PCC was chartered and designated by the North Carolina State Board of Education as an industrial education center in March, 1961. The college began its operation as Pitt Industrial Education Center during the same year. Dr. Lloyd Spaulding served as the director of the center. The programs developed and expanded, and in 1964, the school was designated a technical institute by the State Board of Education. The name was changed in July, 1964, to Pitt Technical Institute, and it opened in its new facility, the Vernon E. White Building, in September, 1964, with nine curricula and 96 students.