The Tech Academy

What makes the Tech Academy great is their focus on two fundamentals of any job in tech:
1) Having an understanding of how computers work on a big picture level andhow that relates to programming and software development.

2) Having the ability to work through problems on your own in order to become a problem solver. That second fundamental essentially sums up the responsibility of an IT professional; getting paid to solve problems.

However, The Tech Academy's commitment to instilling a foundation in the first fundamental is what separates it from other programs.

I graduated with a degree in Philosophy and wanted to pursue a career in Data Science. I knew that I needed to learn how to code, and tried to teach myself. I found myself struggling and realized it was because I didn't have that fundamental understanding of how computers work. 

The Tech Academy gave me that fundamental understanding that most software developers learn from a computer science degree. Instead I learned it in a couple of weeks for a fraction of the cost of a 4 yr CS degree.

A great tennis player needs an experienced coach to teach them proper technique, and plenty of practice to master that technique. The same is true about programming. The truth is that no boot camp will make you into a software developer; only you can by practicing how to solve problems on your own. However, The Tech Academy teaches you the fundamentals of how to
solve problems. 

I highly recommend this program to get you started in the Tech industry.

I recently got a job as a data analyst for a start-up and know that I would not have got the job had I not enrolled in the Tech Academy. Enroll in the Tech Academy and within a few months you will have separated yourself from other candidates for a job by learning how to code, and most importantly learning how to solve problems.

- Zachery Ober

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So how to begin...Frank Lloyd Wright once said 'You can't make an architect. But you can open the doors and windows towards the light as you see it.' Wow, how true. The Tech Academy has opened a new door for me in my life. Working in the restaurant industry for many years had become mundane. To be honest, I had lost much of my drive to really learn and think and that's one of the greatest gifts that The Tech Academy has given back to me.

The Tech Academy has given me the building blocks to learn and the positive environment to grow my confidence in a new field. The progression of the courses from Computer Basics through Mobile Development were seamless, with each course allowing me to grow quickly from a good foundation to completion and what I like to call 'a light bulb moment.'

I can't thank the staff enough for the help and encouragement given to me throughout my time at the Academy.

 

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The Computer Basics course offered understanding into the process of the computer. I thought the history behind computers was informative and learning some basics of binary was super cool. 

I think that these basics will help me better understand the machine I am working with as I continue through this course. I was happy to be given so many definitions. They were written simply and were easy to comprehend instead of overwhelming, Like Googling the term 'RAM' without any knowledge on the subject can do. The videos were also a wonderful contribution to the learning process. I hope there are more as I go through the course because watching and listening really helps in understanding some of the more difficult concepts.

I thought this course was fun and that writing the essays were helpful. It is hard to retain all of the definitions but the essays were an exercise that made that easier.

This course made me enthusiastic where as before I started the Tech Academy I was nervous and felt daunted. I know it will get harder but from the first course layout, I do not feel as overwhelmed as before.

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Prior to attending the Tech Academy, I had worked as a Licensed Nurse for 6 years. I've always enjoyed helping people meet their goals, but I've also had a long-standing desire to learn programming more intimately. I've been working with computers for most of my life, but almost entirely as a hobby. I decided on the Tech Academy after I met with Erik and his staff. They were genuine and very interested in helping me meet my goals of entering the I.T. field as a Junior Software Developer. 

I can't say enough good things about my experience. From the clean, quiet atmosphere to the welcoming nature of the staff-- The Tech Academy is a place for learning and self-development. The self-paced structure of the curriculum allowed me to take my time on concepts that were difficult. The instructors are extremely polite and helpful, always willing to take the time to help with difficult problems. The staff provided absolutely all the support one could wish for. Beyond the professionalism of the staff, the most important part to me was that they were all genuinely decent, kind, and good-hearted people who care about the success of the students.

The curriculum covers a great deal of cutting-edge industry standard technologies that are being utilized in the industry right now. In fact, before my completion of the program, I was able to work on and help architect a live project for a paying client. This gave invaluable real-life experience that I would not have gained without the help of The Tech Academy.

