Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences

Fisheries and Aquaculture Techniques - Certificate

Want to fast-track your education? The Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques Certificate focuses on applied, technical skill development in just nine months to maximize learning with a minimal time commitment. This certificate is ideal for students exploring new career pathways, established industry members desiring additional training, or those wishing to supplement their bachelor’s degree with hands-on experience.

Certificate students wishing to learn more advanced topics for higher employment placement may apply all Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques certificate course credits towards an AAS or AAS-T in Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences. Upon completion of the Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques Certificate, students also receive the Aquaculture Science Certificate of Completion.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences Video

Employment Information

Data are provided on a program (not credential) level

63%¹ BTC graduate placement rate (Employment Security Department- WA and OR only)
96%³ BTC graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)
78%³ BTC in-field graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)

$46,473 starting annual wage²
$53,133 average annual wage²
$64,731 potential annual wage²

Employment and Wage Data Sources and Information

¹Employment data come from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and reflect WA/OR employment for students enrolled at BTC between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Students are included in the employment rate if they left with a credential. Rates are not shown for programs with fewer than 10 students meeting the above criteria.

²Whatcom County and WA State wage data come from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates and reflect 2018-21 employment. Wage data represent occupations that BTC faculty have identified as the most relevant career paths for program graduates. Note that these wages reflect employees with varying educational levels/credentials. For cases in which multiple occupations have been identified by faculty, a weighted percentile is calculated using each occupation’s percentile wage and employment size estimate. Wages are not shown for programs for which occupations do not meet the ESD’s minimum thresholds for publishing. If the program has wage data from the Washington SBCTC that involves shift work, these ESD wages reflect the same number of hours used in the annual wage calculation. Starting wage = 25th percentile, median wage = 50th percentile, wage potential = 75th percentile.

³Additional employment rates are provided for programs with faculty who maintain their own employment records of students who graduated between 2017-18 and 2019-20 and who were employed within 9 months of graduation. Both overall and in field of study employment rates are included, respectively. For these programs, the format follows: ESD rate / faculty-tracked overall rate / faculty-tracked in-field rate. These additional, faculty-provided rates are particularly important for programs that tend to have graduates employed outside of WA and OR. Note that due to lack of available data, rates may represent fewer than 3 years of graduates.

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

This program typically starts in Fall quarter.

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.

What are My Next Steps?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

Classes

Total Program Credits: 40

Current Students: Learn how to use this page to register for classes
You are now able to sign up for classes in ctcLink using the class list below. It requires certain steps to work smoothly. Please read and follow the instructions:
Once at the beginning of each session:
- Follow the link below which will open the ctcLink login screen in a new browser tab
- In the new tab login to ctcLink
- Return back to this tab
These steps log you into ctcLink and keep you logged in until you log out manually or close your browser. If you or a public computer it is good security practice to logout and close all browser windows when you are done.
Proceed to ctcLink login in new window
For each class:
- Click on the name of the class below to show future offerings
- Click the 'Find in ctcLink' button below the class you wish to find. (Button will only show if registration is open.)
- A new tab with the ctcLink Class Search tool will open
- Without changing any of the filter options, click the 'Search' button
- Only the specific class you selected will show. If logged in following the steps above, you will be able to register for the class.

