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Proven Path
Into Tech Career
NGT Academy was founded to help people build real careers in IT without spending years in college or taking on massive student debt.
Our programs combine hands-on training, industry certifications and personalized career support to help motivated adults transition into tech.
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Change 1 Million Lives by 2030
We believe career education should create real opportunities, not lifelong debt.
Founded by an Air Force veteran
Backed by Y Combinator
Zero to Engineer published by wiley
Thousands of lives transformed
Too many people spend years earning degrees that don't teach the practical skills employers actually hire for. NGT was created to offer a different path.
Our mission is simple
help motivated people build meaningful careers in technology through practical training, clear structure and accountability.
From Staff Sergeant
to Founder
NGT Academy was founded by Terry Kim, a U.S. Air Force veteran who built his career the same way NGT students do today — through hands-on training, industry certifications, and relentless skill-building.
Terry started as an Air Force Staff Sergeant earning $55,000 a year. Seven years later, he was a Cisco-certified consultant earning $350,000. He didn't take the traditional college path. He stacked certifications, worked at Keesler Federal, Cisco, Dimension Data, and Arista Networks, and eventually founded NGT to give others the same training shortcut he wished he'd had.
NGT exists because Terry's path proved one thing: with the right structure, anyone willing to put in the work can build a serious career in IT — no four-year degree required.
U.S. Air Force, Staff Sergeant E5 · $55K/year
Active duty service. Built foundational discipline, technical training, and operational mindset.
U.S. Air Force, Staff Sergeant E5 · $55K/year
First entrepreneurial venture immediately after military service.
Keesler Federal · Senior Network Engineer
First major civilian IT role. Began building the network engineering expertise that would define the next decade.
Earned Cisco CCNA
First major industry certification — the same foundation NGT students earn today.
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Earned CCVP, CCSP, CCNP
Stacked advanced Cisco certifications. Voice, security, and professional-level networking.
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Earned CCIE
Joined Cisco as a consultant. Salary went from $55K (2003) to $350K (2010) in seven years.
Cisco Systems · Consultant · $350K/year
Joined Cisco as a consultant. Salary went from $55K (2003) to $350K (2010) in seven years.
Earned VMware Certified Professional
Expanded into virtualization as enterprise IT shifted toward virtualized infrastructure.
CheckAction · CEO
Second entrepreneurial venture. Built leadership and operating experience.
Dimension Data · Solutions Architect
Senior architecture role at a global IT services company.
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Arista Networks · Technical Account Manager
Worked at Arista during its rise as a major networking vendor competing with Cisco.
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NGT Academy · Founder & CEO
Founded NGT Academy to give others — especially veterans — the same skills-first path he walked himself.
10,000 people
have already made this move
How NGT Programs Work
01
Flexible Learning
Our programs are designed for working adults and can be completed alongside a full-time job.
02
Hands-On Training
Students work in lab environments that simulate real IT infrastructure and technical scenarios.
03
Live Instructor Support
Weekly study sessions and mentor support help students stay on track and overcome challenges.
04
Structured Curriculum
Clear learning roadmap ensures students build skills in the right order.
05
Custom Learning Platform
Our learning management system tracks progress, assignments, labs and certifications.
06
Real-World Skills
Students develop the technical skills employers actually expect from entry-level IT professionals.
People From All Backgrounds Have Built Careers in Tech
Our students come from roles like warehouse worker, truck driver, retail associate, and customer service — hear directly from those who successfully transitioned into careers in IT.
Jon M.
Switched from Lab Technician to Systems Engineer
"Financial freedom is always a goal with any career, but that was one of the promises through this program and NGT lived up to it. They helped me every step of the way. My salary changed from my current position compared to the healthcare job 100%, so I doubled it... It's allowed me to upgrade my life."
Marcus M.
Switched from Marine to Network Admin
“The group coaching makes all the difference, and really helps you to understand things by asking questions and get fast responses from subject matter experts, and it’s dummy proof.”
Chase M.
Switched from Assistant Campaign Manager to Cloud Engineer
"I was laying in a hospital bed wondering how I would provide for my family, making $30,000 a year with $50,000 in student debt. Terry's mentorship guided me through the hardships. Now I work from home, spend more time with my wife — and money isn't an issue anymore."
Al M.
Switched from School Tech to Network Security Specialist
"My initial investment to train with NGT Academy has been definitely been worth it! It paid itself back 20x over. I make more in a month than what I invested in the training program. I highly recommend this program if you want to not only grow your technology future, while also accelerating your earning potential!"
"I was stuck at $60K for 10 years. NGT gave me the hands-on training, mentorship, and belief that I could actually become an engineer. Three and a half years later, I'm a Solutions Engineer at Cloudflare making $165K."
Makeia J.
Switched from Stay-At-Home Mom to Cybersecurity Analyst
“I just see honesty and the passion of them trying to help other people without having to spend so much money, without putting themselves into debt with college degrees."
Richard G.
Switched from Property Manager to Network Engineer
"I've tried different programs before. NGT is the most comprehensive — it gives you the skill set to actually be job ready. I work remote now. I can work from a coffee shop. I can take my kids anywhere. That's a big change. NGT didn't just change my career — it changed my legacy."
“Thanks to NGT Academy, I'm working a job as a network engineer that allows me to spend more time with my family while getting to travel a lot and grow in IT.”
Where Our Graduates Work
Insights on Starting a Career in Tech
Explore practical advice, industry insights and tips to help you break into IT.
THE #1 IT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
THE #1 IT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
THE #1 IT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Start Your Path Into Tech
If you're ready to build practical skills and explore a career in IT, our Career Advisors can help you choose the program that fits your goals.