For myself, the most impactful learning experience at the Tech Academy was not simply the memorization of the nomenclature of a programming language, but instead how to think like a programmer. The curriculum consistently drove-home the need to break down problems into smaller ones in order to understand the big picture. This method of thinking has allowed me to conceptualize the architecture of software on a level that I was not able to prior to my enrollment in this program. I know that I have a lot more to learn, but I feel that the Tech Academy has given me everything I need to go forth and succeed as a Junior Software Developer. 

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What an amazing blur these last three months have been.  My time at the Tech Academy has passed quickly, but definitely not unproductively.  The Tech Academy provided an organized, well structured, directed environment in which I could push myself to learn and apply the fundamental concepts of software development.  From basic terms and concepts to languages and practices, Tech Academy exposed me to the what it is to be a Software Developer, and better yet, helped me become one.  Along the journey I met new friends and made many connections which will prove useful as I continue to grow and work in the development field.  I'm glad that I chose to go through the Tech Academy's program and have come out with a strong sense of accomplishment, capability, and confidence.  Programming is a vast ocean and there's always so much more to learn; but with the knowledge I've learned from the Tech Academy, I now feel able to sail those waters successfully on my own!

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Studying at The Tech Academy was a great experience, and was a big key in reaching my goals of learning a lot about software development, understanding object oriented programming, and landing a job at an awesome software company in Portland. I began the program with a fair amount of computer knowledge, which helped me get through the first few courses pretty quickly. Understanding how to work with databases, code in Python, and especially grasp the concepts of C# programming was no easy task, but the course material and assistance from the instructors and other students helped me break through and comprehend them. There is a vast, vast amount of knowledge to be understood in just a few months of study, and the school's method of starting out with the basics and building on that with each course made it easier. Being in this learning environment 8 hours a day for 5 days a week was certainly helpful -- however, I really liked the flexibility of schedule that the school allows, as some of it can be done off site. When I started, I was still working full time, and studying in the evenings, so I appreciated having this option. I particularly found the coding drills to be the best learning tools in the program. They were challenging and really made me think and learn by jumping in and coding, which is the best way to learn how to code. I thought the Live Project was awesome, and developing a real-world web site project as a team was a great way to learn from other students as well as contribute to a project.

The curriculum was very comprehensive and I liked that it covered complicated concepts like object oriented programming and databases, and wasn't limited to just learning a handful of simpler Web-based languages. I liked that I was challenged frequently, and was often stuck, but help was always available when I couldn't figure something out. I found the C# drills to be particularly challenging, and helped me the most when I went to take the MTA exam. When I first walked into the school, there'sno way I could have passed the exam. Taking the exam and answering the questions correctly made me realize how much I've learned over the pastfew months. Overall, I am happy with my experience at the school and feel that I have a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will benefit me throughout my career in the software industry.

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The Tech Academy started out easy and then got more and more advanced until I was coding in Python and developing websites etc. Before going there, I hadn't programmed at all. They've developed a program I think any person could get through. Which was awesome for me because I had no prior experience.

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I can't recommend the Portland Tech Academy enough. I have 17 years of Software Quality Experience and was faced with a career path that had changed dramatically after I became gainfully unemployed. The need to be familiar with code had changed to actually having to be able to code. Automation had taken the forefront as companies embraced agile methodologies. After failing a few job interviews because of my lack of working knowledge in coding I decided to bite the bullet and start the learning process. I saw the adds for The Portland Tech Academy and after talking with Eric over the phone and in person I chose them based on their curriculum and level of commitment to their students. As I neared the completion of the training I updated my resume with my current course work and started to apply to some jobs. I had 7 interviews in 2 weeks and 5 offers came out of them. The only reason this happened is because I had the knowledge and the confidence to continually 'knock the ball out of the park.' I gained that confidence and knowledge at The Portland Tech Academy and you should too.

