Thank you for choosing Bellingham Technical College. We are excited to work alongside you to achieve your goals!

Follow the Admissions Steps below, or use the BTC Admissions Checklist as a printable guide. To be eligible to register for classes, admissions steps one, two and three need to be completed.

If you are a Veteran, Impact student, International student, Transfer student, Undocumented, L&I or Running Start student, be sure to check the Student Types page for additional information.

Apply Now!  

Submit an online application through the Online Admissions Application Portal Link . Once you create and log into your account, please select the following from the application homepage dropdown menus:

1. College – Bellingham Technical College
2. I will be enrolling as… -- First Year
3. Program – Professional Technical * 
4. Term – [ Preferred Starting Term ]
5. Degree or Certificate – [ Please refer to our program webpages for degree and certificate titles]

There are two Baccalaureate-programs; Engineering Technology BASand Operations Management BAS.
There are two Academicdegree-program options; Business DTA/MRP, and Pre-Nursing DTA/MRP(general education courses transferable to a nursing degree program; students interested in our Nursing degree program should select Professional Technical/ Assoc in Nursing DTA/MRP). Please refer to our program webpages for more information.

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

Apply for Financial Aid 

Visit the Explore Financial Aid page for more information. 

Once you have applied to BTC, you are now ready for step  two;  assessing your starting point. Degree or certificate seeking students need to determine their math and English starting points. Some programs require certain placement scores or entry requirements before starting program classes.  View your program or certificate entry requirements on the  Degrees & Certificates  pages .

Before a new student meets with a College Navigator for a mandatory GET Started advising appointment to enroll in classes, they need to have achieved placement. To enroll in degree programs at BTC, both an English and math placement are required. There are multiple methods for a new student to assess their starting point at BTC. They may use one or more of the following:

• Submit official Washington State High School transcripts from within the last three (3) years for evaluation

  • We cannot accept out-of-state High School Transcripts for 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 official transcripts from other colleges or universities for evaluation

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

  • Must be from a regionally accredited institution.

• Submit other test scores for evaluation (ACCUPLACER, Compass, Asset, Smarter Balance, SAT, ACT etc.)

• Complete Bellingham Technical College Guided Self-Placement Assessments

Guided Self-Placement (GSP) consists of online English and Math assessments. They define and demonstrate requirements that are specific to the different courses in which a student can place. Guided self-placement is intended to support students to be successful in their coursework. It is designed to help them make an informed choice about which level of classes are most appropriate to start. The assessments are free, and can be accessed online at any time.

Guided Self-Placement English and math Assessments:

www.btc.edu/GuidedPlacement

Official transcripts/scores must be sent directly from the institution to BTC: Electronically via transcripts@btc.edu or by mail toBTC Enrollment Services, 3028 Lindbergh Ave, Bellingham WA 98225                                      

*You must have an application to BTC on file for your transcript to be evaluated

• Submit High School Transcripts

  If you have graduated a Washington State high schoolwithin the last three (3) years, you can submit your official Washington State high school transcript to BTC for  assessing your starting point (we cannot accept out of state High School transcripts).

  Send an official transcript to transcripts@btc.edu  or mail a copy of your transcript  to:  Bellingham Technical College, ATTN: Enrollment Services , 3028 Lindbergh Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225.

  Once your transcripts have arrived to BTC, processing takes approximately 6-8 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. Your evaluation results will determine if you  are el i gible for  admission step three, or if you will  need to take the Guided Self-Placement.

  If you have graduated high school more than three (3) years ago, it is not required to turn in your high school transcript.

• Submit official transcripts from other colleges or universities

  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.

  To transfer coursework from another college or institution to BTC it must meet the following conditions:

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

  • You must have applied to BTC and have a student identification (SID) 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 can be sent to the following address : Bellingham Technical College, ATTN: Enrollment Services, 3028 Lindbergh Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 or to  transcripts@btc.edu  if you are requesting an  official  electronic transcript  (e-transcript)  to be sent.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  Once your transcripts have arrived to BTC, processing takes approximately 6-8 weeks. Processing may take longer during peak registration periods, please  plan ahead . You will receive transcript evaluation results to your preferred email address listed in your ctcLink account.
  

