He started his career as an assistant for architects Henrik Nissen and Holm Munthe in Kristiania (now Oslo).

He attended the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna where he studied under Danish born architect Theophilus Hansen from 1880 to 1883.

Bødtker worked at German based architectural offices in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro from 1890 to 1892.

He then spent time as construction manager in Petrópolis which was the summer residence of the Brazilian Emperors and aristocrats in the 19th century.

Among his extensive work were additions to Aker University Hospital completed between 1917 and 1922.