The Tech Academy is a trade school headquartered in Portland, Oregon that offers full-time and part-time bootcamps online and in-person at their Portland campus. The Tech Academy offers part-time and full-time bootcamps in computer programming, website development, cybersecurity, game development, mobile development, data science, front-end development, tech marketing, and tech sales. The immersive experience aims to create well-rounded technology professionals, and also gives students the option to take the course at their own pace. There are also no set starts dates or rigid scheduling. Students can enroll at any time, study from home, and choose whatever study schedule they would like.
The Tech Academy’s bootcamps cover topics including computer science fundamentals, programming basics, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, C#, Python, Bootstrap, jQuery, React.js, project management, Agile, Scrum, MVC, version control, Java, and more. Each bootcamp also includes a Live Project, where students gain real-life experience to add to their resume as well as job placement assistance.
None of The Tech Academy's bootcamps require any tech background or experience. To apply, applicants need to take an IQ test with logic-based questions (to ensure applicants can read, write and perform basic math), followed by an admissions interview.
The final part of every The Tech Academy bootcamp is the Job Placement Course which covers interviewing skills, resume writing, where to find tech jobs, and gives students access to job placement staff who assist students in landing technical positions.
Pros:
Excellent place to start for someone with no technical background. They will teach you how to learn the basics of a language, as well as a lot of the vocabulary you need to know.
Breadth of knowledge--you'll learn 7 different languages.
Job-placement programs is top-notch, and will help you with your resume, cover letters, and interview skills. +1 star for this and the following.
Very friendly and helpful instructors. Seriously!...
Pros:
Excellent place to start for someone with no technical background. They will teach you how to learn the basics of a language, as well as a lot of the vocabulary you need to know.
Breadth of knowledge--you'll learn 7 different languages.
Job-placement programs is top-notch, and will help you with your resume, cover letters, and interview skills. +1 star for this and the following.
Very friendly and helpful instructors. Seriously!
Can study remotely, at your own pace. Loaner laptop included!
Cons:
Lack of depth in any language--you learn 7 different languages so there's no time to go deeply into any one. You'll learn what an API is but never implement one, and learn what TDD is but never how to do it. Most employers (and the blogs that Tech Academy encourages you to follow) recommend diving deeply into a single language and associated frameworks.
Curriculum is weak, although it's constantly being upgraded (meaning you might finish a unit only to find that it just got upgraded). I learned more HTML/CSS in a $10 course from Udemy. You'll learn how to do long division of binary numbers, but not how to write a unit test.
Ultimately, it's not a bad school, but you'll have to supplement the education you get here with a lot of stuff they don't teach (or already have a background in tech) if you want to actually find a job in tech.
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Operations Manager
Apr 27, 2017
The Tech Academy has been the right program for me for several reasons. First, I gravitated towards the Tech Academy because I've always enjoyed working at my own pace and being able to teach myself through interactive learning. The curriculum is set up to allow you to learn concepts as whatever pace is needed in that particular area. For certain lessons, I can go quickly if I feel I already have a grasp on the concepts, and in other areas that are new to me I can slow down and mak...
The Tech Academy has been the right program for me for several reasons. First, I gravitated towards the Tech Academy because I've always enjoyed working at my own pace and being able to teach myself through interactive learning. The curriculum is set up to allow you to learn concepts as whatever pace is needed in that particular area. For certain lessons, I can go quickly if I feel I already have a grasp on the concepts, and in other areas that are new to me I can slow down and make sure I'm truly processing the content without feeling rushed to move forward. I think the Tech Academy is great for people who are self-motivated and appreciate being given autonomy in the learning process. In addition to that, there are very help instructors who can answer questions when needed, and a great community of learners who are working alongside you
I am a student at The Tech Academy nearing the job search stage of my boot camp. My experience has been fantastic thus far at the The Academy. Both the dialogue I have with instructors and fellow students while on campus and the content available for consumption have been engaging and constructive. The curriculum gives you as much as you put into it, with lots of extra references to material to assist you if you stumble.
There is one caviat to working with this self paced style o...
