Job Training
Microelectronics & Nanomanufacturing Certificate for Veterans
What You'll Learn
Break into the growing semiconductor industry in Upstate NY!
Exclusively designed for veterans and military personnel nearing separation, the Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate Program (MNCP) is a comprehensive, SkillBridge-approved solution to meet the demands of the expanding microelectronics and semiconductor industry.
This free-to-eligible-applicants, 12-week, extensive and intensive program offers a blend of live-streamed lectures, self-paced instruction, and rigorous hands-on training with nanofabrication and characterization equipment used in most semiconductor facilities. The MNCP is an exceptional opportunity to gain industry-specific skills in a relatively short amount of time and join a growing workforce.
Interested?
| Cost | Free for:
|
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Apply Deadline | July 25, 2025 |
| Required Orientation Week | August 25-28, 2025 |
| Coursework | September 2 - November 21, 2025 |
| Format |
|
Have questions?
Carrie Coates Whitmore
Director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
快播视频 Cortland Community College
clw@tompkinscortland.edu
607-844-6586
Lynn Rathbun, Ph.D.
CNF Laboratory Manager
LCR2@cornell.edu
607-254-4872
The Upstate NY Technology Hub
Upstate New York has had a long history as a high technology region, with dozens of small and large companies from Albany to Corning and from Rochester to Binghamton. 快播视频 County sits right in the middle. There has been significant demand for entry-level laboratory and manufacturing technicians throughout the region.
In 2023, Menlo Microsystems announced their commitment to manufacture their Ideal Switch庐 in Ithaca, NY. This is a multi-year investment of $150 million to fully onshore their production. This investment is creating 100+ high-tech jobs locally over the next five years.
In 2022, Micron announced it would build a huge fabrication complex in Clay, NY, increasing the demand for manufacturing technicians significantly. Micron itself will require 10s of thousands of workers, with another similar amount in surrounding support industries. Many of these will be entry-level positions. The federal government, the state, and NY academic institutions are all implementing programs to address this need.
Top Employer Connections
- Applied Image (Rochester)
- Global Foundries (Albany)
- Intel
- KLA
- Menlo Microsystems (Lansing)
- Micron Technologies (Coming to Syracuse)
- Nanoscience Instruments
- NXP
- Qorvo
- TEL (Tokyo Electron) (Albany and elsewhere)
- Texas Instruments
- TSMC
- WGNSTAR
- Wolfspeed, Inc. (Marcy, NY)
- Pall Corporation (Cortland)
- 鈥nd many more!
Who's Eligible?
This program is for veterans and their dependents, as well as active military personnel nearing separation.
Active military personnel please apply through SkillBridge:
-
- use keyword CNEU and location 16802
- select CNEU Internship at University Park, PA | In-Person
Recent veterans looking to enter the workforce as well as long-term veterans looking for career change and reskilling are equally welcome. Applicants with prior knowledge or experience with science and technology will receive priority.
This course is a significant time commitment, particularly for those just reentering the classroom. We do not recommend taking a significant course load in addition to this program.
At this time, TC3 and Cornell are offering this as a non-credit course. The course is free and does not require GI bill funding. Students looking to obtain or maintain GI bill funding may need to take additional courses. Please consult with TC3鈥檚 Veterans Financial Aid Officer by contacting James Janke at jankej@tompkinscortland.edu.
What Microelectronics Technicians Do
Technicians make the semiconductor industry work. Two of the most common pathways include a microelectronics process technician or an equipment technician.
Microelectronics process/manufacturing technicians are at the heart of the semiconductor fabrication plant, commonly known as the 鈥渇ab鈥. They are the 鈥渃ooks鈥 who process the silicon wafers resulting in working chips. Each wafer goes through hundreds of precisely documented chemical and physical recipes using several complex machines (generally called tools). They work under the direction of the scientific and engineering staff. They can work in large factories, small companies, or university/government laboratories.
Equipment technicians install, maintain, and fix the tools in the microelectronics fab. This requires a combination of mechanical, computer, and electronics skills in addition to the background knowledge taught in this course. Field Service Engineers work for tool manufacturers and service equipment on site at the fabs that operate them.
What if I don't get into the Fall cohort?
We only have 6 spots for the Fall 2025 cohort. If you don鈥檛 get in, don鈥檛 despair! We recommend taking courses in the Micro-nano Fabrication Safety Credential that will give you prerequisite knowledge in chemistry, electrical circuits, safety in the cleanroom, and existing technology. To enroll in part-time classes, visit Register for Classes.
This program is funded by the National Science Foundation ATE program under award DUE-2229983
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. NNCI-2025233. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.