Professional-Technical Programs
Approval and Revisions
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) is required to approve all professional-technical degree and certificate programs prior to program implementation.
In cooperation with the college system, SBCTC sets rules, procedures and guidelines for approving all proposed new professional/technical programs, curriculum modifications and program title changes.
For support with professional technical program approvals or revisions please contact, program approval staff.
The new Plan Approval website is available for colleges to use! Please follow the instructions below and if you have any questions, please contact program approval staff.
Process and forms needed for program approval:
- Review the guidelines for the Professional-Technical PAR Guidelines (updated October 2024).
- To request a new plan, access the Plan Approval website and complete the New Plan Form.
- Review the Program Advisory Committee Procedures. Attach this advisory committee membership form when submitting your program for approval.
Process for program modifications:
- Access the Plan Approval website to request modifications to an existing plan.
Process for adding/removing a last admit term:
- Access the Plan Approval website to request to add/remove a last admit term on an existing plan.
If you are having difficulty accessing the Plan Approval website, please contact program approval staff.
Contact
Shelby Means
Education Program Coordinator, Education Division
programapproval@sbctc.edu
360-704-1016
William Belden
Policy Associate, Workforce Education
programapproval@sbctc.edu
360-704-4359
- Transfer Degree Programs:
- Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)
- Major Related Programs (MRT)
- Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Programs
- Individualized Education Program Approval (IEP)
- Zero-Credit Bearing Programs:
If you have a zero-credit bearing program, you do not need to submit this program to the State Board's inventory list. However, the program may still qualify to be on the state's Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List. In this case, submit that program information directly to Career Bridge for ETP-approval.
- Viability Analysis
Programs should be continually reviewed for effectiveness in meeting industry training needs and fulfilling the college mission. Programs that are no longer effective should be should be subject to review for viability- Program Viability Analysis (Updated August 2023)
- Program Advisory Committee
Each professional-technical program must have an advisory committee. Advisory committees are made up of volunteers who give their time, talent, and expertise to help improve, update, and strengthen the professional-technical programs they serve. Since they are "advisory" by design, the committees do not have administrative or legislative authority.
Committees usually serve specific training programs and have three main roles:- Advise the administration and board of trustees.
- Assist program staff
- Provide support and advocacy for quality education and training
- Resources (SBCTC)
- College Advisory Committee Procedures (updated 2024)
- College Advisory Committee Roster (updated 2024)
- Advisory Committee Self-Assessment
- Enhancing Advisory Committee Effectiveness
- Perkins Training: Professional Technical Certification (February 2025)
- College Advisory Committee Resources:
- Asked to Serve(Tacoma)
- Building Inclusive Advisory Committee (Shoreline)
- Advisory Committee Best Practices (Shoreline)
- Advisory Committee CLNA Questions (Shoreline)
- Advisory Handbook 2022 (Shoreline)
- Perkins Training: Advisory Committees (February 2025)
For more information regarding program advisory committees, contact SBCTC Program Approval Staff