I am a student at The Tech Academy nearing the job search stage of my boot camp. My experience has been fantastic thus far at the The Academy. Both the dialogue I have with instructors and fellow students while on campus and the content available for consumption have been engaging and constructive. The curriculum gives you as much as you put into it, with lots of extra references to material to assist you if you stumble.
There is one caviat to working with this self paced style of program. If you are not a self starter and motivated person I would not suggest taking The Tech Academy boot camp remotely. I considered working remotely and am very happy I have decided to takle programming in the environment provided on Campus. You are not always sitting in front of a computer while on campus, you can if you choose participate in roudtable discussions both soft skill and technical interview questions weekly.
If you intend to make a career change into software development or are just entering the job market I highly recommend The Tech Academy's software developer bootcamp.
Before enrolling at the Tech Academy I was working in construction feeling stuck as far as what I wanted to do with my life. I have always enjoyed problem-solving and have had a good inclination towards taking things apart and fixing them. I didn’t really have the right outlet to help me decide on a fulfilling career track. Little did I know how perfect pursuing programming was going to be for me. I came to the Tech Academy with no prior experience in programming, and now I’m confident to...
Before enrolling at the Tech Academy I was working in construction feeling stuck as far as what I wanted to do with my life. I have always enjoyed problem-solving and have had a good inclination towards taking things apart and fixing them. I didn’t really have the right outlet to help me decide on a fulfilling career track. Little did I know how perfect pursuing programming was going to be for me. I came to the Tech Academy with no prior experience in programming, and now I’m confident to say that I possess a strong skill set in full stack development. I was able to maintain my full-time job as well attend the academy, having great help along the way. The instructors are always willing to work with you in a way that enhances your grasp of concepts and practices. The Tech Academy is a dedicated team working with you to become a talented developer. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a better group of people to have built relationships with. The Tech Academy really helped me get started on a great career path.
Before enrolling at the Tech Academy I was working in construction feeling stuck as far as what I wanted to do with my life. I have always enjoyed problem-solving and have had a good inclination towards taking things apart and fixing them. I didn’t really have the right outlet to help me decide on a fulfilling career track. Little did I know how perfect pursuing programming was going to be for me. I came to the Tech Academy with no prior experience in programming, and now I’m confident to say that I possess a strong skill set in full stack development. I was able to maintain my full-time job as well attend the academy, having great help along the way. The instructors are always willing to work with you in a way that enhances your grasp of concepts and practices. The Tech Academy is a dedicated team working with you to become a talented developer. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a better group of people to have built relationships with. The Tech Academy really helped me get started on a great career path.
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Operations Manager
Jan 06, 2017
So far, this has been a very solid place to learn programming. Even with a background in Electrical Engineering, I found my coding skills were very weak. The instructors on site are all very nice and extremely welcoming. This is the type of program where you will get as much out of it as you put in. There are no real boundaries in place that prevent you from moving on in a course. There are various checkpoints throughout courses that are just there to check your knowledge. It is up to you ...
So far, this has been a very solid place to learn programming. Even with a background in Electrical Engineering, I found my coding skills were very weak. The instructors on site are all very nice and extremely welcoming. This is the type of program where you will get as much out of it as you put in. There are no real boundaries in place that prevent you from moving on in a course. There are various checkpoints throughout courses that are just there to check your knowledge. It is up to you whether or not you feel that you need to spend more time on a course. Also, do not feel afraid to ask questions. The instructors are there to assist you when you need help. That aside, it IS important to try to struggle through the difficult material first before asking for assistance.
As a person that usually requires some time for information to truly click, this style of learning greatly suited me. There is also a remote option for the Tech Academy. I have never explored this option myself as I live a 30 minute bus ride away from the school, but there are people who try this option and are successful. There are also job placement people who are extremely good at what they do. They will hold weekly “practice interview” sessions to aid you in acing an interview for a job in the future. I would say, if you're willing to put in the effort and are looking for a coding school that covers a wide range of the popular languages needed in software development nowadays, this is a great school to consider.
