Best IT Classes Near Me
Information technology, more commonly known as IT, is a term that covers the functions of information systems and the technological components of those systems. These components include hardware, software, integral services such as networks, and the supporting infrastructure required for the smooth operation of an entire information system. Thanks to the rapid growth of technology in the 21st century, the field of IT is constantly growing and expanding, as is the need for expertise in the area by virtually every industry.
Learning IT is a smart choice for job security in today’s world, with the many positions in IT predicted to increase faster than average over the next decade by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The variety of jobs requiring an education in information technology is impressive, including but certainly not limited to Network Systems Administrator, Database Architect, Software Engineer, Information Scientist, and Web Developer. Others may desire to learn IT to attend to their own technology and information system needs as owners of their own small businesses.
Best IT Classes & Schools
FinTech Bootcamp
Noble Desktop—New York City
A FinTech Bootcamp is an excellent way to jumpstart a career in the financial sector of IT. NY State-licensed technology training center Noble Desktop offers this IT educational opportunity to locals in NYC, or you can attend remotely from anywhere around the world. Noble’s FinTech Bootcamp is a comprehensive training program that welcomes beginners with zero experience to learn all they need to know to prepare for an entry-level IT position in the finance industry. Noble recommends that students bring a preexisting familiarity with finance concepts such as financial statements and stock fundamentals. If you don’t have this, Noble offers a supplemental guide that will provide you with all the information needed to succeed in their FinTech training program.
However, you don’t have to worry about having no experience with data science, data visualization, or Python. By the end of Noble’s bootcamp, you will know everything you need to know about these and other programming concepts to work in FinTech. Expert instructors lead lessons on data science fundamentals, such as using Python to build dashboards and other data visualizations. Advanced financial analysis applications of Python are covered, as well. Other topics include querying databases with SQL and using machine learning to create statistical models. You will apply what you learn in a final hands-on project and receive a certificate of completion at the bootcamp’s end.
Your tuition for Noble Desktop’s FinTech Bootcamp covers 114 hours of expert instruction, one-on-one career mentoring, and a free retake option. You can use this option to retake the entire bootcamp or a single module for review within one year of your start date or to make up a single missed class session if needed.
Prerequisites: This beginner-level class requires students to be comfortable using a computer. If students have no background in finance, NYC Career Centers’ supplemental guide will provide basic foundational knowledge in financial concepts.
Location: Noble Desktop, 185 Madison Ave, Ste 1104, NYC (Manhattan), or online
Duration: 114 hours of instruction, either as a four-week full-time schedule or as a four-month part-time schedule
Cost: $4,995
Data Analytics Technologies Bootcamp
Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop offers a Data Analytics Technologies Bootcamp for aspiring IT professionals hoping to one day work as a Data Analyst, Business Analyst, or in a related position. This bootcamp is perfect for beginners looking for a comprehensive program to prepare them for a brand new career in IT. Real-world projects and expert instructors ensure that you will learn the proven course curriculum, which covers the processes and skills of the technologies most vital to succes in data analytics. Using the tools of Excel, SQL, and Tableau, you will gain expertise in organizing, visualizing, analyzing, and summarizing data through the hands-on components of the class. By the end of the bootcamp, you will be able to use these skills and tools to create actionable insights and communicate them clearly to your future employers.
With Noble’s free retake option, you can retake the bootcamp, a module, or a single class session within six months of the start date. If you are attending the class in-person in NYC, Noble Desktop will provide you with a PC preloaded with all necessary courseware. Some customization of your schedule is available, though Noble recommends you complete the Excel components of the bootcamp prior to the SQL and Tableau ones. Graduates of the bootcamp will receive a verified certificate of completion.
Prerequisites: Students should be comfortable using a computer. They must also be prepared to learn advanced concepts. Data management experience is optional but may be helpful.
