Apply for Graduation

Apply for Graduation

Submit your graduation application by completing the online form. Applying for graduation is free. 

Apply for Graduation

Graduation Processing and Communications Timeline

Initial Application Review

• Within 4 weeks of applying (if enrolled in final courses): Your application will be reviewed in the order it was received (if received by the priority application date).You will receive an update to your LWTech issued student email address (s-first.last@lwtech.edu) confirming whether you're on track to graduate or if you are missing any requirements. Any processing delays will be communicated. 
• If you are missing any requirements, a 'to do' item will be raised in Legend with details. Notifications will be sent to your LWTech issued student email address (s-first.last@lwtech.edu). 

Final Application Review

• 2 to 4 weeks after final grades are posted: A final review is completed to confirm all graduation requirements are met. Your official transcript will be updated to reflect completion of your program. 

Receiving Your Diploma

• 6 to 8 weeks after final grades are posted: You'll receive your diploma based on the preference you selected on your application (mailed or available for pickup at LWTech). 
  • Example: If you are graduating in the Spring quarter (June), you will receive your diploma by the end of August.

Graduation Survey

• As you graduate, we invite you to complete this short survey about your experience at LWTech and your future plans. Your feedback helps us improve programs, services, and support for future students.
  • LWTech Graduation Survey.

The commencement ceremony is a long-standing tradition that celebrates your academic achievements. Each year in June, LWTech faculty, staff, and administrators come together to create a meaningful and memorable experience for our graduates.

We hope you'll join us to celebrate this important milestone! 

Reserve Your Spot at Commencement

At this time, LWTech does not use the graduation application feature in ctcLink. Instead use the application link above. If you see a message that says, “you may not be eligible for graduation at this time,” in ctcLink you can disregard it.

If you run a What-If report using the proper program and catalog year information and it shows you are missing requirements, we recommend meeting with your academic advisor. This could be a Student Success Navigator or a Special Population Coordinator/Advisor (such as High School Programs, TRIO, Workforce Development, Veteran Services, or International Programs).

To schedule an appointment:

1. Log-in to Legend at LWTech.edu/Legend using your LWTech email address and password
2. On your home screen, go to Your Connections
3. Select your academic advisor or Student Success Navigator
4. If available, select schedule appointment
5. Choose the appointment type and reason for your meeting
6. Select a date and time, the select continue
7. Add any details to help your advisor prepare
8. Select Confirm to finalize your appointment

Students can choose to graduate with the degree requirements listed under the catalog currently in effect or the catalog in effect when they started in the program, as long as that catalog is no more than seven years old.

To determine which catalog's degree requirements are best for you, we encourage you to meet with your academic advisor. 

There are both college and specific program requirements you must meet to earn a degree or certificate. The website and the college catalog detail the requirements you must meet to graduate.

• You can view the specific requirements in the college catalog. 

• Some programs change the requirements every few years. Make sure you know what catalog year's requirements you are working on.

General graduation requirements for all degrees and certificates:

• LWTech awards degrees and certificates as outlined in the college catalog. 
  
  
• All students must complete the minimum number of credits required for their program type:
  • Bachelor's degrees: 180 credits, including at least 60 credits of 300 and 400 level coursework. 
  • Associate's degrees: 90 credits. The number of credits required varies with each program.
  • Certificates of Proficiency: 45 credits. The number of credits varies with each program.

• A minimum passing grade of 2.0 or higher in each course that receives a numeric grade, and a cumulative average of 2.0 in all courses, is required for all certificates and degrees.

• Complete a minimum number of your program's technical credits at LWTech (this is called 'in residence')
  • Certificates of Completion: All technical credits must be completed at LWTech.
  • Certificates of Proficiency, Associate Degrees, and Bachelor’s Degrees: At least 30% of your technical credits must be completed at LWTech.

Some programs include shorter credentials that you can earn along the way as you work toward a longer certificate or degree. If you meet the requirements for one of these certificates, you should apply to have it awarded through the graduation application.

When you complete the graduation application, you’ll be asked whether you plan to continue at LWTech and, if so, which program you intend to pursue next. Indicating that you are continuing ensures you can keep enrolling as a student without interruption.

After you submit your graduation application, it can take a few weeks to hear back, especially if you’re still enrolled in your final courses.

• If you’re registered for your final term, expect an update within about 4 weeks of submitting your application if you applied by the priority application date.
• If there is a processing delay, you will be notified to the email address provided on your graduation application.
• Communications about your graduation status, including if you are on track to graduate or if anything is missing, you’ll be notified at your LWTech student email (s-first.last@lwtech.edu) 
• Once your final grades are posted, it typically takes 2–4 weeks for your graduation to be officially recorded on your student record. You’ll be able to view this in the system.
• About 4–6 weeks after that, your diploma will be ready.

Still haven’t heard anything?
Double-check that the email you listed on your graduation application is correct. If everything looks right, reach out to graduation@lwtech.edu for an update.

Diploma: Your diploma is a ceremonial document. While it’s a meaningful keepsake to celebrate your achievement, it is not typically used for official verification.

Transcript: For official purposes, such as employment or transferring to another school, your transcript serves as the verified record of completion.Your official transcript is the formal record that shows you’ve completed your degree or certificate. If you need proof of completion, you’ll want to request an official transcript.

If you apply for graduation and during the evaluation process it is discovered that you are missing requirements that prevent graduation, you will be notified via your LWTech student email with details about what is missing.You will also recieve a 'To-Do' item on your Legend dashboard.

What to do Next

1. To address any outstanding requirements, we recommend meeting with your academic advisor. This could be a Student Success Navigator or a Special Population Coordinator/Advisor (such as High School Programs, TRIO, Workforce Development, Veteran Services, or International Programs).
   • To schedule an appointment:
     1. Log-in to Legend at LWTech.edu/Legend using your LWTech email address and password
     2. On your home screen, go to Your Connections
     3. Select your academic advisor or Student Success Navigator
     4. If available, select schedule appointment
     5. Choose the appointment type and reason for your meeting
     6. Select a date and time, the select continue
     7. Add any details to help your advisor prepare
     8. Select Confirm to finalize your appointment
        
        
2. After making a plan to address these missing items with your academic advisor, log-in to your Legend account and mark your ‘Missing Graduation Requirements’ To-Do item as ‘Done' on your Legend dashboard. 
   
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3. Once your final requirements are in-progress, please email graduation@lwtech.edu to prompt a review of your readiness for graduation. Upon completion of the final requirement(s), you will receive your degree or certificate.

We know timing matters, especially when graduation is required before you can take your healthcare licensure exam. 

For specific programs, LWTech automatically sends transcripts to the Washington Department of Health (DOH) as soon as they are processed. This includes:

• Nursing AAS-T
• Dental Hygiene BAS
• Physical Therapist Assistant AAS

If you need confirmation of your completion submitted anywhere other than the Washington DOH, or are part of a program that is not listed above, please submit a records request. 

You can view your unofficial transcript, which lists any credentials you have earned, in your ctcLink account.

1. After logging into ctcLink, select “Academics” in the blue Navigation pane on the left.
2. Select “View Unofficial Transcript.”
3. Expand the “Degrees” heading to see your degree.

Graduation is typically processed 2-4 weeks after your final grades are posted.

Your official transcript is the formal record that shows you’ve completed your degree or certificate.For official purposes, such as employment or transferring to another school, your transcript serves as the verified record of completion.If you need proof of completion, you’ll want to request an official transcript.

We would love to learn more about your experience as a student at LWTech. We encourage you to complete our Graduation Survey below.

Graduation Survey