Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

New students must Apply for general admission to Bellevue College ($66 fee)

Returning BC students do not need to re-apply and will just need to activate their ctcLink account unless they fit into one of the situations below:

• Applied before 2019 and never enrolled for classes, or
• Last enrolled in classes before 2015, or
• Took part in a program that did not collect residency information. These programs include:
  • Non-credit community or continuing education classes,
  • College in the High School,
  • CTE/Tech Prep, and
  • Running Start 2019 or earlier, and
  • Career Education Options (CEO) 2021 or earlier.

However, If you last attended the college (enrolled for classes) more than four quarters ago, submit a term activation request form so we can activate your account.

This depends on student’s previous education and/or applicable transfer credits. Students should work with an advisor or program manager to get a customized education plan to complete the degree or pathway of their choice.

In order to register for their first quarter at BC new students will need to fill out a form verifying that they have taken the course prerequisites elsewhere OR take a math and English placement exam through the Testing Center.

Course Clearing Prerequisite Form Instructions:

• Select the appropriate form: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/current-students/placement-testing-services/prerequisites/
  • If clearing prerequisites for classes other than math & English students will select the courses they need to register for (if not listed they can select “other” and manually type the course in)
• Upload an unofficial transcript from the college where they completed the prerequisite course at

It can take 3-5 days for Evaluations to clear course prerequisites so that students are able to register for their first classes. The Student Central Processing Dashboard should be used to check for current updates on processing prerequisite requests and transferring/evaluating credits.

After students are registered for their first quarter at Bellevue College they should follow the steps to officially transfer their credits in.

Common ctcLink errors students experience when trying to register:

• When a box pops up asking for a permission code ignore it and click “save”. Bottom line: the system will always ask for a permission code even if students don’t need one.
• If the quarter you are trying to register for is not an option you may need to fill out the Term Quarter Activation Request Form. This might be because:
  • You last took a class at Bellevue College more than four quarters ago or
  • You applied for an earlier quarter but did not enroll until the next quarter or
  • You now want to enroll for an earlier quarter than what you indicated on your admission application
• ctcLink Desktop Version error: Delete all the courses out of shopping cart, then search and register for the classes (without adding to cart first)
• Students should check and make sure there are no holds on their account blocking them from registering (i.e. late fees, vaccine attestation, etc.)

Students cannot officially transfer credits into Bellevue College until they are registered for their first class(es). Once registered students should follow the steps below:

1. Submit official transcript(s) to Bellevue College
2. Check “Advisor Notes” on your ctcLink account to verify that your official transcript has been received
3. Only after you see that your transcript has been received will you then fill out a transfer credit request form where you will select the degree you are pursuing. This creates a ticket to evaluations to apply your transfer credits to the appropriate degree pathway (note: if you pursue the Bachelor’s degree after, you will need to fill out this form again)
4. If IT course substitutions have been approved by the program chair please contact the program manager after credits have been officially transferred in so that they can fill out a substitution form

It can take 6-8 weeks for credits to officially transfer over. For more information on transferring in outside credits and international transcripts visit https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/admissions-aid/getting-started/transfer/.

Yes, on an unofficial basis. It is recommended that prospective students meet with an advisor or program manager to get their transcripts reviewed and see what outside credits can be applied towards their degree pathway.

Students can see where the Evaluations office is at in terms of processing applications, clearing course prerequisites, math/english placement, transfer credit evaluation and graduation on the Student Central Processing Dashboard.

In order for a course to be considered an “equivalent course” and qualify as a course substitution it must overlap 51% or more on course content and outcomes. Students may be asked to provide course descriptions and/or syllabi to determine if it is an appropriate substitution.

Students will work with the program manager and program chair to evaluate transfer credits and possible course equivalencies. If a course substitution have been approved by the program chair please contact the program manager after credits have been officially transferred in so that they can fill out a substitution form.

If students have prior work experience or knowledge of a particular course they may quality to take an exam or submit a portfolio/paper demonstrating proficiency rather than taking the class. AAS-T Information Technology students may take waiver exams or course challenges for the following classes:

• DEV 108

AAS-T IT students may qualify for PLA (costs 40% of tuition) for any “IT” class if they meet the minimum criteria:

• Currently working in industry and
• Hold current certification that the course maps to

Learn more about other types of non-traditional credit and getting academic credit for prior learning on the Bellevue College website.

The main differentiation between the course challenge and the waiver exam is credits vs. non-credit. The best option is dependent upon the students individual academic goals.

