Bates Technical College

About Bates Technical College

Located in Tacoma, Washington on beautiful Puget Sound, Bates Technical College has been in the business of providing education and job training for 65 years.  Founded in 1940, Bates is the largest technical college in Washington State, serving more than 5,000 full-time career training students annually at three campuses.  In addition, more than 15,000 people come to Bates each year for continuing education classes, customized business and management training, home and family life programs, apprenticeship training, personal development courses, industry certifications, professional improvement, high school completion, adult basic education, and worker retraining.  

Nearly all degree programs are skills-based and self-paced , with open enrollment throughout the college’s 11-month academic year, Fall, Winter, Spring, and a 33-day Summer Quarter.  Career training students may register Monday through Friday, and begin on any Monday, provided there is a program opening. 

Selecting your career path

Bates career specialists understand the importance of your career decision, and work with students to help match strengths, interests, and abilities with appropriate career choices in the following categories:

• Advanced Technologies

• Automotive Mechanical Technologies

• Business and Office

• Commercial Driving

• Communications Technology

• Computer Sciences

• Construction Trades

• Engineering Design and CAD

• Fire Protection

• Health and Medical

• Marketing and Sales

• Personal and Public Services

Real world education for real world jobs

Our students learn in classroom settings that mirror the workplace, providing opportunities to practice and develop skills to levels required for successful employment.  Most students attending Bates enroll to advance their job skills through career training programs.  The college works closely with industry to continually review and refine curriculum and validate elements covered in more than 350 career areas ranging from apparel construction to the high-tech industry.

Students in career training programs are with their instructors six to eight hours each day.  A close working relationship develops that helps students progress in both technical end employment skills.  Our faculty are industry experts who bring a unique blend of industry knowledge and commitment to education.  Students may, with appropriate approval, supplement their program instruction with paid and unpaid work-based learning experiences in businesses throughout the Puget Sound area.   The purpose of these work-based learning experiences is to use the workplace environment to apply the skills and workplace behaviors required in the program, and to prepare for lifelong learning. 

Several educational options are available at Bates, including Associate of Technology degrees, Associate of Applied Science – Transferable degrees, Associate of Technology degrees in Apprenticeship Studies, Certificates of Competency, and Certificates of Training.  For a complete listing of career training programs, please visit our website at http://www.bates.ctc.edu.

International students

International students receive the M-1 Certificate of Eligibility, a certificate for vocational students, upon completion of career training programs.  All international students planning to enroll at Bates must:

• Be 16 years of age before enrollment.

• Submit the results of a Test of English as a Foreign Language with a minimum score of 173, or English Proficiency Examination (Michigan Test) offered by the United States Embassy or Consulate.  Contact the embassy or consulate nearest you. 

Guaranteed education

We believe in our faculty and in the quality of our education to the degree that we guarantee employers that graduates of our career training programs are able to meet employer expectations, or students can return to Bates for one quarter of tuition-free training.  With this guarantee, employers feel confident that Bates graduates are highly skilled and ready for the workplace.   

Bates has among the highest job placement rates of any college in our area, in part, because of strong links with business and industry.  On average, more than 90 percent of our graduates find jobs in their chosen field with average starting salaries that surpass the state average. 

Accreditation

Bates Technical College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.  Additionally, many career training programs meet industry certification and international accreditation standards.