Break into tech with

IT Support

Gain skills and a Google Certificate in 14 weeks without quitting your day job. Pay $0 upfront.

14 weeks
20 hours/week

Toya, Client Support Tech Consultant at Intact Technology

Why IT Support?

Considering a career change into tech? IT support is a rapidly growing field that offers engaging, people-focused work. With the increasing reliance on technology, IT skills are becoming some of the most in-demand in the job market.

Competitive Compensation: IT support specialists are in high demand across all industries, with median entry-level salaries at $63,000+.

In-Demand Careers: With a Google IT Support Certificate and professional skills training from our best-in-class coaches, you’ll open doors to over 266,706 entry-level IT Support job openings across both small businesses and large organizations in the U.S.

Fulfilling Work: Engage in roles that are not only tech-centric but also people-centric, ensuring users can navigate technology smoothly. Many tech roles offer flexible schedules, promoting a healthy work-life balance. Our alumni secure roles such as Computer User Specialist, Database Administrator, Desktop Support Specialist, End User Support Technician, Field Service Representative, Help Desk Technician, IT Specialist, Network Engineer, Service Desk Technician, and Tech Support Specialist.

A man smiling about landing a new entry-level IT Support role.

14 weeks of learning

Week 0: Program Kickoff

1 Week. Get started with Merit America by connecting with your cohort and squad. Familiarize yourself with tech platforms and key resources to set yourself up for success.

Apply best practices to ensure a strong start.
Attend the Kickoff Welcome Session and meet your cohort.
Watch essential videos on program phases, tech platforms, and financial options.
Get familiar with Merit America’s support system and learning tools.

Week 1-4: Foundations

4 Weeks. Build a strong foundation in IT Support with hands-on learning and professional development.

Learn core IT concepts, operating systems, and troubleshooting basics with optional study groups and office hour sessions.
Develop career growth strategies (LinkedIn, networking, introductions) and build your professional presence while meeting weekly with your cohort and scheduling 1:1 meetings.
Practice hands-on labs: Creating files, installing software, subnetting, and working with DNS/DHCP/VPN.

Week 5-13: Immersion

8 Weeks. Advance your technical skills and gain hands-on experience to prepare for the job market.

Build skills through Google IT Support Certificate training, covering networking technologies, troubleshooting, and operating systems such as Windows and Linux.
Learn systems administration and IT infrastructure, including DNS, DHCP, Active Directory, and system recovery. Develop key skills in IT security, encryption, authentication, and advanced troubleshooting.
Complete Microsoft 365 training and gain experience with ticketing systems, cloud computing, and system backups.
Practice hands-on labs: Partitioning a disk in Windows and Linux, configuring DNS and DHCP, using tcpdump, network security testing, and more.
Prepare for your job search by translating your experience into a resume, practicing for behavioral interviews, negotiating salaries, and participating in workplace diversity and inclusion training.

Weeks 14-26: Job Success

12 Weeks. Get expert support as you transition to a new IT career with your Google IT Support Certificate.

Work 1:1 with Job Success Coaches to refine resumes, applications, and networking strategies.
Participate in mock interviews and AI-powered job search coaching.
Connect with exclusive opportunities from Merit America partners like Southwest, Amazon, and Lyft through Huntr, our job search platform.
Gain lifetime access to the Merit America alumni network, continuing education resources, lifetime Coursera access, virtual events, and exclusive alumni groups to keep growing your career.

Hear What Our IT Support Alumni Have To Say

Merit America changed my life. I now have a clear plan for the next 5-10 years, all thanks to this program.

Justine Datacenter Technician

Merit America changed my career for the better. My life has transformed in the best way possible.

Mac IT Technical Support

Merit America offered me a fresh start with zero-interest funding. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Jessica Data Center Operations Technician

Going through the technical courses and allowing me access to the Google courses helped a lot, especially with support.

Chris Security Operations Analyst

With Merit America, I didn’t just learn tech skills—I gained confidence and tools to stand out in the job market.

Walter Data Center Technician

Pay $0 upfront

Build a career based on your potential, not your bank account.

Learn more about program costs

A Merit America learner receiving one-on-one career coaching and job placement support.

Learn in-demand skills
Land a new job
Pay only after you’re hired
Support the next class

Work Life Balance

Your third-party coursework and Merit America career coaching services are online. Live meetings are only 3-5 hours per week. You can complete the coursework in-between work shifts, on weekends – whatever works for your life.

A woman sits on the floor, working her remote job in tech.