Location: Noble Desktop, 185 Madison Ave, 3rd Floor, NYC (Manhattan), or online
Duration: 51 hours of instruction, part-time over four weeks
Cost: $1,949
Project Management Bootcamp
NYC Career Centers—New York City
NYC Career Centers has been a leader in technology, business, and corporate training in NYC for more than 30 years. They offer their Project Management Bootcamp in-person in Manhattan, or students may attend remotely from anywhere. This two-day bootcamp allows you to attend Career Centers’ beginner and advanced Project Management classes for a 15% discount off their price when purchased individually. By combining these courses, the Project Management Bootcamp provides an overview of essential project management knowledge appropriate for beginners or IT professionals wanting to review the five phases of project management.
In this hands-on bootcamp, Career Centers’ highly experienced instructors will guide you through project management theories, concepts, and methodologies, from the basics to the five phases of a project. Once you have gained a solid foundational knowledge of project management in the beginner class on day one, you will be fully ready to understand the more advanced concepts covered on day two. These second-day topics include task analysis, critical path method, planning, and project timelines.
Your Project Management Bootcamp tuition covers the two-day event and a free retake option for one year from your start date. This option allows you to retake either one class or the entire bootcamp to review the material. You will also receive a slide deck on the five phases of project management, including practical information and hands-on exercises. At the end of the course, you will receive a verified digital certificate of completion and be ready to pursue Project Management Professional Certification.
Prerequisites: Students must be comfortable using a computer.
Location: NYC Career Centers, 185 Madison Ave, Ste 1104, NYC (Manhattan), or online
Duration: Two sessions totaling 12 hours of instruction
Cost: $449
Microsoft Project Level 1
Training Connection—Los Angeles
Training Connection welcomes beginners in information technology as young as 14 to attend their Microsoft Project Level 1 class. Students will begin with the basics of the commonly used project management software and then learn how to set up a project from scratch. Instructors will also cover scheduling, creating a timeline, managing resources, managing tasks, and working with constraints such as deadlines. Participants will also gain confidence working with data and creating reports within Microsoft Project. By the end of the course, students will have a clear understanding of how to manage schedules, budgets, timelines, and other resources with the program, including Project 2013, 2016, 2019, and 365.
Prerequisites: This beginner-level class does not specify any prerequisites for participation.
Location: Training Connection, 915 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 1800, Los Angeles (Downtown)
Duration: One 7.5-hour session
Cost: $450
Excel Power User
ONLC Training Centers—Los Angeles
ONLC Training Center offers their Excel Power User class as an overview of their five other more detailed Excel classes. Designed as a densely packed and fast-paced training experience, it is an ideal preparatory course for the Excel component of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification exam. Tuition covers two days of instruction in the most essential information featured in ONLC’s other Excel classes and a five-volume set of course materials from those courses. These courses include Excel Introduction; Excel Charts Formatting and Reporting; Excel Database Features and Pivot Tables; Excel Workbooks, Formulas and Functions’ and Excel Macros. Students will leave the training feeling confident in their knowledge of Excel’s most powerful tools and capabilities.
Prerequisites: At least two years of Excel experience is a prerequisite for this course. Previous formal training in Excel is helpful but not required.
Location: ONLC Training Centers - Riverside, 11801 Pierce St, Los Angeles (Riverside)
Duration: Two sessions, each running seven hours and 45 minutes
Cost: $795
ITIL (Online)
Computer Training Source, Inc.
Individuals planning to take the ITIL Foundation Certificate exam may wish to take Computer Training Source, Inc.’s ITIL (Online). ITIL, which stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is a system of guidelines and processes that are best practices for providing excellent IT service management to businesses and other organizations. Holding the certificate is a way to verify to employers that someone knows the ITIL framework well enough to be a reliable IT Service Manager. When students complete the class, they will feel confident in their ITIL knowledge and ready to apply it to identify, plan, support, and deliver quality IT service management.
System Requirements: Students must provide their own computer and internet connection.
Prerequisites: Computer Training Source, Inc. does not specify any prerequisites for this beginner-level course.