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When I stumbled on an ad for The Tech Academy, I was instantly interested. I had been in and out of College and was nowhere near a degree, and my previous attempts at self-taught programming proved to be overwhelming and unfruitful. There was so much information out there on software development that it was difficult just to know where to start. I needed to check things out. After meeting with Erik and his team, I was thoroughly impressed by the program and everything it had to offer. I immediately took the first steps toward enrollment.   The self-paced aspect of the program was a huge selling point for me. I was able to move through curriculum at a pace that was most beneficial to my learning on a schedule that was in-line with my home life. The coursework was linear and easy to understand. Information was organized in a way where any prerequisite learning was provided in advance of each proceeding topic. Building on top of previous knowledge gave me a clearer understanding of each subject, and I didn't feel lost like I did when I took the self-taught route.   The staff at The Tech Academy were exceptional. They were always there when you needed them but out of your hair when you didn't. I appreciated how they would always try to coax me towards an answer rather than simply providing one. A senior developer was available when code got a little too crazy, which sometimes happened. Overall, everyone was friendly, courteous, and genuine.   Before I even completed all of the coursework, I was given the opportunity to meet with prospective employers and recruiters who offered their advice on job searching. They helped me update my resume and practice for interviews, and I definitely felt prepared once I started looking for a job. I was able to secure a position as a Software Engineer with a local company with great benefits and a comfortable, fun working environment. I love what I get to do everyday I go to the office.   I fully recommend The Tech Academy. It was truly a life changing experience for me and my family. I feel like this is only the beginning of a long and rewarding career. I'm excited for the future. Read less

I had been out of the computer science field for 9 years. My family was at the point that I needed to change jobs and make more money. Going back to traditional schooling didn't make sense. We could not afford it and to put it on a loan would be moving backwards. That's when I found The Tech Academy. The coursework was in depth and provided the base I needed to reintegrate myself into the computing field. The instructors are friendly and helpful and make sure you have a clear understanding of the material. I was able to secure a job in software development before graduating. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to make a change or who just wants to break into the computer industry.
 

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I came to The Tech Academy already a software engineer. It's been a few years since I've used C# and .Net and wanted some refresher on Microsoft technologies. I also found the coursework covered areas other boot camps don't. During my time there I got a bit more comfortable with MVC and Linq both of which I had limited experience with. There were several Oh yeah! moments in the C# course where different concepts came back to me. I also really enjoyed learning Python. It's an impressively powerful language that greatly simplifies writing code. Despite being more of a night owl, I also enjoyed the chats with other students and the help I received from Alem and Brett, both excellent people! One of the most important things I've learned is that software itself is not a goal. There is so much to learn and know that it's impossible for one person to do it all.

The first course reminded me what software's roots are. It's easy to get caught up in the latest language or framework, but it's all underpinned with binary. Those fundamentals are important as languages and frameworks continue to abstract away the mechanics of computation. Each course at The Tech Academy builds on concepts from the previous in a way that guides students in a soup-to-nuts path. Where the landscape of learning software is broad and meandering, The Tech Academy has put together a concise efficient program that guides students to an impressive level of functioning right out of the gate. I'd like to say thank you to everyone at The Tech Academy for being who you are, great people, with great vision and continued success.

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Before coming to the Tech Academy I had been trying for the past year to change career fields from engineering to the tech industry. I had some programming knowledge, and was able to get a few interviews, but my skills were never quite strong enough to seal the deal and get a job offer. I had investigated some online degree programs, but the length of time and the cost were both higher than I was willing to spend. That was when I found the Tech Academy. I looked at the offerings of several boot camps in the area, and found that the Tech Academy offered the strongest curriculum towards a path in software development. I then left my engineering? ?position to pursue instruction at the Tech Academy full time, and have had absolutely no regrets. The instructors have been attentive and helpful, and I have been able to master the skills I was seeking to enter the tech industry. I would highly recommend the Tech Academy to anyone seeking quick entry into software development.

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Ever since I was young, I always had a fascination with computers and software. It started with a Visual Basic game programming book I pickedup at the store when I was 10, and just spiraled out of control from there. I read everything I could get my hands on, started doing little projects in all my free time, attended summer camps specifically for programming. My life has basically always, in some way, revolved aroundsoftware for the past 12 years. 

