Welcome to BTC email with your assigned ctcLink ID number. Sometimes this email can be sent to your junk/spam folders, so be sure to check there too!  

If you have previously attended BTC and are looking to re-enroll, or if you applied to BTC and never attended, and it has been longer than one (1) year since you last submitted the application, please resubmit the application to BTC.

Apply for Financial Aid  

Visit the Explore Financial Aid page for more information. 

At BTC, we help students use previously earned college or university credit to meet BTC testing, prerequisite, general academic course requirements, and sometimes program coursework.

There are multiple measures to assess your starting point at BTC:

• Submit transcripts to Enrollment Services from other colleges attended for evaluation.

• Submit Washington State High School English and/or math GPAs to Enrollment Services from within the last three (3) years for evaluation. (We cannot accept out-of-state High School Transcripts to waive placement.) If you are submitting a Washington State High School transcript for placement, please have the official transcript sent directly to Transcripts@btc.edu.

• Submit SAT and ACT test scores to Enrollment Services for evaluation.
• Submit other test scores to Enrollment Services for evaluation (Compass, Asset, etc.).
• Submit GED transcripts (visit GED.com).
• Guided Self-Placement English and math Assessments:

  www.btc.edu/GuidedPlacement

To transfer credits from another institution to BTC please use the following form: Transfer Credit Evaluation request

• Transfer credit must be from a regionally accredited institution.
• Official college or institution transcripts must be submitted. Contact the previous college or institution you attended and request an Official Transcript.
• Official Transcripts being submitted by the student must be sealed by the college or institution. Opened transcripts will be considered unofficial and cannot be used for transfer of credits (this is also true for emailed transcripts, if they come from a student email they are unofficial). 
• You must earn a "C" (2.0) or better for your course to be considered for transfer credit. Note: requirements may be higher for specific programs, be sure to check the Entry Information tab of your program page.

Official transcripts can be mailed to the following address: 
Bellingham Technical College
ATTN: Enrollment Services
3028 Lindbergh Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

If you are ordering an official electronic transcript (e-transcript) send to transcripts@btc.edu 

Once you have ordered your official transcript to be sent to BTC, transcripts typically arrive to BTC’s campus within three days to three weeks. Once all your official transcript(s) listed on your form have arrived to BTC, processing takes 6+ weeks.  Processing may take longer during peak registration periods, please plan ahead. You will receive transcript evaluation results to your email that you provided in the BTC application. 

Transcript evaluation results determine which of your previous courses transfer into BTC, and if we can use your courses for Math and English placement for program entry requirements. They will also determine your next admissions steps. Your evaluation results will state if you are eligible to move on to step three in the admissions process: Advising & Registration. If your evaluation results determine you are unable to move on to admissions step three, you may be required to take Guided Self Placement.

Course Equivalencies

Review a list of Course Equivalencies for our most common transfer institutions. 

Veterans   

The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that any other college transcripts and military training transcript be evaluated for transfer-in credit. This is not an optional step – all transcripts must be evaluated prior to admission.  You will need to have official copies of your transcripts from previous colleges and your Joint Services Transcript (JST SMART Transcript) delivered to BTC. View more information about evaluation, benefits and certification on the Veterans Support page.

International Transcripts

You will need to have your transcripts evaluated through one of the following independent credit evaluation services:

• World Education Services: www.wes.org
• Foundation for International Services: www.fis-web.com
• American Association of Collegiate Registrars: www.aacrao.org

View more information on the International Students page.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Transfer FAQs

• Is my high school IEP or 504 Plan transferable to college?

  No.

  While Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans may provide some useful information when determining college accommodations, students may be asked to obtain more detailed documentation from a qualified diagnostician to support their request for accommodation. 

• Do I need a certain grade to transfer credits?

  You must earn a "C" (2.0) or better for your course to be considered for transfer credit.

• What courses are accepted for transfer?

  Courses are considered for transfer credit when they match the content of courses required for BTC programs. Review a list of Course Equivalencies for our most common transfer institutions.

• How do I request transfer credit?

  Arrange for Enrollment Services to receive your official transcript from the transfer institution. Or you may hand-deliver your official, sealed transcript to Enrollment Services in College Services (CS 110).

• How long does transfer credit evaluation take?

  Once your records are received, processing takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks. Processing may take longer during peak registration periods. Please plan ahead.

• When should I request transfer credit evaluation?

  We recommend you submit your records at least three (3) months prior to the quarter you plan to attend.

• Will my transfer grades affect my BTC GPA?

  Your transfer credits will not be computed in your GPA.

• What if I have International transcripts?

  You will need to have your transcripts evaluated through one of the following independent credit evaluation services:

  • World Education Services www.wes.org

  • Foundation for International Services www.fis-web.com

  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars www.aacrao.org 

• What about other credit transfer options?

  If you have taken and earned appropriate test scores through the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) test or International Baccalaureate (IB), took CTE Dual Credit classes in high school, or have earned a recognized professional or industry certification, your test scores and/or prior experience can be considered for BTC college credit.

  • Learn more about transferring Non-traditional Credits (i.e. AP, CLEP, DANTES, and military credit) (PDF | RTF)

  • AP Test Score Equivalencies (PDF)

  • Cambridge International (CI) Test Score Equivalencies

  • CLEP Test Score Equivalencies (PDF)

  • DSST (formerly DANTES) Test Score Equivalencies (PDF)

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Test Score Equivalencies (PDF)

  • Learn more about CTE Dual Credit

  If you are currently attending another institution and want to take a course at BTC to transfer back, contact Admissions & Advising by calling 360.752.8345, or by emailing admissions@btc.edu, to schedule an appointment with an advisor during General Registration dates only.

  Bring the following 2 items to your appointment:

  • Your student ID card from your current college

  • An unofficial transcript from your current college

Now that you have completed Admissions Steps one and two, you are now ready for a GET Started appointment! Students will attend a mandatory GET Started appointment with an Admissions & Advising staff member. In the GET Started appointment, you will navigate your Goals, create an Education Plan, become Tech Ready, and register for classes.  

To schedule your GET Started appointment, please fill out the appointment request form , and an Admissions & Advising staff member will contact you.  

Important Notes:  

• We are currently offering these appointments remotely, either through Zoom or over the phone and in person on campus. If you schedule the GET Started appointment over the phone, you will still need access to a laptop/computer with internet access. In person appointments available Monday & Thursday.
• Admissions Steps one and two must be completed before 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.  

If you have questions about the GET Started appointment, please contact Admissions & Advising office 360.752.8345 or admissions@btc.edu. 

Additional registration resources are available to you on the Registration webpage.

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 Morse Center (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 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.