The Welcome Back Center, hosted at Highline College, assist internationally professionals who are living permanently in Washington State. WBC works with education and agency partners to assist professionals re-enter their professions.

The Center will provide individualized orientation, counseling, and employment support.

The Center will assist each participant in developing a career path plan that builds on each participant’s skills, experience, and education.

In addition to orientation and support in obtaining the appropriate professional credentials and licenses for their profession, participants will be presented with other options or alternatives to consider. These options may include choosing a different but similar occupation offered through a community college or university or focusing their skills and experience in occupations related to their education.

The Center will provide career-guidance courses and, where appropriate, technical courses to address skills gaps. Contextualized ESL courses will be offered to help participants to improve their English proficiency, as needed.

International college graduates currently residing in Washington are eligible for the program. The program does not have the capacity to serve individuals residing outside of Washington. Individuals residing outside the United States are not eligible for the program.

No. This Highline College initiative has been planned in partnership with the California Welcome Back Initiative started in San Francisco in 2001. The Welcome Back Center, now in nine states – California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Maine and Washington.

Yes. The Center provides services to all eligible professionals. Any international college graduate.

No. The Center does not receive funding to provide educational scholarships; however, an Educational Case Manager will help link participants to college and universities’ financial aid offices.

No. Each participant will have to follow existing licensing procedures for his or her associated profession. The Center provides orientation about existing licensing procedures. (In some instances, the Center will provide license exam preparation materials to participants.)

We have an Employment Specialist from TRAC Associate who will work with individuals on resume, job search, skills, and social networking.

Call Puget Sound Welcome Back Center at (206) 592-3367 or email welcomeback@highline.edu.

You can also send us a message with your question through our Puget Sound Welcome Back Center Facebook page.

The Center does not have the capacity to respond to inquiries outside of the United States.