The tech industry continues to grow at unprecedented rates. According to CompTIA, there were 3.9 million job postings for tech positions in 2020, and the job openings are projected to increase by 245,500 this year in the US alone. While the effects of COVID-19 still lingers, the demand for skilled tech employees continues to grow. And it shows no signs of slowing down.
Upskilling in Tech
No one was spared from the onset of the pandemic last year. The Economy Policy Institute reveals that the overall unemployment in the US jumped to 11.3 percent in October 2020. Nearly a year later, many displaced employees are still in the process of finding their way back to gainful employment.
And while the tech industry itself was also affected by the pandemic, it has been one of the few industries that remained resilient in the face of health and economic crises. Given this, it’s no surprise why many are now considering re-skilling or upskilling themselves via coding bootcamps to make their way into tech.
After all, when you combine the demand for skilled tech workers with the number of people who want to start new careers in tech, you get a win-win situation for everyone involved. However, some barriers prevent these displaced workers from starting their new tech careers.
For one, coding bootcamps don’t come cheap. The average cost of a coding bootcamp is $11,727. Although more affordable than a four-year college degree, it’s still higher than many people consider affordable.
Fortunately, many educational institutions offer various payment and installment schemes that students can use to reduce the impact of a bootcamp on their finances.
If you are located in Illinois, Missouri, or Washington, top-rated Coding Temple offers an incredible opportunity to learn from its software development program at a reduced rate. Making this possible is Coding Temple’s partnership with WIOA.
What Is WIOA?
Working Innovation Opportunity Act, or WIOA, is “a landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.”
In a nutshell, WIOA offers career services for job seekers and employers alike through various programs. On the one hand, it helps job seekers find employment, education, training, and support. On the other hand, it matches employers with skilled workers. To qualify for any WIOA program, you must meet the corresponding eligibility requirements and apply.
So, where does Coding Temple come into the picture?
Coding Temple is a coding bootcamp and a WIOA training provider that aims to prepare students for careers in tech. If you’re a WIOA-qualified applicant, you’ll receive a reduced rate for Coding Temple’s software development program, as well as up to a $13,995 grant from WIOA.
This partnership aims to support displaced workers and members of low-income families who wish to pursue careers in software development or data science and analytics but don’t have the financial resources to afford training.
Are You Qualified for WIOA?
To qualify for the WIOA program, you’ll need to be at least:
- 18 years old
- Proficient in English
- A high school graduate or have a GED
Assuming you meet these requirements, you’ll need to check which participant program applies to you. There are different participant programs in the WIOA: Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth.
WIOA Adult Program
The WIOA Adult Program aims to increase the employment, job retention, earnings, and career advancement of US workers by providing training services to eligible individuals and helping them secure meaningful work. This program also helps employers find the skilled workers they need.
The Adult Program mainly targets low-income individuals, basic skills-deficient individuals, and those that receive public assistance. They must be eligible to work in the US.
WIOA Dislocated Worker Program
This program aims to assist workers who have been laid off or have been notified of termination, whether that means helping them find employment or make use of training services. Like the Adult Program, it also helps employers find skilled workers.
If you identify with any of the following, then this program might be for you:
- Professionals terminated or laid off through no fault of their own
- Separating service members
- Displaced homemakers
- Former self-employed individuals who are now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disasters
- Military spouses of active duty service members who meet certain criteria
Naturally, you must also be eligible to work in the US.
WIOA Youth Program
The Youth Program assists out-of-school youth (aged 16 to 24) and in-school youth (aged 14 to 21) who face one or more employment barriers. These barriers include being a school dropout, homeless youth or runaway, and being within the age of compulsory school attendance but has not attended school in the most recent calendar school quarter.
This program helps youth attain education and skills training credentials so they can enjoy multiple employment opportunities.
How to Qualify for Coding Temple and WIOA
Coding Temple looks for motivated and committed learners who have no problem with working with and learning from others. If that describes you, and you’re located in Illinois, Missouri, or Washington, you can get started on your application process through the steps below.
- Submit an application form. Note that the form includes questions about your primary goals for applying, your familiarity with programming, as well as your ability to juggle the coursework along with your other obligations.
- Admissions Call. Once Coding Temple receives your application, you’ll get on a call with the Admissions Team so they can learn more about you.
- Skills Assessment. The assessment will evaluate your problem-solving skills and basic HTML proficiency, both of which are vital to rising to the challenge of the coding bootcamp. This is required for all Coding Temple applicants.
- Financial Assistance. Coding Temple will assess your financial capability and determine your eligibility for federal funding.
