Semiconductor
Gain semiconductor manufacturing skills near Austin, TX, and earn an industry-recognized certificate in 14 weeks without quitting your job.
Why Semiconductor & Advanced Manufacturing?
Considering a career change into a high-tech, fast-growing industry? Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing offers a stable, lucrative career path in the cutting-edge world of electronics, technology, and industrial production — powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles.
Certified by ACC & SEMI Foundation
ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing Production program is the first in the nation to receive the SEMI Foundation’s Fundamental Semiconductor Knowledge Certification — the industry’s gold standard for entry-level workforce training.
Coursework plus a coach who gets you hired
A Career Track is a guided pathway that pairs industry-recognized coursework with real human coaching — together, they turn a certificate into an actual career change.
The coursework
Industry-recognized coursework — ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing Production (AMP) curriculum, certified by the SEMI Foundation. Built for career changers, no experience required.
The coach
Merit America career coaching — workshops, peer support, and 1:1 guidance with Sabrina, our dedicated Semiconductor Career Coach in Austin.
Check eligibility
Confirm Central Texas residency and ability to attend four in-person lab days at Austin Community College.
Learn with tech & “touch”
Complete ACC’s AMP coursework online while receiving Merit America coaching, peer support, and 1:1 guidance from Sabrina.
Train in-person
Attend four full-day labs at ACC’s facility — cleanroom procedures, electronics, pneumatics, soldering.
Get hired
We help learners identify tailored opportunities with Central Texas manufacturing employer partners.
Your 14-Week Roadmap to a Manufacturing Career
This hybrid program combines ACC’s best-in-class Advanced Manufacturing Production (AMP) curriculum with Merit America’s proven coaching model. Complete online coursework flexibly, with four required in-person lab days at ACC.
Production Essentials
In your first 4 weeks, you’ll master the foundational safety, materials, and systems knowledge required for entry into any modern manufacturing environment.
This phase is primarily online and self-paced, kicked off with a live welcome event at ACC. You’ll use interactive simulations like the Hazard Hunter Safety Activity and Lean Factory simulation to build your knowledge base before stepping foot in a lab.
Technical Skills
Professional Skills
Deep Technical Training
Weeks 5–14 deepen your technical knowledge of systems and processes used in semiconductor environments. This phase introduces your required in-person laboratory sessions at ACC.
You’ll also begin intense career preparation, using AI-powered mock interviews and active job sourcing strategies with Sabrina.
Technical Curriculum
Career Preparation
Job Search Your Way
Once you complete the program, you’re in control of how you engage in your job search, with no single required path. Some learners choose a more structured, focused job search through our Alumni Career Accelerator program, while others take advantage of on-demand tools and resources.
Regardless of your path, you’ll retain full access to our Perspectives Wellness Program, ongoing alumni support, and direct connections to Central Texas employer partners.
Option A: Alumni Career Accelerator
A structured job-search sprint with weekly 1:1 coaching, clear accountability milestones, and direct connections to Central Texas manufacturing employer partners.
Option B: Flex Support
On-demand access to our Career Services team for mock interviews, resume refinement, career coaching, and job boards.
How this Career Track fits around your real life
Pay $0 to gain skills
Build a career based on your potential, not your bank account. This Career Track is offered at no cost to learners, thanks to support from employer partners and a generous funder.
Built for working life — plus four labs in Austin
Your third-party coursework and Merit America career coaching services are online. Live meetings are only 3–5 hours per week, and you can complete your coursework between work shifts or on weekends — whatever works for your life.
To support your hands-on learning, you’ll also participate in four full-day, in-person lab sessions at Austin Community College (ACC), where you’ll gain real-world practice with the tools, technology, and processes used in advanced manufacturing, scheduled on the weekends that work best for you.
Work with a coach who gets you hired
Sabrina is your dedicated Semiconductor Career Coach in Austin — from day one through getting hired and beyond. Sessions are 1:1, scheduled around your life, and the support continues after you complete the program.
Book a 1:1 session with Sabrina before you apply to review program fit, your goals, and any questions you have.
