Tech careers
Whatever stage you're at, we'll help you build a career in tech
Whether you are just starting out, retraining, or leading teams, the American Computer Society is here to help you find your route into the profession and keep growing once you're in it.
Tech careers / Routes in
Build a career in tech
How to enter the computing profession in the United States: what employers look for, the main entry routes, where the jobs and pay are, and how to use the first 90 days to establish yourself.
Read moreTech careers / Apprenticeships
Tech apprenticeships
How Registered Apprenticeship works in US technology employment, what apprentices actually do day to day, real employer examples in Texas, and how ACS supports apprentices through the professional register.
Read moreTech careers / CPD
Continuing professional development
What continuing professional development (CPD) means for computing professionals, why the American Computer Society requires it for registered members, and how to plan, record and reflect on your learning each year.
Read moreMore in tech careers
Which tech career is right for you?
A plain-language guide to more than a dozen in-demand technology roles: what each job actually involves day to day, how people typically break in, and what the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says about pay and outlook.
ExploreTech career top tips
Practical, no-nonsense advice drawn from hiring managers, senior engineers, and academic careers advisors: building a portfolio, contributing to open source, networking, interviewing, negotiating pay, switching careers, and avoiding burnout.
ExploreThe ACS skills framework
How ACS aligns member benchmarking with established frameworks — SFIA 9, the NIST NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity and the ACM/IEEE computing curricula — and how these map to membership grades and certifications.
ExploreTech jargon explained
A plain-English glossary of more than 30 terms in wide use across software, infrastructure, security and data — grouped by theme for quick reference.
ExploreCareer resources
Practical tools for every stage of a computing career, from your first resume to salary negotiation, plus how to plug into the ACS chapter and specialist group network.
ExploreInspire a career in tech
Resources for teachers, parents and volunteers who want to open doors into computing careers for the next generation, from classroom support to national outreach programs and ACS STEM Ambassador opportunities.
ExploreGet qualified
ACS certifications give you an independently assessed, employer-recognized credential — from the flagship Certified Computing Professional to specialist credentials in security, AI assurance and data engineering.
Explore certificationsJoin the Society
Membership connects you to 52 chapters, specialist groups, mentoring and professional registration — the support structure behind a long career in computing.
Compare membership grades