Established in 1965 as the 24th Minnesota area vocational-technical school with a focus on providing occupational, educational and technical expertise to students, the local Pine City School Board of Education worked closely with the Minnesota Department of Education from 1963 to 1965 to obtain necessary approvals needed to establish an area vocational-technical school in Pine City.

Originally housed in various locations throughout Pine City, the college's main 22,500-square-foot (2,090 m2) building was not built until 1966.

The first programs offered at Pine City Area Vocational-Technical School in 1966 were in four program areas that offered occupational diplomas in auto mechanics, welding, drafting and secretarial/business.

In 1989, the college opened the Employment and Training Center, which manages a variety of childcare, training and support programs for the five counties serving East Central Minnesota.

Today, Pine Technical College retains its NCACS accreditation, is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, serves more than 1,000 students and offers programs/degrees in a variety of career fields.