If you’re looking for a new career in the growing technology field and you don’t have the time, money or desire to invest in a traditional college experience, then TMCC’s Tech Careers FastTrack program is just for you. This completely online training program was developed in partnership with local employers in the tech industry and is designed to get you ready to work ASAP. Whether you’ve been coding from your kitchen table or if you’ve never touched a computer, if a career in software development sounds appealing, then this program is just for you.
Why Tech Careers and Why Now?
Reno-Sparks has become a destination for tech employers. According to an article published in the U.S. News & World Report, in 2018 Reno-Sparks added over 2,000 new tech jobs as the result of 29 new and expanding companies. The result? Despite COVID-19, the technology industry in Reno has continued to grow, offering more and more opportunities for job seekers with coding and programming skills.
“As a co-owner of a local software development and digital marketing agency, I interact with many local tech and non-tech companies and start-ups that want to ramp up their digital game. Over and over again, I hear that they could not find the right software engineers,” said Vas Kamyshanov, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BALANCED Agency. “With the local tech ecosystem rapidly growing, there will be no shortage of software development jobs especially with start-ups and companies with under 50 employees where the tasks are complex and interesting, and the work culture and opportunities are second to none.”
Enter the Tech Careers FastTrack program, which will position participants to learn the skills these companies want in entry-level employees while working to build credentials and skill sets that can lead to a degree and a clear pathway in software development. This program is for anyone, it meets you where you are.
Developed in partnership with the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), and employers, the Tech Careers FastTrack program responds to the workforce needs of Nevada technology companies and those considering relocating here. The online program prepares people with the skills they need to get an entry-level job and continue on a path to becoming a software developer.
“This program is the result of engagement over an extended period of time, by a group of dedicated employers in the region who shared detailed information about their operations and their needs, in order to enable the College to design and implement this Tech Careers program. Their input was the most vital component to the process, and we were honored to help lead these discussions between community leaders, GOED, and TMCC,” said Nancy McCormick, EDAWN Senior Vice President of Retention, Expansion, and Workforce Development.
The pilot program, which has opened its application process, offers you the opportunity to begin training and working toward a career in the tech industry at no cost to you. Interested? Fill out the form to attend one of the upcoming information sessions where you can learn more about this opportunity. Don’t take too long...space is limited.
The Nuts and Bolts of the Program
The Tech Careers FastTrack program can be completed in 14–18 weeks with full-time participation (30–40 hours per week), even if you’ve never touched a computer before. For those who have previous experience or training, you can complete the program at a quicker pace. In addition to online instruction, the program also includes paid work experience with a local employer.
If you participate in the Tech Careers FastTrack, you can expect the program to be:
- Delivered through short, mini-courses (modules) that you can complete quickly, week by week.
- Adaptable to your skill level, allowing you to earn credit for the skills and abilities you already have so you can focus your time and energy on learning new things.
- Self-paced to work around your schedule, giving you the control to decide how fast you progress and how far you want to go.
- Offered online with in-person support and guidance from the instructor when you need it. You will also have a program navigator to help you stay on track to reach your goals.
- Aligned with local employer needs to ensure you are well-positioned to get a job.
- The first 8-10 weeks cover basic information technology skills (IT Basics), such as career development, career exploration, operating systems and networks, basic programming and functions, program construction, and introduction to databases, to name a few.
Once participants have completed IT Basics, they can progress to the IT Specialties module. In 6-8 weeks, participants choose a focus area of either front-end development or back-end development and hone their skill set in that specialty. Those who complete the IT Specialties module will earn a Skills Certificate in their specialty area.
Kamyshanov, who was involved in developing the new program along with GOED, EDAWN, NSHE and TMCC, said that the program design is exactly what the industry needs. “What I particularly like about this program is its progression structure,” he said. “Since the path to becoming a software developer is a journey and not a destination, it’s critical for students to practice and polish their skills at work. To be a well-rounded software developer, students need to learn dozens of technologies, including databases, programming languages, cloud compartments, and APIs, and this program provides a solid foundation for that.”
Seats are limited in the pilot to only 20 participants. Tuition and fees will be covered through the program funding. Additionally, participants will have access to a TMCC computer lab for open lab hours at TMCC’s Applied Technology Center if they need assistance from faculty for the program’s assigned work.
Tech Careers FastTrack is funded by grants awarded by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Workforce Innovations for the New Nevada (WINN) program; the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation & Technology; and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN) U.S. Department of Education’s Education Stabilization Fund – Reimagine Workforce Preparation (ESF-RWP) grant, Project SANDI.
Fill out the Form to Learn More
If Tech Careers FastTrack sounds like a win-win for you, fill out the form to receive more information on how to apply. You can also contact the Applied Technologies department for more information at 775-856-5300.