Advanced manufacturing is one of the fastest-growing industries in Central Texas, and employers are actively seeking skilled workers. Austin Community College District (ACC) gives students a fast, hands-on path into high-demand manufacturing careers with its Advanced Manufacturing Production (AMP) program. 

New cohorts start every month in 2026, and tuition is around $950. The 6-to-8-week program provides students with a career-ready pathway quickly. The AMP curriculum offers in-person and hands-on work that was developed in partnership with local employers facing workforce skill shortages, ensuring students gain the hands-on experience and technical skills that today’s manufacturing jobs require. 

Students can stack credentials—from short-term certificates to an associate degree and ultimately a Bachelor’s in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.

The program has received national recognition from the National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement and praise from former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo for preparing workers for the 109,000 semiconductor technician roles expected to go unfilled by 2030.

ACC’s program also is now part of a nationwide expansion in partnership with Merit America and the America’s Frontier Fund (AFF) Foundation. Through this initiative, ACC’s curriculum will be made accessible to low-wage workers across the U.S. at no upfront cost, helping individuals traditionally excluded from high-demand industries gain marketable skills.

For more information on upcoming cohorts and program details, visit austincc.edu/manufacturing.

Tags: Advanced Manufacturing Production, Fast Track, manufacturing