The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) officially opened October 4, 1964. Areas of study available were: Engineering, Health and Business.

On January 17th, 1958, the Minister of Education for the Province of British Columbia, the Hon. L. R. Petersen announced the appointment of the Royal Commission on Education for the Province of British Columbia for the “purpose of reviewing and assessing the educational system with he aim of improving its effectiveness in the light of world conditions and providing guidance for its future development.” Concurrent with the Commissions inquiry the Provincial Curriculum Advisory Board of the Department of Education appointed a committee directed by Mr. D. E. Bridge of the Vocational Training Branch of the Department of Labour, Ottawa to survey “The Need for Advanced Technical and Vocational Training in British Columbia.” As a result of the Royal Commission on Education, the Bridge Report and financial assistance from the Federal Government, an Advisory Council was formed early 1961 to begin planning what would become the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Dr. J. English, Deputy Minister and Superintendent of Education was appointed chairman and Mr. J. S. White, Director of Technical and Vocational Education, vice-chair.

Until 1974 BCIT was directly controlled and funded by the B.C. Department of Education, in partnership with an Advisory Council chosen from business and industry. The council appointed the Principal of BCIT as the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute. Two Vice-Principals were responsible for Administration and the growing Extension Division. The three divisions of Engineering, Business and Health were managed by three Directors reporting directly to the Principal. The Council formed seventeen advisory committees which met at least twice a year and advised Technology Heads at BCIT about the effectiveness of the programs being taught, opportunities for employment and updates in the industry. Recommendations went through the Principal who carried them to the main Advisory Council. In 1963, the Department of Education took a radical departure from existing government policy and allowed the BC Civil Service Commission to delegate responsibility for selecting teaching staff to the Institute, via the Advisory Council and Principal.

In 1972, the Minister of Education established a task force to recommend future directions for BCIT. A more autonomous relationship developed between the provincial government and BCIT with the passage of the British Columbia Institute of Technology Act on July 4, 1974. The Act established a new system of governance for BCIT under a fifteen–person Board of Governors. Under Section 11 (3) of the BCIT Act the Principal was required to submit an Annual Report to the Board of Governors for the educational year. The position of Principal was expanded to encompass linking functions both between the Board of Governors and BCIT, and between BCIT and the external community. The Principal assumed the responsibility of implementing Board policy and administering the budget; she also served as the chief means of mobilizing the institute’s resources in recognizing and clarifying issues and expediting decision making. At the same time, three Executive Director positions were created in the areas of Technical Education; Administration; and Personnel and Information Services and Student Services, in order that BCIT could effectively carry on day-to-day operations while implementing a variety of administrative systems. With the Directors of the five Educational Divisions, the Bursar, the Registrar, and the Coordinator of Planning Services, the Executive Directors were members of an Executive Committee, a consultative body which advised the Principal and served as a channel of communication between the Chief Executive Officer and the institutes staff, students and faculty.

In 1978 the Boards of the Pacific Vocational Institute (PVI) and BCIT established a Joint Boards Committee, enhancing the relationship of the neighbours and providing a forum for cooperation between the institutions in matters of mutual interest. On May 31, 1985, the Honourable John H. Heinrich, then Minister of Education announced the decision to amalgamate the Pacific Vocational Institute (PVI) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. The merger culminated in a new organizational structure, a mission statement and a set of corporate objectives for BCIT. The expanded mandate for the new institution included:

• A centre of excellence for the trades
• The development of new technology programs
• The development of post diploma programs
• The development of bridging programs from trades to technology

The official merger took place on April 1, 1986. In July 1985, the President and the Board of Governors appointed Drug Svetic Vice President, Education; Duncan McPherson Vice President, Finance; Len McNeely Vice President, Administration; and Peter Jones Vice President, Student Services and Educational Support. The reorganization of BCIT’s educational division resulted five schools, adding an Executive Director of Trades Training and the introduction of an associate dean structure.

In 2004, BCIT's governing legislation became the College and Institute Act, RSBC 1996, ch. 5 (2). Under this Act, the President is defined as BCIT's Chief Executive Office, with the duty to “supervise and direct subject to bylaws, the instructional, administrative and other staff of the institution and exercise powers and perform duties assigned to the president by the board.” The President is to report to the Board annually on the progress of the Institute, make recommendations, and advise the Board on all matters concerning the operation of the Institute.