Monday, January 10

Merit America Program

At Work 8am – 3pm
Online Coursework 3pm – 5pm
Daycare pick-up 5:15pm
Family Dinner 6pm
1:1 Career Coaching 8pm

Work with a team dedicated to your success

Meet regularly with a career coach and squad of your peers to keep you on track. After you finish, you’ll join a network of thousands of Merit America alumni.

Meet your support team

Joining…

Michael, Career Coach
How’s your coursework going this week?
Cora
I’m really struggling with my resume…
Michael, Career Coach
You’ve got this! Let me connect you with our job success coach, Teresa.

Also, something to look forward to: you’re only one week away from completing your Google Certificate!

How does Merit America Compare?

	Merit America	Tech Bootcamp	Community College
Course Length	14 weeks	20-24 weeks	50-100 weeks
In person/Remote	Remote	Remote	In-person/Remote
Part-time?	20 hours	Varies	Varies
Maximum Payment/Tuition	$5,700	$16,000-$19,000	$5,000-$10,000
Certificate	Google IT Support Certificate	Varies	Yes
Organization Type	Non-profit (Merit America collaborates with for-profits)	For-profit	For-profit or Non-profit
Coaching and Job Search Support	Yes	Yes	Varies
Downside Protection	Yes	Varies	No

Get the IT Support skills employers are looking for

Technical foundation

IT Support fundamentals

In the IT Support field, effective communication of technical details to non-technical audiences is crucial. Through the Google IT Support Certificate training, you’ll cover the fundamentals of modern networking technologies and protocols, along with practical applications in network troubleshooting. You’ll also learn about the main components of operating systems such as Windows and Linux, as well as how to perform critical tasks, like managing software and users and configuring hardware to ensure smooth IT operations.

Professional skills

System Administration and IT Infrastructure

Build a strong foundation in IT by examining the critical infrastructure services that keep organizations running smoothly. You’ll explore cloud computing in detail, learning about standard cloud setups and strategies for effective resource management. Along the way, you’ll gain practical experience in server management and configuration, as well as essential skills for disaster recovery and implementing security architecture to protect your organization’s IT assets.

Job search techniques

Acing the interview

Building a career in IT Support goes far beyond technical skills, and Merit America’s career coaching ensures you’re fully prepared. You’ll receive personalized support to craft a standout resume and cover letter tailored for IT Support roles, as well as to optimize your LinkedIn profile and practice for technical interviews. With comprehensive guidance, you’ll be ready to navigate the job market confidently and pursue your career in IT.

Our alums work for the world’s top tech companies

A women scratches her head while researching how to break into tech.

Two career changers view Merit America's curriculum

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the training in-person, online or both?

What are the admission requirements?

To be eligible for any of Merit America’s programs, the following must be true:

You have a high school diploma or GED.
Associates and bachelor’s degree holders are welcome.
You do not have a graduate degree and are not currently enrolled in a graduate program
You are a fluent English speaker, reader, and writer.
You are a resident of the U.S. and authorized to work in the U.S.
- DACA and Temporary Residents must have a status/visa that does not expire within six months of the Immersion start date.
- Residents of U.S. territories are eligible for our program.
You are 18 years of age or older.
You will be seeking full-time employment upon completion of the program.

What does a typical week look like at Merit America?

What kind of support will I receive during the course?

When you join Merit America, there’s a team dedicated to your success.

Your career coach helps you develop the professional skills you need to succeed in the job market, and will work with you to chart your career path.

Your squad is made of a talented people just like you, and you’ll work alongside them to complete coursework and develop projects.

Your technical advisor is available to direct you to appropriate resources if you’re struggling with your Google IT Support certificate coursework.

Your job success specialist helps you find job opportunities that match your interests and skills. We also have an employer partnerships team that sources jobs directly from employers that are tailored for Merit America alumni.

Can you guarantee me a job?

We can’t guarantee job placement or salaries, but we do provide you with a structured training curriculum, professional career development, and dedicated job-placement support. Because of this, the majority of job-seeking alumni are placed in new jobs within three months of completion.

But we can guarantee you won’t have to pay if you still don’t earn at least $40k within two years of completing the Immersion phase of your program, as defined in our Merit America Guarantee.

What does the IT Support program cover?

Our IT Support program technical training is offered by Google and focuses on performing day-to-day IT support tasks, including computer assembly, wireless networking, installing programs, and customer service.

You will learn to use systems including Linux, Domain Name Systems, Command-Line Interface, and Binary Code. You will also learn to provide end-to-end customer support, ranging from identifying problems to troubleshooting and debugging.

In addition to technical training, you will hone your professional skills and chart your career roadmap with the help of a professional career coach.

Upon completing the program, you will be prepared to enter IT-related roles such as Help Desk Specialist, Technical Support Agent, and Technical Account Specialist.

You can view the program syllabus here.