Program Details Page 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

a picture of an open book Information regarding the materials can be found at the RTC bookstore. 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 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.

(Links to an external site.)

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

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Fall Start

Quarter 1

Quarter 1 Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
COL 101	College Success	NO	2
CBE 101	Fundamentals of Electricity and Lab	YES	6
CBE 107	Refrigeration Fundamentals	YES	6
WTD 109	Safety, Tool, and Equipment Certification	NO	3

Quarter 2

Quarter 2 Course Information
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

Quarter 3 Course Information
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

Quarter 4 Course Information
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

Quarter 5 Course Information
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

Quarter 6 Course Information
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