Duration: Three 8-hour sessions on consecutive weekdays
Cost: $1,895
ITIL 4 Foundations Certification
QuickStar
QuickStart offers a remote ITIL 4 Foundations Certification exam preparation class. The course aims to assist students in gaining this certification by acing the associated exam by instructing them in using the ITIL framework to provide exceptional IT service management. Participants will learn Lean, Agile, DevOps, and other IT service tools. Instructors also cover the service value chain, the IT customer experience, digital transformation, and value streams. By the end of the program, students will have a strong command of all of the material covered by the ITIL Foundations Certification exam and will be ready to provide outstanding information technology service management utilizing the ITIL framework.
System Requirements: Students will need a computer, a high-speed internet connection, and either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Prerequisites: This course does not require any prerequisites.
Duration: Two 8-hour consecutive weekday sessions
Cost: $1,895
Network+ Certification (Exam N10-008)
TLG Learning
TLG Learning’s online certification-preparation class Network+ Certification (Exam N10-008) provides students with guidance from expert instructors in learning the information found in the Official CompTIA Network+ Instructor and Student Guides (N10-008). With a solid knowledge of the concepts in these guides, students will be ready to take the Network+ Certification exam by the end of the course. This certification is popular with those interested in working as IT Cable Installers, Help Desk Technicians, Network Installers, Network Technicians, and Network Administrators. When potential employers see a Network+ Certification on a job candidate’s resume, they know the individual knows how to deploy, secure, and troubleshoot enterprise and SOHO networks.
System Requirements: Participants will require a computer featuring at least a 2GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM. Operating systems must be Windows 7 or later. Other required hardware includes dual monitors, a VOIP headset with a noise-canceling mic, and a wired broadband internet connection. Students must have access to ActiveX.
Prerequisites: Entry-level computer support professionals are welcome to the program, providing they already hold a CompTIA A+ Certification. Students must have a basic knowledge of computer hardware, software, and operating systems.
Duration: One week, full-time (five 8-hour weekday sessions)
Cost: $2,475
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
TLG Learning
TGL Learning offers a remote Microsoft Security Operations Analyst certification-prep course online. The curriculum includes instruction in Microsoft Azure Sentinel, Azure Defender, and Microsoft 365 Defender. Program participants will discover how to use these tools to hunt, investigate, and respond to security threats.
By the end of the program, students will be ready to excel as a Microsoft Security Operations Analyst, keeping their organization’s information technology systems secure. They will also feel confident in their ability to pass the certification exam SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst, qualifying them to hold this position with their current employer or land an entry-level job in the field.
System Requirements: Participants must provide their own hardware to participate in the course, including a computer, dual monitors, a wired broadband internet connection, and a VOIP headset with a noise-canceling mic. Computer requirements include, at minimum, a 2 GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM, and Windows 7 or later.
Prerequisites: Students must be familiar with Azure SQL Database, Azure Storage, and Azure virtual machines and virtual networking. They must also have basic knowledge of Microsoft 365, Microsoft’s security, compliance and identity products, and scripting concepts. TLG Learning expects participants to have an intermediate understanding of Windows 10.
Duration: Four 8-hour sessions on consecutive weekdays
Cost: $2,380
Agile Boot Camp: ICP Fundamentals Certification
American Management Association
The American Management Association designed its online Agile Boot Camp: ICP Fundamentals Certification training program for professionals already working in information technology. Students of the immersion program will learn the knowledge, skills, and techniques necessary to use Agile to successfully develop and deliver high-quality software. The American Management Association divides participants of this IT class into Agile teams and coaches them through the hands-on practice of Agile’s process from vision to planning to execution. The bootcamp includes a real-world Agile development unit, as well as instruction in identifying pitfalls, utilizing different approaches to architectures and designs, and many other aspects of using Agile as a team. Upon completion of the bootcamp, students will earn the designation of Certified ICAgile Professional.
System Requirements: Students must provide their own computer and speakers or headphones. They will also need an internet connection with at least 512 kbps minimum bandwidth.
Prerequisites: This beginner-level class is for IT professionals who desire to learn Agile.
Duration: Three 4.5-hour sessions on consecutive weekdays
Cost: $1,295
AWS Technical Essentials
APSE Inc.