Core Courses for Program
AQUA 121 Principles of Aquaculture 5 CR
An introduction to the field of aquatic organism culturing as related to food and commercial production, wild stock enhancement, and conservation purposes. It addresses the history of the industry, the diversity of rearing strategies, best practices in both private and public settings, and emerging technologies.
Prerequisites:
Completion of AQUA 101 with a C- or higher OR concurrent enrollment in AQUA 101.
TOTAL Core Courses for Program Credits 5 CR
Electives
Elective Courses (Select any from this list.)
AQUA 131 Aquatic Chemistry with Lab 5 CR
Theory and applied concepts in water chemistry, with an emphasis on water quality monitoring and management in aquatic ecosystems and aquaculture environments. Course includes hands-on practice in water quality monitoring equipment and techniques.
Prerequisites:
Completion of AQUA 101 with a C- or higher OR concurrent enrollment in AQUA 101.
AQUA 141 Research Methods 3 CR
This course covers how to conduct research, design experiments, and evaluate information to inform natural resource and aquaculture management decisions. Students will develop foundational skills in managing, manipulating, and visualizing data in Excel.
Prerequisites:
Completion of AQUA 101 with a C- or higher OR concurrent enrollment in AQUA 101.
AQUA 201 Aquaculture Internship I 6 CR
AQUA 271 Data Analysis for Aquatic Sciences 5 CR
AQUA 272 Introduction to GIS 5 CR
AQUA 273 Animal Genetics with Lab 5 CR
AQUA 274 Organismal Biology with Lab 6 CR
BUS& 101 Introduction to Business 5 CR
Students are introduced to the broad field of business and its organization, operation and management. Business opportunities, ownership, marketing, physical factors, human resource, finance, regulations and decision-making processes are emphasized. Other topics include problems of organization, strategic management and controls. Fulfills the social science requirements at Bellingham Technical College.
Prerequisite:
Recommend experience in Word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
BUS& 201 Business Law 5 CR
This course introduces students to legal principles in the business world. Students will study law as it relates to contracts, torts, sales, business formation and dissolution, property, insurance, employment, and bankruptcy.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher, AND ACCUPLACER Writing (245) or higher OR ENGL 092 with a C or higher.
ECON& 201 Micro Economics 5 CR
Introduction to microeconomics. Presents supply and demand models, consumers and producers choice in the competitive and non-competitive market. Examines the various economic decisions made by firms relating to price, demand, factors or production, and cost.
Prerequisite:
ACCUPLACER AAF (240) or higher OR MATH 099 with a C or higher OR AMATH 111 with a C or higher.
ENGR& 104 Introduction to Engineering & Design 5 CR
Course explores the role of teamwork, creativity, and communication in innovative engineering design. Topics include engineering design process, collaborative problem solving techniques, and computer applications. Students will develop their knowledge and skills in these areas through a series of hands-on design projects.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER NextGen (254) or higher or Math 098 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher or RDG 085 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Writing (245) or higher or ENGL 092 with a C or higher.
TOTAL Electives Course Credits 17 CR
Program Specialty
AQUA 235 Aquaponics 2 CR
An introduction to the cross of aquaculture (animals) and hydroponics (plants) for sustainable food production. It addresses culturing system design and engineering, best practices for fish and plant culturing in a shared system, current industry regulations, and emerging technologies.
Prerequisites:
AQUA 101 and AQUA 121, both with a C- or higher.
AQUA 236 Fish Culture: Nutrition & Health 2 CR
AQUA 237 Fish Culture Practicum: Spring 2 CR
AQUA 241 Fisheries Stock Enhancement 2 CR
AQUA 242 Fisheries Stock Enhancement Practicum 3 CR
AQUA 252 Aquaculture Management 5 CR
TOTAL Program Specialty Course Credits 18 CR

View past class requirements for this program.
Select the year closest to the year started, without going over, to see program requirements for a student who started the program that year:

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques Certificate will be able to:

Demonstrate competency in hatchery methods and apply appropriate techniques to spawn, incubate, rear, and release fish.
Demonstrate competency in shellfish hatchery and aquaculture methods and apply appropriate techniques to raise diatoms, spawn shellfish, set seed, plant seed, culture and harvest shellfish.
Demonstrate competency in Habitat Restoration methods and apply techniques to improve and restore habitat, plant native vegetation, eliminate invasive species, and add woody debris and gravel to streams.
Demonstrate competency in field research, stream surveys, tag studies, spawning assessments, and smolt trap projects.

Employment Outlook

Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques Certificate graduates meet the requirements for Fish Hatchery Technician positions with WDFW and Biological Technician GS 3 positions with the federal government, and employment in tribal government, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Faculty & Support

Brittany Palm

Degrees and Credentials
MS, Marine Sciences, University of New England
BS, Marine Biology, University of New England
Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State

Sara Smith

Degrees and Credentials
Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State
MS, Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University
BS, Environmental Science-Freshwater Ecology Emphasis, Western Washington University

Contacts

If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.

Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email FisheriesNav@btc.edu

Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences

Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences

Fisheries and Aquaculture Techniques - Certificate

Employment Information

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

What are My Next Steps?

Classes

Total Program Credits: 40

Current Students: Learn how to use this page to register for classes

Core Courses for Program

Electives

Program Specialty

View past class requirements for this program.

Program Outcomes

Employment Outlook

Faculty & Support

Brittany Palm

Degrees and Credentials

Sara Smith

Degrees and Credentials

Contacts