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Technology & IT stream

Online Technology & IT Programs

IT support, software development and cybersecurity training you can complete 100% online, with browser-based labs and real projects.

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Four ways into a tech career

Technology roles are spread across Alberta’s economy — energy and utilities, banking and insurance, healthcare, government, logistics and a growing local tech sector — and many can be done remotely. Ucademy’s technology stream gives you four routes: start in IT support, build software, or specialize in security.

All four programs are 100% online. IT and security courses include browser-based labs, so you practise hands-on with nothing to install; the developer diploma is project-based, so you finish with a portfolio.

Compare at a glance

Certificate

IT Professional

View program
Hours
420
Structure
10 courses
Start here if…
You are new to IT
Certification prep
CompTIA A+, Network+, Azure Fundamentals
Diploma

Software & Web Developer

View program
Hours
960
Structure
12 project-based courses
Start here if…
You want to build software
Certification prep
Portfolio on GitHub
Diploma

Cybersecurity Specialist

View program
Hours
940
Structure
22 areas of study
Start here if…
You want the full security path
Certification prep
CompTIA Security+, CySA+
Certificate

Security Analyst

View program
Hours
420
Structure
10 courses
Start here if…
You want a focused route to SOC roles
Certification prep
CompTIA Security+

Want more detail? Compare programs side by side or take the 1-minute program quiz.

The numbers behind technology jobs in Alberta

Official data about technology jobs in Alberta. It describes these jobs across Alberta — not what Ucademy students will earn — and it shows the less favourable figures as well as the good ones.

Technology roles: Alberta wage, outlook, size and usual requirement
OccupationAlberta median wageLow to highWage dataOutlook 2025–2027Employed in AlbertaJob Bank “usually requires”
Software developer / programmer (21232)$48.08/hr$29.81–$76.92Survey, 2023–2024Moderate~17,100Bachelor’s degree is typical; a college program in computer science or a related field is also listed
Cybersecurity specialist (21220)$50.51/hr$35.40–$87.09Model estimate, 2024Moderate~2,750University degree
IT support / user support technician (22221)$30.00/hr$20.19–$57.69Survey, 2023–2024Moderate~9,700College diploma, apprenticeship of 2+ years, or supervisory experience
Computer network technician (22220)$38.67/hr$21.00–$55.00Survey, 2023–2024Moderate~4,000College diploma, apprenticeship of 2+ years, or supervisory experience

“Survey” wages come from the Labour Force Survey (2023–2024); “model estimate” wages are Statistics Canada 2024 estimates, so compare them with care. Job Bank says cybersecurity specialists usually need a university degree. For software developers a bachelor’s degree is typical, with a college program in computer science or a related field also listed. IT support and network technicians usually need a college diploma or equivalent.

Source: Job Bank wages and outlooks · wages updated Nov 19, 2025; outlooks Dec 10, 2025.

Job outlook 2025–2027 by region
AlbertaCalgaryEdmontonRed DeerLethbridge–Medicine HatAthabasca–Grande Prairie–Peace RiverWood Buffalo–Cold Lake
Software developer / programmer
NOC 21232
ModerateModerateModerateModerateModerateLimitedUndetermined
Cybersecurity specialist
NOC 21220
ModerateModerateModerateUndeterminedUndeterminedUndeterminedUndetermined
IT support / user support technician
NOC 22221
ModerateModerateModerateModerateLimitedLimitedLimited
Computer network technician
NOC 22220
ModerateModerateModerateUndeterminedModerateModerateUndetermined

Job Bank says most computer network technician openings will be in Calgary or Edmonton. “Undetermined” means Job Bank has not rated the region.

Source: Job Bank outlooks · outlook updated Dec 10, 2025.

What Alberta employers pay and how hard they find hiring: technology roles
OccupationStarting (median)Overall (median)Top (median)Employers that recruited in last 2 years…of those, had trouble hiringHad a vacancy open over 4 monthsReliability
Software developer / programmer (21232)$33.52$43.84$48.9052%36%9%B
Cybersecurity specialist (21220)$38.53$44.60$47.6059%62%12%B
IT support / user support technician (22221)$30.52$35.94$38.4648%15%7%A
Computer network technician (22220)$31.00$38.46$50.0034%16%3%A

Medians of what surveyed employers pay: “Starting” is the pay offered for entry-level positions with the job title. It is a different survey from Job Bank, so do not compare the two as if the gap were experience. Starting pay reflects who employers actually hire into these titles, who are often experienced or hold a degree; it is not what any program’s graduates earn.

Source: Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2023 (alis) · employer survey, 2023, province-wide.

Highest education of Alberta workers in two technology roles
No high school diploma
<5% cybersecurity specialists
<5% user support technicians
10% all occupations
High school
11% cybersecurity specialists
20% user support technicians
28% all occupations
Apprenticeship or trades certificate
<5% cybersecurity specialists
8% user support technicians
13% all occupations
College certificate or diploma
32% cybersecurity specialists
33% user support technicians
19% all occupations
Bachelor’s degree
34% cybersecurity specialists
28% user support technicians
21% all occupations
Above bachelor’s
20% cybersecurity specialists
8% user support technicians
9% all occupations
View the data as a table
cybersecurity specialistsuser support techniciansall occupations
No high school diploma<5%<5%10%
High school11%20%28%
Apprenticeship or trades certificate<5%8%13%
College certificate or diploma32%33%19%
Bachelor’s degree34%28%21%
Above bachelor’s20%8%9%

A diploma or certificate is a route into this field, not a guarantee of a particular job: many people in these roles hold a university degree, and employers often ask for experience or industry certification as well.

Source: Job Bank, educational attainment (NOC 21220, 22221) · Alberta.

Data checked October 19, 2026: Job Bank wages updated Nov 19, 2025, outlooks Dec 10, 2025. Occupation data, not a program outcome. Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2023.

Frequently asked questions

The IT Professional Certificate is the most common starting point: it covers IT support, networking, Linux, Windows and cloud fundamentals. From there you can specialize in security or development.
The diploma is the full path — 940 hours across 22 areas of security. The certificate is a focused 420-hour route into security-analyst and SOC roles, and suits people who already have some IT background.
Not for most programs: IT and security labs run in your browser. Software development benefits from a more capable machine. See the technology requirements page for details.
Course content supports preparation for recognized certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+. Exams are registered separately with the certification bodies.

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