Creating IT Futures Foundation Launches DevPrep, a Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Future Coders

BOULDER, Colo., March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Creating IT Futures Foundation, the philanthropic arm of IT industry association CompTIA, is launching DevPrep, a pre-apprenticeship program for future coders, to help unemployed and under-employed youth and military veterans get the training they need to move into software development apprenticeships at Techtonic Academy, a division of Boulder-based Techtonic Group.

During the tuition-free, four-week, classroom-based program, DevPrep students will learn basic coding literacy (how code works, fundamental computational thinking, logic structures and more) as well as gain familiarity with the most common coding languages and develop the soft skills and career readiness training to work in a software development environment.

"In Colorado alone, there were more than 9,400 coding-related jobs open last quarter. Nationwide there were more than 330,000 coding jobs open," said Charles Eaton, CEO of Creating IT Futures Foundation. "In order to meet the growing demand for coding talent, there needs to be a variety of pathways for people to enter the software and web development field. Our free DevPrep program and the Techtonic Academy paid apprenticeships will be a new option for those students for whom college, online learning and coding bootcamps might not be the right fit at this point in their lives."

Graduates of DevPrep may qualify for an eight-month, paid apprenticeship with Techtonic Academy. During the apprenticeship, students gain valuable on-the-job experience in a junior developer role. DevPrep doesn't charge for its training, and those accepted into the Techtonic Academy are paid a salary while they work side-by-side with senior software developers and former apprentices to gain coding experience.

"Techtonic Academy is a natural next step for graduates of the DevPrep bootcamp because candidates can gain real work experience on actual client projects while being mentored and continuing to advance their skill set," said Heather Terenzio, CEO and founder of Techtonic Academy. "The social enterprise ripple effect of programs like DevPrep and Techtonic Academy is real. While we are giving underprivileged youth and veterans the opportunity to break into the technology field by providing the tools and training, companies that hire Techtonic Group for their software development are receiving high-quality services and furthering a positive impact on society."

Students must:

• Live near the DevPrep class location in Boulder, Colorado,
• Be at least 18 years old,
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant,
• Demonstrate financial need,
• Be a high school graduate or have a GED,
• Have access to a computer with Internet connection, and
• Be able to commit to four weeks of unpaid training, and if qualified, to an eight-month paid apprenticeship with Techtonic Group.

The inaugural DevPrep class will begin training June 20. Classes run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday. Applications are due by May 31. Interested students may apply at http://www.creatingitfutures.org/developing-programs/devprep/application.  

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SOURCE Creating IT Futures Foundation

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http://www.creatingitfutures.org