[3] The school operates as a vocational and technical school, offering apprenticeships for the skilled trades and diplomas and degrees in vocational education for skilled technicians and workers in professions such as engineering, accountancy, business administration, broadcast/media communications,[4] digital arts,[5] nursing, computing, medicine, architecture, and law.

[8] In 1960, the British Columbia Vocational School (BCVS) was established in Burnaby, opening at Willingdon and Canada Way.

It was the first permanent trades school of its kind in British Columbia; its programs included carpentry, welding and aircraft maintenance.

[9] A year later, plans were announced to establish the British Columbia Institute of Technology on adjacent land.

BCIT's first Board of Governors was formed in 1974, and in 1977, the school established a campus on Sea Island in Richmond.

A year later, the BCVS and the Haney Educational Centre amalgamated to form the Pacific Vocational Institute (PVI).

[6] BCIT's Arms, Supporters, Flag and Badge were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on February 29, 1996.

The main BCIT Campus is located on Willingdon Avenue in the City of Burnaby next to Moscrop Secondary School and Deer Lake (British Columbia).

It includes a library, gym and sports field, lecture rooms, computer labs as well as student services and administration offices.

The predominant areas of study at the downtown campus are business and media, computing and information, and international student entry programs.

Located on Annacis Island in the City of Delta, this 142,000-square-foot facility is home to motive power programs offered by BCIT and Vancouver Community College.

BCIT has six Schools providing full-time and part-time (referred to as Flexible Learning) studies in a variety of subjects.

[15] Some notable attendees include Canadian MP Chuck Cadman, Georgian Cabinet member Vera Kobalia, Gemini Award-winning journalist Gloria Macarenko, Internet entrepreneur Markus Frind, field hockey player Rob Short Notable faculty members include Henry C. Gunning, Hassan Farhangi, and Mark Angelo.