Transfer Student

We’ll 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
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Apply

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 previously and never attended, and it has been longer than two (2) years 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. 

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Evaluation

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.)
  • 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 coursework from another college or institution to BTC it must meet the following conditions: 

  • You must have applied to BTC and have a ctcLink ID number.
  • It 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. 
  • 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 your official transcript(s) has arrived to BTC, processing takes approximately 2-4 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:

View more information on the International Students page.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Non-degree seeking students are students who are attending another institution (college or university) and are interested in only taking one-quarter of classes at BTC to transfer back to their institution. Non-degree seeking students can follow these three simple steps below:

  1. Admissions Step One: Apply to BTC. You will receive a Welcome to BTC email with your ctcLink ID number within 10-14 business days
  2. Once you receive your ctcLink ID number, you can send a PDF copy of your current college unofficial transcript to transcripts@btc.edu. In the email please include: your full name
    date of birth, indicate that you are a non-degree seeking student, and the class you would like to register for at BTC, course item number.
  3. You will receive an email reply with unofficial transcript evaluation results within 2-4 weeks to determine if you met the prerequisite(s) for the BTC course(s) you intend to register for and your next steps.

*If you plan to take more than one quarter of classes at BTC, you will need to order an official transcript and follow admissions steps one, two and three

Transfer FAQs

 

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Advising & Registration

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.

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Attend

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. 

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Hours & Contacts

Regular Hours

Mon to Thu: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fri: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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