The BCIT Learning & Teaching Centre (LTC) began with a task force on Instruction Innovation. Co-Chairmen, M. Angelo and C. Wilson submitted the final report in October of 1982. This report had many recommendations, one of which was the creation of an Office of Instructional Development “to provide those services needed for instructional innovation. This office will co-ordinate all aspects of instructional support such as Instructional Techniques, Instructional Design, Educational Media, Information Dissemination, etc.” (p.2) In xxxx

The BCIT Marketing and Communications Department began in 1974 in conjunction with BCIT’s first year as an autonomous entity under a Board of Governors rather than under the direct control of the British Columbia Department of Education. BCIT Principal Gordon A. Thom created three new Executive Directorships in this year: Technology and Education; Administration; and Personnel, Information Services and Student Services. The Marketing and Communications Department started as an area of service provided under the Executive Director, Personnel, Student Services and Information Services. It was known as Information Services although the term “communications” was used to describe its duties and responsibilities. The first Director of Information Services was recruited in 1975 and was responsible for information dissemination among BCIT staff, students, faculty and the public. Ensuring relevant parties were aware of decisions and developments at BCIT and providing a mechanism for feedback. In 1975 the Director of Information Services began work on an information policy for BCIT and revived the newsletter “Developments” which enhanced internal BCIT communications.
In 1977 Information Services was moved under the Human Resources Division. During this time Information Services continued its broad-based program of internal and external communications. The department served as liaison between federal and provincial governments on the residence project, participated in presentations on Bill 82, and began work on revitalizing the Alumni Association.
In 1979 Information Services, still under Vice President Human Resources, underwent a name change and was known as the Public Relations department.
After the merger with the Pacific Vocational Institute in 1985 the department was again moved and given a name change. Now known as Community Relations, the Director of Community Relations/Development reported to the Vice President of Student Services and Educational Support.

Since 2000 the BCIT School of Transportation has been a North American leader in transportation training, producing the high-quality, job-ready graduates in demand by the aerospace, marine, motive, and rail sectors.

Strategically located directly at the Asia Pacific Gateway, the School of Transportation delivers accredited and globally recognized programs tailored to meet the human capital needs of the transportation industry.

The School of Transportation has its roots in BCIT's School of Trades Training Apprenticeship Programs; drawing from Apprenticeship Programs, Aviation Trades and Mechanical Trades.

Departments within the school include: Academic Studies (Basic Health Sciences, Chemistry, Communication, Liberal Studies, Mathematics, and Physics), Computing and IT (Computing), and Forensics (Forensic Science & Technology).
Academic Studies, which includes the departments of Math, Chemistry, Physics, Communication, and Liberal Studies provide essential building blocks for technologies and credentials.
BCIT students are given applied and theoretical knowledge, as well as advanced skills in critical thinking, applied ethics, and research methodology for career success.
Academic Studies also manages the Technology Entry Program which bridges into BCIT credentials, as well as the Technical Writing Certificate.
The Computing and IT department works with industry and subject matter experts, and has developed 30 different Computing and IT career-oriented program options which lead to certificates, diplomas, and a bachelor’s degree, full-time and part-time.
Every year they also provide over 350 individual Part-time "COMP" courses at night and on weekends. Our alumni become the future managers, entrepreneurs and leaders in the Computing and IT sector.
The Forensics department offers flexibility and specialization. Options for students include degrees and specialty certificates in Forensic Science, Computer Crimes, Intelligence Analysis, Forensic Health Sciences and Forensic Video Analysis.

In 1975 the Marine Training Centre, began providing training in navigation and engineering. Following the establishment of the Marine Training Advisory Council in 1975, it was decided that the responsibilities of the Centre should be increased. As a result, in 1978, it was designated a Provincial Institute and renamed the Pacific Marine Training Institute (PMTI).

In 1994 the PMTI was amalgamated with the British Columbia Institute of Technology to become BCIT's Pacific Marine Training Campus.

The BCIT Facilities and Campus Development department is responsible for all of the higher level strategic planning and implementation of BCIT’s major facilities. Some of these responsibilities include: facilities and capital planning, space administration, design and construction. The department is responsible for producing the campus master plan. The Campus Master Plan prioritizes the requirement for new facilities and infrastructure. It provides the guidelines for land use which include future building locations, parking lots, green space, pedestrian walkways, vehicular roads, etc. In June of 2019 BCIT Facilities and Campus Development took over Parking Operations from Safety, Security & Emergency Management (SSEM).