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.
Process and forms needed for program approval:
- Review the guidelines for the Professional-Technical PAR Guidelines (updated November 2025).
- To request a new program, access the Program Approval website and complete the New Program 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 Program Approval website to request modifications to an existing program.
Process for changing the status of your program:
- Access the Program Approval website to request to add/remove a last admit term or inactivate an existing program.
If you are having difficulty accessing the Program 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
The SBCTC contracts with Association of Washington Business (AWB) and Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) to assist colleges to identify business and labor advisory committee members. Business and labor liaisons from AWB and WSLC work directly with colleges.
- Labor Advisory Committee Member Recruitment (WSLC)
- Shondea Chapman
Workforce Development Director, Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO
schapman@wslc.org
- Shondea Chapman
- Business Advisory Committee Member Recruitment (AWB)
- Britney Martin
Association of Washington Business, Institute Manager
britneym@awb.org
- Britney Martin
- Transfer Degree Programs:
- Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)
- Major Related Programs (MRP)
- Bachelor's Degree Programs
- 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
