Commercial Building Engineering Certificate and AAS
Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Commercial Building Engineering Certificate and AAS program! This page is designed to give an overview of your pathway based on your starting quarter. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule. This information may change. Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses.
Bookstore Information
Information regarding the materials can be found at the RTC bookstore
Links to an external site.. Just fill in the course information and you will be set!
The bookstore has what you need in regards to materials so be sure to check it out! It is always better to be prepared than to wait last second to buy your materials!
General Overview
When can I start? Fall (September), Winter (January)
How long is the program? 9 quarters (27 months) with 124 credits for the certificate or 134 credits for the AAS degree (formerly 139 credits)
When do classes meet? Monday through Thursday, with different times each quarter
A commercial building engineer knows how to maintain and repair many different systems: refrigeration, boiler operations, hazardous waste management, heating, cooling, and ventilation. You may work in office buildings, factories, hospitals, or apartment complexes.
Commercial Building Engineering (CBE) shares many classes with Industrial Engineering (IE). The major difference is that CBE teaches you to maintain buildings, and IE teaches you to maintain industrial machines.
What does a building engineer do?&This video shows just part of your possible job duties.
What is the average salary?
$78,510 annually Links to an external site. in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most stationary engineers and boiler operators earn at least $64,310; there is a wide salary range.
Who can I contact with questions?
- New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
- For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Commercial Building Engineer.
Overall Materials Needed:
- Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers on the RTC campus)
- Webcam
- Headset with microphone
- Working internet connection
- Calculator ($15)
- Textbooks and software (approximately $2,215)
Minimum grades or course GPA:
You need to earn a grade of 1.0 or better in each individual class in this program, and you must have a cumulative or overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 to graduate.
Materials Warning
Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!
Mobile Browser Information
For optimal experience, please rotate your phone sideways to view the page in landscape mode.
Fall Start
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 102 | Advanced Electrical and Lab | YES | 5 |
CBE 111 | Control Fundamentals | YES | 5 |
CBE 115 | HVAC Systems and Lab | YES | 5 |
Quarter 3
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 103 | National Electrical Code | YES | 4 |
CBE 112 | Pneumatic Controls and Lab | YES | 5 |
CBE 113 | Preventative Maintenance and Lab | YES | 2 |
CBE 201 | Direct Digital Controls and Lab | YES | 5 |
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 118 | Critical Systems | YES | 4 |
CBE 203 | Energy Conservation | YES | 4 |
CBE 206 | Air and Water Balancing and Lab | YES | 4 |
WTD 168 | Math for the Trades | YES | 4 |
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 105 | Boiler Operator and Lab | YES |
5 |
CBE 116 | HVAC/Plumbing Distribution and Lab | YES | 5 |
CBE 208 | Instrumentation for Stationary Engineers | YES | 3 |
Quarter 6
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
Gen Ed | Communications or Humanities | Varies by class | 5 |
Gen Ed | Social Science | Varies by class | 5 |
WTD 180 | Human Relations for the Trades | NO | 2 |
WTD 175 | Communications for the Trades | NO | 1 |
Grand Total Estimate for Your Certificate: $18,443
Grand Total Estimate for Your AAS Degree: $19,748
Winter Start
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 102 | Advanced Electrical and Lab | YES | 5 |
CBE 111 | Control Fundamentals | YES | 5 |
CBE 113 | Preventative Maintenance | YES | 2 |
CBE 115 | HVAC Systems and Lab | YES | 5 |
Quarter 3
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 103 | National Electrical Code | YES | 4 |
CBE 118 | Critical Systems | YES | 4 |
CBE 203 | Energy Conservation | YES | 4 |
CBE 206 | Air and Water Balancing and Lab | YES | 4 |
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 105 | Boiler Operator and Lab | YES |
5 |
CBE 116 | HVAC/Plumbing Distribution and Lab | YES | 5 |
CBE 208 | Instrumentation for Stationary Engineers | YES | 3 |
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
CBE 112 | Pneumatic Controls and Lab | YES |
5 |
CBE 201 | Direct Digital Controls and Lab | YES | 5 |
WTD 168 | Math for the Trades | YES | 4 |
Quarter 6
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
---|---|---|---|
Gen Ed | Communications or Humanities | Varies by class | 5 |
Gen Ed | Social Science | Varies by class | 5 |
WTD 180 | Human Relations for the Trades | NO | 2 |
WTD 175 | Communications for the Trades | NO | 1 |
Not quite the career path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!