APSE Inc. offers a remote course in AWS Technical Essentials for IT professionals who desire a better understanding of the collection of cloud computing platforms known as Amazon Web Services. AWS’s services are essential tools for today’s IT specialists who wish to use the cloud as a part of their organization’s storage, networking, or management solutions. Participants will learn the fundamental terminology, concepts, and specifics about the services, including Amazon S3, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS Trusted Advisor, and many other vital tools of the trade. By the end of the course, students will have a clear understanding of the capabilities of AWS and be able to confidently use the services as tools and solutions in their business or organization.
System Requirements: Equipment required for this IT class includes a broadband wired or wireless internet connection, speakers and a microphone, and a webcam, HD cam, or HD camcorder. Students must provide their own device meeting technical requirements.
Prerequisites: APSE Inc. recommends this course to IT professionals such as System Operations Administrators, Solution Architects, Developers, and Programmers.
Duration: One 8-hour weekday session
Cost: $675
Industries That Use IT
IT professionals have an enormous pool of industries to choose from when seeking a job, as nearly every business in the U.S. requires some kind of work in information technology. However, the tech sector has by far the most opportunities for individuals with an education in IT, with most positions in the industry falling under the umbrella of information technology. According to Computerworld, Software Developer is the most common IT position in the field, appearing twice as often as the second most popular job title, Computer User Support Specialist.
The other biggest industries in the U.S. are naturally the largest employers of IT professionals next to the tech sector. These include health, finance, education, and energy, all fields that generate billions of dollars and require massive information systems, networks, websites, databases, and other technological components that organizations need to operate smoothly every day.
IT Jobs & Salaries
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a much faster-than-average growth rate for all Computer and Information Technology careers between 2022 and 2032. The BLS breaks these down into ten categories, all of which feature a long list of job titles. The BLS reports that the annual median wage for these collectively is $101,000, but the annual median wage for many of the jobs included is more impressive, especially in areas with higher costs of living.
Over 1,500,000 Software Developers were employed in the U.S. in 2022, according to the BLS, and their nationwide annual median wage was $132,900. While many six-figure Software Developer positions exist throughout the country, California easily ranks as the top state when it comes to both salaries and the number of employment opportunities. In 2022, 258,000 Software Developers were employed in California—many in the tech hubs of San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles—and they were bringing in an annual median wage of $183,000. Meanwhile, New York City’s metropolitan area boasts more Software Developer jobs than any other in the U.S., with 109,000 in 2022. In contrast, Chicago, though the third most populous city in the country, was home to 41,000 employed Software Developers in the same year.
The number of opportunities for Software Developers in NYC and the region’s annual wage of $143,000 make the career appealing for New Yorkers. However, NYC’s salaries pale compared to the metropolitan area of San Jose. The Silicon Valley region provides its Software Developers an annual median wage of $235,000, nearly $100,000 higher than NYC's.
What Will I Need to Learn IT?
An internet connection and a computer that meets any necessary technical requirements are the primary tools one needs to learn IT. Students will also need the operating system, software, and other digital tools required by the specific area of IT they are studying. Network equipment such as routers, network simulators, and network emulators are also essential tools for those desiring to learn about that information technology component. All these things will typically be part of the lab environment of an in-person class, but for an online course, students will virtually always need to provide their own materials.
Some classes provide all necessary curriculum and supplementary materials, but others require you to purchase books, ebooks, and other tools for the learning journey. Certification study guides may be beneficial for some IT students, and those interested in programming languages may need access to online code editors and compilers to practice their new skills. Whatever area of focus an IT student chooses, they will need a learning plan including courses, tutorials, and plenty of notebooks for traditional notetaking.
Is it Difficult to Learn IT?
Information technology is an enormous and ever-changing field, which can make the idea of mastering its concepts daunting. However, most IT professionals will specialize in specific areas, such as data analysis, software engineering, or information research science. Visualizing the limited scope of a chosen focus can help an IT student remember the attainability of their goals. Learning IT is a very doable task when approached with dedication, hard work, and the growth mindset integral to success in the field. Working in IT requires an open mind and an adventurous spirit, as information technology professionals must continue to learn new concepts and ways of doing things throughout their careers to keep up with changing technology.
