Founded as the Guilford Industrial Education Center on April 3, 1958, the training facility was established to prepare workers for technical jobs created by the rapid manufacturing growth in the county. The future GTCC opened that August in Jamestown on the site of the former Guilford County Tuberculosis Sanatorium [1924-1955] with 50 students enrolled in two classes. In 1965, when the center was elevated to Guilford Technical Institute, the school was authorized to grant associate degrees.

The State Board of Community Colleges approved GTI's request to add a college transfer program in 1983, and the institution became Guilford Technical Community College. GTCC's mission has basically remained unchanged: the institution is charged to give the people of Guilford County the training and education they need to compete in the job market.

For the 2008-09 academic year, GTCC is offering 93 degrees, 26 diplomas and 78 certificates, a total of 197 awards from 90 unique programs. Two new degree programs, Health Care Management Technology and Cyber Crime Technology, have been added for 2008-09. The college also offers personal enrichment courses, a variety of adult literacy opportunities and training for business and industry.

GTCC operates from three campuses; the main campus in Jamestown at 601 High Point Road, the High Point Campus, 901 South Main Street, the Greensboro Campus at 3505 East Wendover Avenue, and two centers; the T. H. Davis Aviation Center at 260 North Regional Road, Piedmont Triad International Airport and the Small Business Center, 207 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro.

GTCC is the fourth largest of 58 community colleges in North Carolina and President Donald W. Cameron [1991] is the longest tenured president in GTCC history.