Student Veterans of America, BTC Chapter

The BTC Veterans Club is a chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA), consists of a board of elected student executives and staff advisors, and convenes weekly for lunchtime meetings open to the general campus community.

The purpose of this club is to foster peer support within the veteran community on campus, give veterans a place to meet one another, and act as a platform for discussing and advocating for veteran’s academic needs. This club is recognized nationally by the SVA as well as internally by the Associated Students of Bellingham Technical College (ASBTC).

Club Gatherings

Online meetings coming soon! 

Find out more about the National Club – Student Veterans of America

To continue receiving benefits, submit your student schedule each quarter to be certified for the next quarter.

If you are requesting benefits for the first time next quarter, refer to Certifying information and submit required documentation to our certifying official.

Make sure you satisfy the requirement of having your previous college and military transcripts evaluated. There is a limit to the number of quarters you can be certified before this occurs.

Veterans Standards of Progress

Veterans Services will not pay educational benefits if any of the following occurs:

• The veteran registers for classes that are not specified as necessary for the declared program of study. Depending on circumstances, deficiency or remedial courses may be certified for benefits.
• The veteran fails to submit all previous academic and military transcripts for evaluation.
• The veteran registers for two or more courses and receives “F” or “W” grades for all courses in one quarter.
• The veteran fails to convert an “I” grade to a letter grade within one year from receiving the "I" grade.
• The veteran fails to attend class for the quarter for which VA educational benefits are received.
• The veteran fails to achieve the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for three consecutive quarters.

Payment - to BTC and to You

Watch for payment due dates on the College Calendar . Submit your schedule early!

• Student Schedule - Submit your student schedule right after you register for classes; before the payment due date is best.
• Book Vouchers - Book Vouchers will be available one week before the new quarter start for students who have submitted class schedules in a timely manner.
• Tuition and Fees - If you are required to pay a portion of tuition and fees, be sure to pay before the payment due date. Don't get dropped for non-payment!
• Reimbursement - If you are receiving benefits under Chapter 33, remember that it takes 7-8 weeks for you to be reimbursed any Financial Aid used to cover tuition and fees.

Information about qualifying pay rates and payment dates for Chapter 30, 35, and 1606 is available only through direct contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs at www.va.gov or by phone at 888.442.4551 .

Residency and Veterans

See Residency for Veteran Students

Questions?

Contact us at veterans@btc.edu .

See Resources for additional people to ask for assistance.

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. Once we have all of your transcripts, and the evaluation request form on file the evaluation process typically takes up to 3 weeks.

Veteran students using education benefits are not permitted to opt out of prior credit evaluation.

BTC Military Transcript Evaluation Policy

Non-Traditional Credit Prior Learning Assessment Policy

Credit by Examination Form

College Transcripts

All college transcripts must be official copies, in sealed unopened envelopes. It is your responsibility to contact the previous college and request your transcripts. You can hand-deliver, mail in, or have the previous college directly send us these transcripts. Please note there is typically a small fee associated with ordering official transcripts that you will be responsible for.

Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard & Navy Transcripts

To order your Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy transcripts you will need to go to https://jst.doded.mil/ (you may receive a certificate error on this website, this site is safe so you can continue). This website will walk you through the steps of ordering your official military transcripts.

Army and National Guard transcripts can only be ordered and delivered online. All other services, there are two types of delivery methods:

Online Delivery - You can order as many transcript as needed for on-line delivery. Transcripts ordered by 11:59 p.m. central time will be delivered via the web on the next business day after ordered.

U.S. Postal Service Delivery - Only 2 transcripts within 30 days can be ordered due to production and postage costs. Hard copies will be mailed on the next business day after the transcripts are ordered.

Air Force Transcripts

To order your Air Force transcripts you will need to go to Community College of the Air Force Transcripts . CCAF provides several options for ordering your official transcript as detailed on their website. You may also view your unofficial transcript online through this website at any time. All official transcripts are hard copy, as they do not have the ability to send transcripts electronically at this time.

ACCUPLACER Placement Testing

If you do not have previous college credits, you will need to take the ACCUPLACER placement test. ACCUPLACER is not a pass/fail test. It simply measures your current skill level. Your scores will help you choose the right classes, make a plan, and obtain any needed support services. Starting off with ACCUPLACER means a more successful college experience.

Early Registration for Veteran Students

As a Veteran enrolled in a BTC educational program, you get to register first for next quarter classes! Make sure that you verify your veteran status with our Veteran School Certifying Official in order to be assigned Early Registration. Watch for your registration access time in myBTC and register right after your assigned time.

Graduation Honor Cords

BTC Veteran Graduates are given Veteran Honor Cords for the Commencement Ceremony . Pick up your Veteran Honor Cord during Commencement check-in.

Residency Status Review

If you are a Veteran with non-resident status whose separation date is within the last three years, we would like to review your residency status.

The VA School Certifying Official at BTC is able to assist Veteran students and Children/Spouse of disabled, POW/MIA or Deceased Veterans with residency questions and paperwork.

See Residency for Veteran Students for more information.

Advising / Educational Plan

Our Admissions & Advising office has staff available who are acquainted with Veteran concerns. See BTC Contacts .

BTC Contacts

Contact us at veterans@btc.edu . 