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Lead Job Placement Director
Nov 15, 2016
I am a current student at The Tech Academy in Portland, Oregon, and been in the program for several weeks now. I love the flexibility that The Tech Academy has offered me! I have been able to study on my own schedule to add a new, concrete skill to my resume and still have the freedom to work as well. Even though I have not fully completed the program as of yet, just being enrolled has helped me to attain a higher profile job with more pay. I'm excited to finish the course a...
I am a current student at The Tech Academy in Portland, Oregon, and been in the program for several weeks now. I love the flexibility that The Tech Academy has offered me! I have been able to study on my own schedule to add a new, concrete skill to my resume and still have the freedom to work as well. Even though I have not fully completed the program as of yet, just being enrolled has helped me to attain a higher profile job with more pay. I'm excited to finish the course and see how much further I can take myself!
Before choosing The Tech Academy, I did a great deal of research on which course in the Portland-area I wanted to attend. I ultimately chose The Tech Academy for their very extensive and comprehensive bootcamp-style program. You start from the basics and build upon them, which I feel provides a more rooted knowledge of software development. It's impossible to learn everything that you could possibly need to know when delving into the land of computer programming, but The Tech Academy aims to really teach you how to think like a developer and troubleshoot the roadblocks you will come across. There are also a full and friendly staff of instructors and job placement specialists to help you along on your journey. They also host weekly Tech Talks with industry professionials and graduates of the program and meet-ups allowing you to become acquianted with other locals working and studying within the tech world.
All in all, I've been very happy with my decision to attend The Tech Academy and am excited to see what future doors will open!
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Lead Job Placement Director
Nov 15, 2016
The Tech Academy provided me a broad overview of what I needed to know in the realm of software development and taught me the fundamentals of object oriented programming. The broad exposure allowed me to narrow in on areas of interest.
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Lead Job Placement Director
Sep 29, 2016
I recently attended an open house hosted by The Tech Academy. More than anything, they seem to genuinely WANT every student to succeed. They literally have staff members that are available at virtually all times to assist students when they need help (Each one has completed the course him/herself as well). I think that's critical for students. At the open-house I was able to speak with quite a few graduates who spoke very highly of this program. I'm not surprised to see all the 5-star rati...
I recently attended an open house hosted by The Tech Academy. More than anything, they seem to genuinely WANT every student to succeed. They literally have staff members that are available at virtually all times to assist students when they need help (Each one has completed the course him/herself as well). I think that's critical for students. At the open-house I was able to speak with quite a few graduates who spoke very highly of this program. I'm not surprised to see all the 5-star ratings.
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Lead Job Placement Director
Oct 24, 2016
My husband was working as a telemarketer and I was employed as a nurse on the graveyard shift. He was always good with computers so we decided to roll the dice and see about him going back to school to learn programming. We looked around and found The Tech Academy. My initial impression of them was good but I remained skeptical. My husband made his way through the coursework. There were ups and downs but altogether he relayed a positive experience to me. He then began applying for jobs and...
My husband was working as a telemarketer and I was employed as a nurse on the graveyard shift. He was always good with computers so we decided to roll the dice and see about him going back to school to learn programming. We looked around and found The Tech Academy. My initial impression of them was good but I remained skeptical. My husband made his way through the coursework. There were ups and downs but altogether he relayed a positive experience to me. He then began applying for jobs and received help from the school's job placement staff. He was able to land a technical job that paid him enough so that I no longer have to work nights and weekends. Because we are now surviving better and on the same schedule, I am very grateful for all the help The Tech Academy has provided us. His attending has changed our lives for the better.
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Lead Job Placement Director
Sep 30, 2016
I’m writing this review for my son as he was forced to sign a waiver that he would not provide a negative online review. Since I paid for the classes, I do feel I have a vested interest to provide an honest review.
Up front, the Tech Academy served its purpose for my son and it was part of the reason he did get employed in the tech industry; but the program did not live up to the upfront promises. And if you are not the right fit, this would not be a wise investment.
...
I’m writing this review for my son as he was forced to sign a waiver that he would not provide a negative online review. Since I paid for the classes, I do feel I have a vested interest to provide an honest review.
Up front, the Tech Academy served its purpose for my son and it was part of the reason he did get employed in the tech industry; but the program did not live up to the upfront promises. And if you are not the right fit, this would not be a wise investment.