  View the  Transfer Students  page for  additional  information.  

  Veterans  and  International Students , please be sure to check the Student Types page for  additional  information.

• Submit other test scores (Compass, Asset, Smarter Balance, SAT, ACT etc.)

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

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

  • AP Test Score Equivalencies ( PDF )

  • CLEP Test Score Equivalencies ( PDF )

  • DANTES Test Score Equivalencies ( PDF )

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

  • ACT Test Scores: View ordering information on the ACT website.

  • SAT Test Scores:  View ordering information on the CollegeBoard website .  

  • Other college placement scores: Contact the Institution or College where you took the placement assessment and have official scores sent to the below address.  

  Official transcripts and/or test scores can be sent to the following address :Bellingham Technical College, ATTN: Enrollment Services, 3028 Lindbergh Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 or to  transcripts@btc.edu  if you are requesting an electronic official transcript to be sent.

  Once your transcripts and/or test scores have arrived to BTC, processing takes approximately 6-8 weeks.  Processing may take longer during peak registration periods, please plan ahead . You will receive evaluation results to your email that you provided in the BTC application.

  Questions? Email  transcripts@btc.edu

• Submit GED Transcripts

  If you earned your GED within the last three (3) years, you can submit your official GED transcript to BTC for assessing your starting point. 

  GED Transcripts:

  All GED transcripts must be requested through www.ged.com . Bellingham Technical College does not keep GED records.

  Official transcripts can be sent to the following address: Bellingham Technical College, ATTN: Enrollment Services, 3028 Lindbergh Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 or to  transcripts@btc.edu  if you are requesting an official electronic transcript (e-transcript) to be sent. 

  Once your transcripts have arrived to BTC, processing takes approximately 6-8 weeks. Processing may take longer during peak registration periods, please plan ahead.

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

You will be sent a link to schedule your GET Started appointment once your transcripts are evaluated or you complete Guided Self Placement. If you completed your math and English placement steps and have not received a link to schedule a GET Started appointment, please email advising@btc.edu

Important Notes: 

GET Started appointments are offered in person or virtually through Zoom . In person appointments available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admissions Steps one and two must be completed prior to 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 .

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 Student Center - Morse Center 221 (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 the 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.

• I applied to BTC. Where do I find my ctcLink ID number?

  You will receive a "Welcome to BTC" email  with your ctcLink ID number within 10-14 business days after you submit the application. Check your  email’s  junk or spam folders, as sometimes the email can go there! If you don’t receive an email with your ctcLink ID number, please contact  admissions@btc.edu .

• What’s the difference between applying and registering?

  Applying to BTC is the first step in the admissions process , the application to BTC. As an  open-door  institution, every student is generally accepted to BTC  when they submit the application !  Registering  refers to registering for classes. Students can register for classes in step three of the admissions process. Programs and classes may have entry requirements or pre-requisites, so be sure to check your program  page ’s  entry information tab for further information.

• I’ve previously attended BTC in the past and would like to re-enroll at BTC. What’s my next step?

  Connect with Admissions at  admissions@btc.edu  to determine your next step in the admissions process and for help with any questions.
  

• I’m trying to register for classes but have a block on my account. What’s my next step?

  Admissions steps one , two and  three need to be completed to be eligible to register for classes ! In step three, your College Navigator will set up an academic plan for you and teach you how to register for classes. If you have  already  completed step three, your GET Started appointment,  log-in to your  myBTC (ctcLink student account) or connect with  Registration . Also, be sure  to check  your  myBTC account for your registration access time.

• I forgot to put a program OR I put the wrong program on my application, how do I change my program?

  Please fill out a Program Change Form and email a completed form to  admissions@btc.edu . If you have already completed your GET Started appointment,  notify  your College Navigator about your program change.
  

• I don’t know what I want to study at BTC, who can help me?

  Visit the Getting to Know BTC  page to learn more about career exploration, meeting with an A dmission s &  Advising staff member, and the  basics  about getting started at BTC.