Additional Resources

VA Education Call Center - 888.442.4551
VA general benefit information – 800.827.1000
Mount Vernon VA medical facility - CBOC: 360.848.8500
Bellingham Vet Center : "Help without Hassle" 360.733.9226
VA debt management: 800.827.0648
VA Puget Sound health care: 206.762.1010
VA Puget Sound health care enrollment: 800.326.8387
VA vocational rehabilitation, Mt. Vernon: 360.424.5470
Whatcom County disabled American veterans: 360.715.7453
Whatcom County veterans assistance program: 360.715.7453
FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid)
Military benefits
Mesothelioma Guide
Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance calculator
Student Veterans of America

Residency for Military, Veteran and Dependent Students

Military service does not change your legal domicile or residency status. If you were classified as non-resident during the admissions process and you are Active Military, or a Veteran within 1-3 years of separation, we would like to review your residency status.

Active Duty Military and Washington National Guard

If you are a Washington State resident stationed elsewhere, you are still considered a Washington State resident and may take classes online at the Resident rate. If you are Active Military stationed in Washington State, you may be classified as Military Personnel and pay the Resident Rate. To request your status be changed to Military Personnel, submit to the Residency Officer in Admissions and Advising.

• Washington Residence Questionnaire

• Military ID (copy of the front)

• Current Orders (PCS)

Dependents of Active Duty Military and Washington National Guard

Dependents may be eligible for the resident rate under the Resident or Military Personnel classification.

• Washington Residence Questionnaire

• Official ID such as Military ID, drivers license or passport

• Current Orders (PCS)

• Documentation of your relation to the military person such as military papers, marriage license, birth certificate

Veteran Students

If you were classified as non-resident during the admissions process and you are a Veteran within 1-3 years of separation, talk with the BTC Certifying Official or email residency@btc.edu to request your residency status be reviewed. The BTC Veteran Certifying Official can assist you with supporting documents to submit with the WA Residence Questionnaire.

• Washington Residence Questionnaire

• DD-214

• Certificate of Eligibility

Our Residency Officer will review your request. BTC student Veterans may be eligible for one of these classifications.

1. Washington Resident

   If you are a Washington Resident and a Veteran who has returned to Washington within a year of separation, you are still considered a Washington State resident.

   • Live in Washington State
   • DD-214 listing Washington State as your place of entry into Military Service
   • You are returning to Washington within a year of separation

2. Veteran Classified as Military Personnel – Resident Rate

   There are three criteria for a Veteran student to be classified as Military Personnel.

   • Live in Washington State
   • Separated from uniformed services with any period of honorable service after at least 90 days of active duty service
   • Entering BTC (1st day of 1st quarter) within three years of the date of separation

   If you are eligible for this classification, your Student Schedule will read:

   Residency Status: 2 NON_RESDNT

   Fee Paying Status: 09 MILITARY PERSONNEL

   Students classified as MILITARY PERSONNEL pay the Resident Rate.

3. BTC Tuition Waiver – Reduced Non-Resident Waiver Rate

   The BTC Tuition Waiver is for US Citizens and permanent residents who have been living in other US States or Territories during the last year. As a Veteran, you can qualify for this waiver.

   If you are eligible for this classification, your Student Schedule will read:

   Residency Status: 2 NON_RESDNT

   Fee Paying Status: 29 NONRES OPER FEE WVR

   Students eligible for BTC’s Tuition Waiver pay the BTC Tuition Waiver Rate which is higher than the resident rate, but significantly lower than the non-resident rate. See Tuition Rates.

Veteran Dependents

As a Veteran Dependent, you will submit your Certificate of Eligibility, or you will submit the documentation required of the service veteran plus proof of your relation to the veteran, such as military documentation, marriage license, birth certificate.

A veteran dependent student may be eligible for one of these classifications or waivers.

• Washington Resident
• Veteran Dependent Classified as Military Personnel – Resident Rate
• BTC Tuition Waiver – Reduced Non-Resident Waiver Rate
• WAIVER for Children/Spouse of Totally Disabled or POW/MIA or Deceased Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members

Documentation to submit for WA Resident, Military Personnel, and BTC Tuition Waiver (numbers 1-3 above)

• Washington Residence Questionnaire

• DD-214

• Certificate of Eligibility

• Documentation of relation to the veteran such as military documentation, marriage license, birth certificate

WAIVER for Children/Spouse of Totally Disabled or POW/MIA or Deceased Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members

Submit this request form/checklist and all required documents to BTC's Veteran Certifying Official.

If you are eligible for this Waiver, your Student Schedule will read:

Residency Status: 2 NON_RESDNT

Fee Paying Status: 72 FALLEN VET SPS/CHLD

Students eligible for this waiver pay zero tuition and class fees. Tuition will be $0.00 (zero) immediately. Fees will be “paid by waiver” overnight. If you have tuition or fees showing as due on your student account more than 1 business day after registering for classes, email registration@btc.edu to check the waiver status on your Student Schedule for that quarter.

Residency Questions?

The VA School Certifying Official at BTC is able to assist Veteran students and Children/Spouse of disabled, POW/MIA or Deceased Veterans with residency and waiver paperwork.

Email residency@btc.edu if you have questions for our Residency Officer.