My son had received a minor in computer science in college and this program was to supplement and enhance his employability. The program did fill in some technical gaps, but much of it was due to his own effort (which is fine, the students should not be spoon fed), but see the detail below:
Was it worth the $7,000 I paid for my son? I believe it turned out okay for him; but this was only because he had a fair amount of foundation programming education in college and had done quite a bit of self-learning (TreeHouse.com and CodeAcadmy.com) over the previous four years. If you have never had experience, you may struggle; and even with just aptitude, you may only learn the basics and struggle in the future without the strong foundations. (With that said, there are amazing situations where someone is able to become a fabulous coder through their own self-determination, so anything is possible). After finishing the coursework, there was no substantial job placement help; it took about 8 weeks on his own to find a tech job and the effort was his concentrated effort on all the right steps (with 50+ applications and five company interviews).
So in the end, this part of his life with the Tech Academy turned out fine; but the school was not what it was advertised, and the reason for the review is to give a more complete picture for prospective students to decide if this is a right fix for them.
To offset some of the co-opted favorable review by staff and signed waiver keeping others from providing bad reviews, I am lowering my rating down an extra notch.
Signed,
A Parent that paid Tech Academy $7,000 in tuition
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Lead Job Placement Director
Sep 28, 2016
I started the program at the Tech Academy at the age of 58. I have had no experience with coding and wondered if someone with as little experience and as old as I was could do this program. Upon being around the other students here, I have seen the excitement of the newer and older students doing this program. Upon talking to the other students, I have only heard positive comments about their experience here. Once when I was in the office, I witnessed a graduated student that walked int...
I started the program at the Tech Academy at the age of 58. I have had no experience with coding and wondered if someone with as little experience and as old as I was could do this program. Upon being around the other students here, I have seen the excitement of the newer and older students doing this program. Upon talking to the other students, I have only heard positive comments about their experience here. Once when I was in the office, I witnessed a graduated student that walked into the office say how happy he was with the job he had and how his income was much higher than it was before attending the Tech Academy. I think this is a program that many people can do if they have the desire to do it.
Danny Condon of The Tech Academy
Lead Job Placement Director
Oct 24, 2016
Employed in-field | 70.1% |
Full-time employee | 70.1% |
Full-time apprenticeship, internship or contract position | 0.0% |
Short-term contract, part-time, or freelance | 0.0% |
Started a new company or venture after graduation | 0.0% |
Not seeking in-field employment | 11.2% |
Employed out-of-field | 2.8% |
Continuing to higher education | 4.7% |
Not seeking a job for health, family, or personal reasons | 3.8% |
Still seeking job in-field | 8.5% |
Could not contact | 10.2% |
How much does The Tech Academy cost?
The Tech Academy costs around $14,000. On the lower end, some The Tech Academy courses like Self-Paced Front-End Web Developer Boot Camp cost $1,800.
What courses does The Tech Academy teach?
The Tech Academy offers courses like Online C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp (full-time), Online C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp (part-time), Online Cyber Security Boot Camp (full-time), Online Cyber Security Boot Camp (part-time) and 35 more.
Where does The Tech Academy have campuses?
The Tech Academy has in-person campuses in Portland. The Tech Academy also has a remote classroom so students can learn online.
Is The Tech Academy worth it?
The data says yes! The Tech Academy reports a 72% graduation rate, a median salary of $54,000 and 85% of The Tech Academy alumni are employed. The Tech Academy hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 419 The Tech Academy alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed The Tech Academy on Course Report - you should start there!
Is The Tech Academy legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 419 The Tech Academy alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed The Tech Academy and rate their overall experience a 4.83 out of 5.
Does The Tech Academy offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?
Right now, it doesn't look like The Tech Academy offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.
Can I read The Tech Academy reviews?
You can read 419 reviews of The Tech Academy on Course Report! The Tech Academy alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed The Tech Academy and rate their overall experience a 4.83 out of 5.
Is The Tech Academy accredited?
We are a licensed trade school through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (and other state licensing bodies), authorized to certify students in coding and other technical professions.
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