BHSS Application Process

We admit students to the Behavioral Health Support Specialist - Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS-BHSS) program through a holistic evaluation of your application. Admission is determined by reviewing several factors: coursework completed, grade point average (GPA), the application question responses, and prior experience.

Prior to the start of the BHSS program, you have:

• Earned a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA in college-level courses that will be used to meet the requirements of the BHSS degree.
  
  
• Completed the following 47 credits of prerequisites or have a plan to do so by the end of summer quarter 2026:
  • ENGL& 101 - English Composition (5 credits)
  • 15 credits of general education courses from any combination of the following categories: humanities, natural science, social science
  • 27 credits of proficiency courses:
    • SHS 113 - Law and Ethics for Addictions and Human Services
    • SHS 114 - Counseling and Interviewing Skills
    • SHS 116 - Cognitive and Behavioral Skills
    • SHS 117 - Crisis Intervention
    • SHS 185 - Human Growth and Development
    • SHS 218 - Survey of Mental Illness and 
    • SHS 121 - Case Management and Community Resources or 
    • SHS 228 - Case Management in Addiction Treatment
• Earned a 2.0 or higher in ENGL& 101 and each of their proficiency courses. A grade of 1.0 or higher is required for all general education courses.
  
  
• Submitted a valid Edmonds College math placement prior to the start of fall quarter 2026. If a student has already completed a transferable, college-level math course, this requirement will be waived.

Note: If you are interested in the BAS-BHSS but unsure if you meet our eligibility requirements, please schedule an appointment with our BHSS Program Manager.

All applications will be reviewed with the BHSS Application Scoring System. Applicants are encouraged to review the process as it gives guidance for the application questions.

If you need assistance or support with your application questions, you may visit Edmonds College's Writing Center at the Learning Support Center or use eTutoring for online writing assistance. Non-Edmonds College students may email Jeremiah Roland at jeremiah.roland@edmonds.edu for access to eTutoring.

The application questions appear below, including an introduction, as they do on the BHSS Fall 2026 application.

Introduction:

Your responses to the application questions provide an opportunity for us to see what your goals are in the behavioral healthcare field and where you see yourself in the future of careers related to this area of study.

The BHSS program accepts students from various backgrounds, including addiction studies, family support studies, and general human services. Students utilize and share this knowledge while learning and developing new behavioral health skills through a social justice and health equity lens.

Students will also master several meta-competencies to prepare them for Department of Health credentialing and work as a Behavioral Health Support Specialist.

Question 1:

What do you know about the differences between behavioral health and mental health? What interests you about the behavioral health field? How does this degree fit with your career plans?

Question 2:

Can you share a challenging situation you’ve encountered with a client (or other person) and how you managed it effectively? What did you think went well, and what, if anything, might you do differently in the future?

Question 3:

What are some important boundaries that will support you in the role of BHSS? What might you find challenging about this and what would you implement in order to assure that you can maintain boundaries?

Applicants are not authorized to use artificial intelligence (AI) engines or software to complete any portion of their BAS application except the use of AI-powered spelling and grammar checkers. Examples of spelling and grammar checkers include Grammarly and tools included with Microsoft Word and Google Docs. It is the expectation of the application review committee that applicants have written their question responses in their own words and without generative AI assistance. 

Any applications where reviewers suspect generative AI has been used may require the applicant to re-submit materials and provide additional information. If this applies to your application you will be contacted by the department directly. 

1. Meet with the program manager to determine program eligibility.
   • Appointment Link
2. (Skip to Step 3 if you are a current Edmonds Student) Apply to Edmonds College
   • If you are currently enrolled at a Washington State Community or Technical College, please access your state application and add Edmonds College. This will prompt our Enrollment Services Office to activate your current ctcLink ID number for Edmonds.
     
     
   • If you have never been enrolled at a Washington State Community or Technical College or were enrolled prior to ctcLink, you will apply to Edmonds College as a new student. When completing the application, make the listed selections in each of the following fields:
     • Program: Professional Technical
     • Degree or Certificate I am seeking: Undecided Professional Tech
3. Complete the Online BAS-BHSS Application Form.
   • This application will collect information in the following sections: demographics, academic history, unofficial transcript(s), resume, and application questions.
     
     
   • Be prepared to upload the following to the application: resume and, if applicable, unofficial transcript(s). Files in pdf format are preferred.
4. Pay the $25 non-refundable application fee through CTCLink.
   
   
5. Explore funding for your degree. The earlier you apply for things like financial aid, the better. Processing timelines can be lengthy. You do not have to have an admissions decision to begin this process.
   • Federal Financial Aid
     • Edmonds College Financial Aid Services
   • Scholarships
     
     • Edmonds College Foundation Annual Scholarship
     • Washington State Opportunity Baccalaureate Scholarship
   • Tuition Waivers
     • Washington State and educational employees may be eligible for a tuition waiver, as outlined in RCW 28B.15.558 of the Washington State Legislature. If you hope to use the tuition waiver for the BAS-BHSS program, please reach out to bhss@edmonds.edu for further discussion and details.
   • Worker Retraining Program