This past year when college wasn't quite working out for me, I decided to pack up, and move from Atlanta to Portland in early January. I started at the Tech Academy as soon as I arrived. I knew I had the skills to break into the industry, but with my partial college background, and limited formal experience, I felt like I could benefit from the training and connections at The Tech Academy. 

One of the things I really enjoyed most about The Tech Academy was the self paced learning structure. I consume information quickly, and when I throw myself at something, it kind of consumes my life. I threw myself at the program for up to 10 hours a day, almost every day of theweek, living and breathing code. I came into the office as often as I could, and just worked until I either felt like I'd hit a roadblock andneeded some time to think, or felt like passing out. If you're going tobe going through this program, I recommend you take the same approach. 

I've never really dived too far into .NET, there's a lot of information regarding the framework, and it's tough to pick a place to start. But the way information was presented made it easy to digest, especially for an experienced developer like myself. I got a much better grasp on databases, ASP.NET, LINQ, agile development fundamentals, GIT, and evenpython. I graduated with an MTA certification, and a lot of the holes in my self training over the years were filled. As a developer, I'm much more confident today than I was just two short months ago. 

I quickly jumped into a few live projects a few weeks after starting, which consisted of live development work on paid projects. These projects directly related to the job I ended up getting at a company specializing in data acquisition and web services. When I described theskills I used on these projects in my interview with the company, they were extremely impressed that someone as young as me had worked with the specific technologies and skills used to complete these live projects. 

If you're a self motivated individual that truly has a passion for software, with tons or little to no experience, and you're looking to pad your developer skills, I cannot recommend The Tech Academy enough. Just a few weeks ago I was a transplant in Portland, with no connections, no job, no plans, nothing. Now, I've got a 60k a year job with full benefits, working at an amazing company, in a beautiful office in downtown Portland, with the latest technologies as a junior software developer. I got exactly what I wanted out of this experience,and I couldn't recommend it enough to anyone looking to follow a similar path.

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As a complete beginner with zero coding experience, The Tech Academy's Full-Stack Software Developer program gave me a strong, practical foundation in tech. The self-paced format let me dive in deeply and learn at my own rhythm, covering HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Python, C#, .NET, and more through hands-on projects and pair programming that felt like real collaboration. Instructors were super responsive and supportive via email/Discord and always patient when I needed help. The curriculum built confidence step by step, with clear explanations and plenty of real-world practice—an excellent choice for motivated beginners. I highly recommend it and believe they deserve a 5/5! Read less

The Tech Academy was a great experience for strengthening my existing tech skills. The curriculum was well-structured and practical, with hands-on projects that reinforced real-world concepts. The instructors were knowledgeable and supportive, and the flexible format made it easy to learn at my own pace. Overall, it was a valuable program that helped me sharpen my technical skill set and grow professionally.

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Software development self-paced program. It was a very good course to get a start-up in the tech industry. It will walk you through the very basics about computers to the latest software technologies so you can have all the tools needed to go ahead and jump into tech. Read less

I got exactly what I wanted from my time at the Tech Academy. I learned enough about tech, that in combination with my previous education and work experience, I was able to land a job within a few months of graduating. My expectations were managed well both ahead of- and during the bootcamp, empowering me to succeed.  Read less

I thought this was an overall great experience. The staff is helpful and friendly. It’s definitely a situation where you get out of it what you put in. They are very upfront about not guaranteeing a job, but will help you as best they can to find one. If you don’t thrive in an online, go-at-your-pace environment… this is not for you. This is great for people who have minimal to no tech experience, or for anyone who is just interested in brushing up on old skills. Read less

Robust learning experience that covers an extensive amount of software material. It would be difficult to simulate the learning material and experience garnered from this course by one's own means. Instructors were very helpful and available to assist for a good portion of the day. The projects were challenging and helpful in the preparation for a tech career. You learn all of the in demand programming languages that most employers are looking for. The curriculum is self paced so that you can take extra time where needed and speed through the material that already feels familiar.  Read less