- Admissions Decision. After completing the skills assessment, the Admissions Team will review your application.
- Program Admittance. If you pass the process, a program director will contact you to get you on your way to a career in software development.
Once you get accepted to Coding Temple, you can proceed to the WIOA application process by following the steps below.
- Find your partner hub. Each area covered by WIOA is divided into location-based hubs. Find the one nearest to you.
- Attend a virtual orientation. You’ll need to attend a virtual information session about WIOA. This is also an opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the WIOA process.
- Talk with your career coach. Inform your Coding Temple career coach that you are applying for a WIOA grant.
- Fill out the WIOA form. Submit proof of your financial situation to determine if you are eligible for WIOA.
- Determination of WIOA eligibility. After filling up the form, wait for the decision if you’re eligible for the grant.
- Grant is approved!
If your WIOA application is approved, you can avail of Coding Temple’s reduced bootcamp rate. Taking the full-time program through WIOA costs $12,000, which is $2,000 off Coding Temple’s regular price. Taking the part-time program, on the other hand, costs $9,000, which is $1,000 off Coding Temple’s regular part-time price.
WIOA will cover $13,995 for both full-time and part-time classes, plus $295 for the Python certificate. Although it goes without saying, the WIOA-Coding Temple partnership is a great opportunity for people who are serious about leaping into a tech career. While the application process may seem tedious at first glance, the effort is well worth it.
The Coding Temple Experience
Once you’ve passed the application process and received your WIOA grant, it’s time to train. Before starting the main program, learners complete a pre-work, which introduces them to Python, Git, and HTML/CSS. Once you have the basics down, you’ll move onto the main coursework.
Coding Temple’s software development program offers hands-on experience in building applications in a small classroom setting using the most up-to-date technologies. All the while, you’ll learn from instructors with years of real-life industry experience.
There are two schedules available, although both deliver the same curriculum. Classes for the full-time program begin from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, for 10 weeks. If you have other commitments, you can choose the part-time software development program from 5 pm to 9 pm, also from Monday to Friday for 12 weeks.
The program covers full stack software development. Highlights of the course include Python programming within the Flask framework, SQL Databases, and front end development with JavaScript. The final week involves the completion of the capstone project and mock interviews.
Whether you choose a full-time or part-time schedule, you’ll be fully prepared for a new career in software development by the end of the program.
Outcomes After Coding Temple
Aside from equipping students with the technical and soft skills they need for the workforce, Coding Temple also helps students with their job search. Students have access to a wide range of career services, such as one-on-one mentoring sessions with career advisors, open forums with industry leaders, and comprehensive job-hunting workshops.
Other career services include resume preparation, mock technical and behavioral interviews, and a student showcase week where students present their final projects to recruiters. Coding Temple also has a vast alumni network that is always open to giving interview tips and referrals to current students.
Students can also leverage Coding Temple’s strong network of partner companies, which comprises over 100 top global corporations and smaller Chicago-based startups, to connect with potential employers and find job opportunities.
Companies that hire graduates that have used WIOA funding can be reimbursed up to $10,000 for hiring the student. To receive the reimbursement, the company or employer needs to coordinate with a WIOA agency and provide details such as the job description and the number of hours it will take for the candidate to receive extra training for the position.
This is an excellent example of a win-win-win situation for everyone involved. That is, the employer gets to recruit a skilled employee; the graduate finds meaningful employment; and Coding Temple succeeds at training and helping a graduate find a job.
“WIOA funds paid my full tuition for the program that trained me, in 10 weeks, for the job I have now,” shares Terrell McKinney, a WIOA grant recipient. “I’ve looked through a ton of programs before applying. And having come out the other side of this one, I can’t stress enough how rare and enriching opportunities like this are.”
“If you’re looking to break into tech, this is the most value you’ll find readily available being aimed directly at unemployed or displaced workers,” adds Terrell.
It’s fair to say that the numbers and graduate experience speak for themselves. Coding Temple reports a 98 percent placement rate, with graduates earning an average of $70,800 annually for roles like front-end developer, software engineer, and Python developer.
All students are supported from the first day of the program until they land their first tech job.
A Tech Career Is Within Your Reach with Coding Temple and WIOA
Coding Temple is fully committed to getting the best outcomes possible for all its students. If you are from Illinois, Missouri, or Washington and you want to make a life-changing career move to tech, don’t miss out on the incredible opportunity that Coding Temple and WIOA have to offer.
Are you interested in WIOA? Learn more about it and start your application process at Coding Temple here.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