Course Challenge (for credit):

If a student is pursuing a credential/degree and does not have any credits that can be substituted for the course requirement, the student will need to take the course challenge exam to get the credit (costs 40% of tuition). As long as the student passes the exam they will be awarded the credit.

Example: A student has been working in the field as a programmer and learned C# on their own. Although they already have the knowledge of PROG 110 course, they are working towards the AAS-T Software Development degree and still need credit for the class in order to graduate. This student would take the course challenge exam.

Waiver Exam (no credit):

If a student is pursuing a credential/degree and has OLD credits that can be substituted for the course requirement, or does not need the credit for a particular class to achieve their academic goals.

Example: A student has been working in the field as a programmer and learned C# on their own. They already have the knowledge of PROG 110 course, and would like entry into PROG 120 (which requires PROG 110 as a prerequisite). They are “cherry-picking” courses for continuing education and are not pursuing a credential/degree which requires PROG 110 to graduate. This student would take the waiver exam.

To review study guides and schedule an exam please contact the program manager.

Students can start on the AAS-T program any quarter (fall, winter, spring or summer) after the general admission process is complete. Since it can take 7-10 days for applications to process, students should review submission deadlines on the academic calendar.

Yes. You will be able to build on your body of knowledge if certain courses are taken before others. Your sequence of courses will vary depending on whether you attend full-time or part-time and on your previous education. Your program manager will help you develop an individualized academic plan based on course offerings that makes sense for your schedule.

The AAS-T degree is a total of 90 credits and can be completed in six quarters at a full-time pace, typically three courses each quarter. Individual pacing is possible, but students should plan on taking at least one course each quarter so that the material remains current and relevant.

Tuition for this state-support program follows the general Bellevue College tuition rates for lower division courses. Refer to the Tuition & Fees page: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/tuition/.

Yes, you may qualify. Please be aware that there are deadlines that need to be met in order to qualify. Please contact the Financial Aid office for more details: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/fa/.

Course offerings will consist of a mix of online, on-ground/in-person and hybrid course modalities. The AAS-T Information Technology Program cannot be fully completed online.

Yes students will have completed all of the prerequisites required to be eligible for admission, however each AAS-T degree pathway prepares students for a specific BAS degree program. For more information on prerequisite requirements and eligibility please visit the BAS websites.

Current degree pathways:

• AAS-T Information Technology > BAS Cybersecurity
• AAS-T Software Development > BAS Software Development Application Development concentration
• AAS-T Artificial Intelligence > BAS Software Development Artificial Intelligence concentration

Yes, you can apply when the application opens in January and any admission decision would be contingent upon your completion of prerequisite courses with acceptable GPA as described in the admission requirements.

Yes, students who have not been admitted to the program can register for up to 10 credits of coursework on a space-available basis, if they have appropriate prerequisites. To find out if you qualify to take a course and receive an entry code, contact the Program Manager.

Please review the full policy located under 3200P Academic Standing.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), a regional institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education, has granted Bellevue College accreditation both at the associate and baccalaureate level.

Yes. This is a state-supported program, thus it is eligible for state employee waivers.

Our website contains the best information. You may also contact the Program Manager to discuss the program in more detail.

Students are ready to apply for graduation as soon as they register for their last course(s). It is recommended to meet with an advisor or program manager beforehand to do an audit and make sure all degree requirements are completed. Students can review graduation application deadlines and apply on the graduation website.

The Graduation Office will review students application after the end of the quarter. It usually takes several weeks after finals to review all degrees. In the meantime if students have questions about their eligibility, they should reach out to an Academic Advisor or Program Manager and continue to check the Student Central Processing Dashboard for updates.

Students who are qualified to graduate will see their degree posted to their unofficial transcript, which can be viewed by logging on to your student ctcLink account. Please note students will not get notified when their degree is awarded, so students should continue checking their unofficial transcript until they see it posted.

After their degree is awarded, students will receive a digital diploma through Parchment. The paper diplomas will take several months to print and mail. If students need to show proof of graduation beforehand, they should use their official transcript. If students lost their diploma and need a replacement, they can request a diploma replacement online.

Additional questions can be answered through Graduation FAQs.

Students are invited to participate in the Commencement Ceremony if they complete or apply for a degree that is 20 credits or more and

• Graduated in Fall or Winter, or
• Applied for graduation in Spring or Summer.

The ceremony takes place before grades are final for Spring, and before the start of Summer quarter. This means Spring and Summer applicants attend the ceremony before their graduation is official.

Please refer to the commencement ceremony page for additional information and more frequently asked questions.