Application

Are you ready to apply to the Occupational & Life Skills Bellevue College (OLSBC) program?

OLS students listen and smile in class.
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We’ll take you through the steps to apply for the associate degree in Occupational & Life Skills at Bellevue College.

Getting Started

Are you ready to be part of a thriving campus community as you create your own career path, enhance your communication and social skills, prepare for the workforce, and take steps toward independence?

Review our eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and application steps below, and then submit your application and supporting materials to OLS.

Eligibility Criteria

Are we the right program for you? We have a selective admissions process. Review the eligibility criteria that all OLS students must meet in order to be accepted into the program.

Academic Requirements

  • High School Completion
  • 70+ IQ
  • 4th grade or higher reading, writing, and math levels

Other Requirements

Applicants must be able to: 

  • Independently regulate emotions to participate in classwork.  
  • Independently navigate a college campus and comply with Bellevue College Code of Conduct.
  • Plan transportation to arrive to campus and class on time.  
  • Plan transportation to/from campus and other local destinations as assigned.
  • Manage email correspondence. 
  • Sustain attention and initiate tasks with minimal prompting.  

Behavioral Expectations

Applicants must have a history of meeting the behavioral and attendance expectations of past educational programs or employment.

These expectations include (but are not limited to) refraining from:

  • Aggression (verbal or physical) 
  • Leaving class without permission (elopement) 
  • Refusing to follow reasonable instructions 
  • Bullying 
  • Harassment

Desire To Be a College Student

Applicants must demonstrate a:

  • Commitment to attend and participate in two 90-minute class sessions per day and dedicate an average of three hours to homework each week.
  • Willingness to learn and actively participate in learning.

Final Admissions Decisions

All final admissions decisions are made at the discretion of the professional judgment of the OLSBC Admissions Team.

Application Deadlines

OLS students consult notes on a whiteboard at the front of class.

Priority Application Deadline

December 1

Assessment Dates:
Friday, Jan. 9 or Wednesday, Jan. 14

A student works on a computer in class.

Regular Application Deadline

February 1

Assessment Dates:
Wednesday, Mar. 11 or Friday, Mar. 20

OLS students attend a museum exhibition.

Final Application Deadline

April 1

Assessment Dates:
Wednesday, Apr. 22 or Friday, Apr. 24

Steps to Apply to OLS

Let us walk you through the necessary steps in the application process. We have a selective admissions process. All students must meet the OLS eligibility criteria.

Complete the OLS Application

Submit your student-completed application with the non-refundable $60 application fee. Then complete the rest of the application steps.

We have a selective admissions process. All students must meet the OLS eligibility criteria.

Applications are currently being accepted for Fall 2026 admissions.

Apply to OLS

Additional Required Documents

The following materials are required for your application to be considered:

  1. High School Transcripts and Educational Documentation (e.g., most recent IEP and school evaluation)
    • Email documents to ols@bellevuecollege.edu
    • Educational Documentation must provide evidence of meeting our academic requirements (listed above)
    • College transcripts, if applicable
  2. Two references submitted through our Recommendation Form
    • References must be submitted by someone other than family members (e.g., educators, doctors, employers, etc)

Apply for Bellevue College Admissions


It’s important to know that:

  • Acceptance into Bellevue College does not guarantee admission to the OLS Program.
  • The Bellevue College admissions fee will be applied to your tuition in your first fall quarter. 
  • Admissions applications may take up to a week to process and will generate the required SID to apply for Bellevue College Financial Aid.

When completing the BC application, make these selections:

  • For your Program, select “Professional Technical”
  • For the degree you’re seeking, select “Occupational & Life Skills AA”
Apply to BC

Apply for Financial Aid

Although it is not required, we recommend applying for Financial Aid before you are accepted into the OLSBC program. Financial Aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and applying early can help you maximize the amount of aid you may qualify for. If you wait until you’re accepted to apply, you could miss out on Financial Aid.

Visit our Financial Aid Page for more information.

Explore OLS Tuition
Learn About OLS Financial Aid
Visit BC Financial Aid Website

Attend an In-Person Assessment

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to an in-person assessment to measure a variety of baseline skills that are essential to being successful in the program.

Assessment dates for upcoming admissions are listed with our application deadlines below. Applicants will be invited to one of the dates and are notified approximately two weeks after each application deadline.

Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to accommodate individual requests to attend assessments on specific dates.

Prospective students may assess a maximum of three times, by invitation only.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve compiled answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.

Up to 36 students are admitted into our program each year and start our program in the Fall Quarter. However, we will consider admitting additional students if the waitlist accommodates it.

Yes!

  • Space is limited in our program. You are less likely to be waitlisted for the program if you apply by December 1.
  • You will be assessed in January, giving you time to figure out details regarding tuition, transportation, and housing, if applicable.
  • Financial Aid applications for fall are due June 1, and often more information is required. Applying early gives you enough time to complete the application before the due date.

Yes. Bellevue College offers student housing for students who wish to live on campus.

You can also visit our Resources page to find groups that may be able to assist in finding housing options in the area.

Learn About BC Student Housing
Explore Resources

Financial Aid and scholarships are available to OLS Bellevue College students. Please visit our Financial Aid page for more information.

Learn About Financial Aid for OLS

Students who are not accepted into the program after their initial assessment may be invited to seek support on specific skill sets as recommended by OLSBC and return for a future assessment. These prospective students are allowed to assess up to a maximum of three times, by invitation only.