Like many things during the COVID-19 pandemic, learning how to make a career in tech has largely gone online last year and remained the same.  The pandemic has halted some job opportunities and squeezed the hiring market in some industries, but the tech sector overall has weathered the storm better than other markets.

If you’re considering a career as a developer, need a low-cost facelift for your site or are interested in leveling up your tech skills for your current job, check out this list of (mostly) local resources.

We’ve created a list of bootcamps, meetups and online resources to get you in the know about code, plus a few for the kids (hello, parent bonding opportunity!). All are local or have some local tie, but are operating virtually for now.

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For the long haul:

Penn LPS Coding Bootcamp

• The deets: A virtual frontend and backend development course for future full-stack developers
• When: 20 hours per week of live, virtual classes for 24 weeks or full-time for 12 (plus, check out the program’s demo day in February 2020.)
• The different curriculums encompass coding, data analytics, FinTech and Cybersecurity
• $$: $12,495

Tech Elevator 

• The deets: This multi-city coding bootcamp set up a Philadelphia chapter in 2019, and hosts a 14-week, full time program teaching full-stack development. The program is currently taking place through a live remote format (check out a demo day from a graduating class in May 2020).
• When: Multiple cohorts a year
• $$: $15,500, with financing and scholarship opportunities.

Tech Elevator

Thinkful

• The deets: A virtual classroom, one-on-one mentorship and a pairing with classmates to help you through
• When: Full-time for 50 to 60 hours per week for six months or 25 hours per week for seven
• $$: $16,000 upfront, with multiple payment options and financing

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The quickies:

Springhouse

• The deets: Instructor-led, beginner-to-advanced training for professionals looking to advance and job-seekers looking to improve tech skills in Exton (but now remote, because of the pandemic)
• When: Year-round, open-enrollment short courses
• $$: Anywhere from $300 to $4,500, depending on the course

Philly Tech Sistas

• The deets: An org that’s aiming to help women of color build careers in tech with intro, beginner and intermediate coding workshops, networking events and industry talks
• When: Monthly meetings, regular events
• $$: $25 (financial aid available)

Philly Tech Sistas’ Sisters Learning Code workshop in May 2019. (Courtesy Philly Tech Sistas)

Philadelphia Women in Data

• The deets: This meetup org is aimed at increasing diversity across the field of data science — with regular events, like last year’s Lead by Learning event at Penn.
• When: regular virtual meetups found here
• $$: per event

Learn to Code

• The deets: If you’re out of time for the full Thinkful course, the org sponsors a virtual weekly meetup for Philadelphians to get the basics of different languages, like JavaScript and Python
• When: Weeknights
• $$: Free

R Ladies Philadelphia

• The deets: A meetup group for women interested in learning R coding language that occasionally hosts workshops, like next week’s Introduction to Flexdashboard and Debugging with Shinyobjects
• When: Monthly
• $$: Free

Philadelphia WordPress Meetup Group

• The deets: A group for local WordPress lovers to learn tips for plugins, themes and design
• When: Monthly
• $$: Free

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For the kids:

Coded by Kids

• The deets: A local tech organization for students K-12 that aims to fight inequality with tech programs and competitions through schools and community centers
• When: virtually, after school and weekends
• $$: Free

A scene from a Coded by Kids competition. (Courtesy Coded by Kids)

TechGirlz

• The deets: A Philly nonprofit that offers workshops, summer camps and design events for girls. (Check out how the org is handling virtual instruction during the pandemic.)
• When: After school, weekly camps plus weekend workshops
• $$: Free (mostly)

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Know of other local Philly-based resources? Let us know at philly@technical.ly and we’ll update this list.