Bellingham Technical College

09/07/2026

BTC is closed Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day.

08/28/2026

Congratulations to our Summer Nursing program graduates! We know you’re going to go out into the community and do great work!

08/19/2026

Join us at BTC’s Family Learning Center to celebrate the arrival of Fall with our indoor/outdoor activities for families with children ages 0-5! Connect with other families while your child learns through play in a fun, safe, preschool-like environment. Our indoor classroom and outdoor play area are full of educational, interactive, and engaging play for all ages: arts and crafts, music, early literacy activities, imagination stations, building blocks, magnet wall, and more! Scholarships available! Register TODAY as classes can fill up quickly: https://cceclasses.btc.edu/collections/childbirth-and-parenting-education

08/17/2026

Bellingham Technical College has received approval to offer a competency-based education model in its Process Technology program, with the new flexible format rolling out this fall.

Process Technology lectures and theory will now be taught online, so lessons can be completed whenever the student has time and from their location of choice. The Process Technology program lab will also be open during daytime and evening hours for students to practice and demonstrate mastery of the skills they are learning online – with supervision and guidance from instructors. Students will also be able to start in the Process Technology program – which trains graduates for careers as process technicians and operators in refining, manufacturing and water treatment – in Fall, Winter, or Spring quarter, offering more frequent entry points than previously available. Learn about how to get started at www.btc.edu/processtechnology

“We have already seen on our campus that this CBE format can open doors to education and meaningful careers for community members who might previously have been unable to access our programs, and I am excited to see these opportunities expand to more of our programs,” BTC President James Lemerond says. “Not only do these changes benefit those with families and existing jobs, but also local employers who want to upskill their employees and get them trained for more demanding roles in their field.”

BTC received approval in June to offer competency-based education in its Process Technology program from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which is the accrediting agency for the college. Competency-based education (CBE) is an approach to learning that requires each student to demonstrate individual mastery of specific skills (or competencies) to pass a class, rather than, for example, passing a class simply by scoring well enough on standardized tests. The CBE model helps eliminate any skill and knowledge gaps, ensuring that every student masters the key competencies necessary to succeed in their field.

This is the second BTC program to transition to a CBE format: BTC’s Machining program began transitioning to CBE in Fall 2025.

08/10/2026

September is right around the corner, and BTC’s Early Childhood & Family Studies program is excited to invite families to join us in a fun-filled indoor/outdoor environment to connect with other families, learn about and discuss a wide variety of topics ranging from the importance of play, early literacy, health & safety, potty training, sleep, development, connections, relationships, and SO much more! We offer classes for families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Each class hosts a wide variety of activities such as story-time, arts & crafts, music, imagination stations, dress-up, building blocks, snack time, outdoor play, and more. Scholarships available upon request! Check out our website to see class descriptions and schedules:

Bellingham Technical College

07/14/2026

Congratulations to BTC President James Lemerond for receiving the Karen W. Morse Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of Bellingham! This award is presented to a Rotary member who exhibits long-term service to the community and the club and is among the highest honors that the club bestows.

Dr. Lemerond was recognized for his work to expand access to higher education through initiatives such as competency-based education, and for his advocacy for BTC students, the college and our state college system.

07/09/2026

As BTC says farewell to our class of 2026 graduates, we are proud to announce that the college saw its student population grow for the fourth year in a row this past year.

The college served nearly 4,750 students in the 2025-26 academic year, up more than 7 percent from 4,435 students the prior year. Since the 2021-22 school year, BTC’s annual student headcount has grown by more than 26 percent.

Educating more students has also translated to more graduates. This year BTC awarded more than 810 credentials, including more than 425 associate degrees, 375 certificates and 15 bachelor of applied science degrees.

“These increases are a testament to the great need in our community for the skilled education that BTC provides and to the hard work happening on our campus to expand access to that education,” BTC President James Lemerond says.

Those efforts include guided self-placement for pre-course assessments, direct admission partnerships with local school districts, and work to expand flexible course offerings through competency-based education in our Machining program. BTC’s Process Technology program is also adopting a more flexible model starting in fall 2026 in increase access to the program’s much-needed training.

“Whether it is our Process Technology program, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences or Surgery Technology, the unique hands-on training provided at BTC plays a critical role to ensuring that our population is educated to fill the jobs that are open and in need of skilled workers now and in the future,” Dr. Lemerond says.

07/08/2026

BTC President James Lemerond and several presidents from colleges throughout the region had the opportunity meet with U.S. Senator Patty Murray today for a roundtable discussion about higher education. Dr. Lemerond shared BTC's focus on increasing access to education that provides a direct path to family-wage careers and advocated for consistent federal funding for programs that support our students, including Basic Education of Adults, TRIO Student Support programs, Title III grants and Workforce Pell.

06/26/2026

Congratulations to all of our BTC students who graduated last night! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do next! 🎓🎓🎓

06/08/2026

Cascadia Daily News put together an excellent feature on BTC's Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences program, its expanded shellfish curriculum, and the new professional certificates being offered for incumbent workers!

Learn more about the program at https://www.btc.edu/fisheries
Bellingham Technical College: Fisheries & Aquaculture

Read the article: https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/jun/04/shellfish-program-at-btc-responds-to-demand-for-trained-hatchery-workers/

College adds new certificates, explores seaweed farming