Sabrina Louissaint
Semiconductor Career Coach · Austin
Review your program fit, goals, and questions in a 30-minute call.
Book a 1:1 session
How does Merit America compare?
If you’re considering a career change into semiconductor manufacturing, here’s an honest, side-by-side look at how this Career Track stacks up against a community college path.
| Compare | Merit America Career Track | Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Course Length | 14 weeks | 1–2 years |
| Learning Format | Hybrid: online + 4 in-person lab days at ACC | In-person |
| Part-Time? | ||
| Payment | $0 — funded by employer partners & a generous funder | Tuition paid upfront |
| Credential Earned | ||
| Organization Type | Non-profit (Merit America collaborates with for-profits) | For-profit or Non-profit |
| Coaching & Job Search Support |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Semiconductor & Advanced Manufacturing Career Track and how Merit America works.
To be eligible for any of Merit America’s programs, the following must be true:
- You have a high school diploma or GED.
- Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree holders are welcome.
- 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.
For the Semiconductor Manufacturing program specifically:
- You must be able to attend four full-day, in-person lab sessions at Austin Community College (ACC) in Central Texas.
- This program is best suited for learners who live within commuting distance of Austin, TX, or who can travel for the required lab dates.
Use the eligibility form above to check your zip code and lab availability.
This is a hybrid program. Most of your coursework and live coaching sessions happen online, allowing you to fit them around your work and family schedule.
You’ll also attend four required in-person lab days at Austin Community College during weeks 5, 10, 12, and 13. Labs are scheduled on weekends to minimize conflict with your day job.
Plan for approximately 20 hours per week — a mix of self-paced online coursework, live workshops focused on career coaching and skills practice, and (during lab weeks) a full-day on-site session at ACC.
Live workshops typically take place outside of standard business hours. Coursework deadlines must be met to move forward in the program, but you choose when within the week to complete it.
When you join Merit America, there’s a team dedicated to your success.
Sabrina, your Semiconductor Career Coach, helps you build the professional and job search skills you need to succeed — from refining your resume and preparing for interviews to networking effectively and navigating job offers. The support continues after you complete the program.
You’ll also join live, topic-based workshops alongside other learners on the same journey. Pick the sessions that fit your schedule and the skills you want to focus on, like interviewing, resumes, or LinkedIn.
ACC and SEMI Foundation provide the technical training infrastructure, with on-site instructors during your lab days at ACC’s facility.
We can’t guarantee specific employment outcomes or salaries, but we do provide you with a structured training curriculum, professional career development, and dedicated job search support. Because of this, the majority of job-seeking alumni land new jobs within three months of completion.
This Career Track is offered at no cost to qualified Central Texas residents through our employer partners and a generous funder — so unlike a paid bootcamp or college, there’s no tuition risk if your career path changes.
The Semiconductor Manufacturing program gives you the essential skills to launch a successful career in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing — an industry powering everything from smartphones to clean energy.
Through flexible online coursework and personalized career coaching, you’ll build technical skills in key areas like:
- Safety protocols and OSHA compliance
- Quality control and precision measurement
- Cleanroom procedures and PPE best practices
- Manufacturing processes and production workflows
- Maintenance awareness, including basic electrical and pneumatic systems
To bring these skills to life, you’ll complete four full-day, in-person lab experiences in Austin, Texas. These hands-on labs — held during weeks 5, 10, 12, and 13 — give you real-world practice in areas like soldering, electronics, and equipment troubleshooting, using the same tools and technology found on the factory floor.
Upon completion, you’ll prepare for entry-level roles like Manufacturing Technician, Quality Control Technician, and Equipment Maintenance Technician. You’ll also build professional skills in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, with expert career coaching to help you land a high-paying job and advance into higher-level roles through additional upskilling opportunities.
Ready to check if you’re eligible?
This Career Track is open to Central Texas residents who can attend four in-person lab days at Austin Community College. Take advantage of this no cost opportunity — confirm your eligibility in under two minutes, or book a 1:1 with Sabrina first.
