Five Schools Celebrate 35 Years In the Higher Education System

WASHINGTON – This year marks the 35th anniversary of technical colleges joining Washington’s public higher education system. In 1991, the Legislature formally recognized these vocational institutes as technical colleges and included them with state community colleges:

The then-State Board for Community College Education became the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC).

Washington’s technical colleges offer opportunity

Bates, Bellingham, Clover Park, Lake Washington, and Renton offer instruction in 690 programs and degrees and serve 34,000 students each year. They:

  • Prepare students for high-demand careers with hands-on, industry-aligned training.
  • Equip learners with the skills, certifications, and experience employers need.
  • Expand access to economic opportunity for working adults, veterans, first-generation students, and displaced workers.
  • Help people earn in-demand credentials that lead to family-wage jobs.
  • Strengthen Washington’s workforce through partnerships with employers, labor, apprenticeships, K-12 schools, and community organizations.

Founded in 1940, Bates Technical College now serves more than 7,400 students through two and four-year degree, certificate, apprenticeship, high school, and workforce retraining programs.

Founded in 1957, Bellingham Technical College provides students with accessible, high-quality technical education through programs ranging from Surgical Technology to Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences and Process Technology.

Founded in 1942, Clover Park Technical College serves nearly 9,000 students each year through nationally recognized aerospace, aviation, and cybersecurity programs and recently opened the Eastside Training Center in Tacoma.

Founded in 1949, Lake Washington Institute of Technology is the state’s only public institute of technology, offering more than 100 degree and certificate options, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-focused programs.

Founded in 1941, Renton Technical College serves more than 8,000 students each year through career-focused certificates and degrees, helping one of the state's most diverse student populations build stronger futures and communities. This year, RTC celebrates its 85th anniversary.

To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Governor Ferguson proclaimed October 1, 2026, as Technical College Day.

For more information, contact the SBCTC Communications team or reach out directly to a college.