| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit selling non-credit workforce courses; not part of Columbus City Schools |
| Location | One published address: 2945 Donnylane Blvd, Columbus, OH |
| Delivery | Mostly in person or hybrid; two courses (Data Analyst, Java Developer) online |
| Credential | An ATE course completion; most courses prepare for an outside certification exam (CompTIA, Cisco, BICSI, EPA 608, Autodesk, OSHA 10) |
| Courses | 16 on ATE’s programs page, 4 to 84 weeks long |
| Approval | ATE says its courses are “Area 11 approved” through an Ohio career-technical planning district; no accreditor named |
| Federal aid | No; ATE says workforce funding is accepted |
| Cost | $1,500 to $14,500 per course, flat price, per ATE’s programs page (October 2026) |
| Founded | 2019, per ATE |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Advanced Technology Education: a Columbus nonprofit for certification courses
Advanced Technology Education (ATE) is an independent nonprofit in Columbus, Ohio, that sells non-credit courses preparing adults for outside certification exams, mostly CompTIA and Cisco IT certifications, plus pharmacy technician, HVAC and safety courses. ATE says it was founded in 2019 as an IT training organization; it is a 501(c)(3) charity whose IRS exemption dates from February 2022. It is not part of Columbus City Schools and is not a college: it names no accreditor, publishes no catalog or outcome data, and does not offer federal student aid.
ATE’s second line of work is electronics recycling, data destruction and refurbished device sales, which now leads its home page. In March 2026 SWACO’s community waste-reduction grant program awarded ATE $35,000 for data-destruction equipment and outreach to immigrant communities, government and business.
16 courses, most built around an outside exam
ATE’s programs page lists 16 workforce training courses (October 2026). Each ends in an ATE course completion. Most prepare students for a certification that an outside body awards after its own exam; four (Amazon Web Services, Automation, Cybersecurity Bootcamp, Pharmacy Technician) name no specific exam. ATE publishes no clock hours, credits or externships for any course.
| Course | Prepares for | Length | Delivery | Price (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT Fundamentals | CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) | 8 weeks | In person | $2,400 |
| IT Support Specialist | CompTIA A+ | 16 weeks | In person | $6,400 |
| CompTIA Linux+ | CompTIA Linux+ | 16 weeks | Hybrid | $4,500 |
| Cloud Architect | CompTIA Cloud+ | 12 weeks | Hybrid | $6,400 |
| Amazon Web Services | No exam named | 16 weeks | Hybrid | $6,400 |
| CCNA Networking | Cisco CCNA | 16 weeks | Hybrid | $6,400 |
| Network+ | CompTIA Network+ | 16 weeks | Hybrid | $4,500 |
| Fiber Optic Cabling Technician | BICSI Installer 1 (INST1) | 16 weeks | In person | $4,500 |
| Cybersecurity Bootcamp | “Industry-recognized certifications” (none named) | 84 weeks | Hybrid | $14,285 |
| Data Analyst | CompTIA Data+ | 12 weeks | Online | $2,400 |
| Java Developer | Professional Scrum Master I exam | 28 weeks | Online | $14,500 |
| Pharmacy Technician | No exam named | 24 weeks | Hybrid | $14,230 |
| HVAC | EPA Section 608 (test fee included) | 21 weeks | In person | $4,500 |
| Automation | No exam named | 24 weeks | In person | $14,500 |
| Autodesk Fusion 360 | Autodesk Fusion 360 Certified User | 24 weeks | Hybrid | $4,500 |
| OSHA 10-Hour General Industry | OSHA 10 card | 4 weeks | Hybrid | $1,500 |
What the main programs cover
IT support, Linux and cloud
IT Support Specialist is a 16-week in-person course built around the CompTIA A+ certification. ATE also lists an 8-week in-person IT Fundamentals course (CompTIA ITF+), and it says no prior tech experience is required for its courses. From there ATE lists Linux+ (16 weeks, hybrid), Cloud Architect for CompTIA Cloud+ (12 weeks, hybrid) and a 16-week hybrid Amazon Web Services course that names no exam. ATE publishes no syllabi, clock hours or lab hours for any of them, so ask how much class time is hands-on.
Networking and fiber optic cabling
The CCNA Networking and Network+ courses each run 16 weeks in a hybrid format and prepare for the Cisco CCNA and CompTIA Network+ exams. Fiber Optic Cabling Technician is the only one of the three taught fully in person: a 16-week course leading to the BICSI Installer 1 (INST1) exam. ATE does not publish course outlines, lab equipment or clock hours, and it does not say whether exam vouchers are part of the price. Ask how many students sit each exam and how many pass.
Cybersecurity Bootcamp
The Cybersecurity Bootcamp is ATE’s longest course, listed at 84 weeks in a hybrid format, and it includes four weeks of practice on a cyber range. ATE says the bootcamp prepares students for industry-recognized certifications but does not name them on its programs page. The admissions page separately lists CompTIA Security+ and CySA+ courses. Before enrolling, ask which exams the bootcamp covers, how the 84 weeks are scheduled and whether exam fees are included.
Pharmacy Technician
The 24-week hybrid Pharmacy Technician course covers pharmacy law, introductory chemistry, pharmacy procedures, medical terminology and data entry, according to ATE’s programs page. It is the only health course on that page. ATE does not name a national certification exam, and it lists no externship or pharmacy placement. Ohio requires pharmacy technicians to register with the State Board of Pharmacy; ask ATE whether completing the course meets the Board’s training requirements before you enroll.
HVAC, automation, design and safety
HVAC runs 21 weeks in person and prepares for the EPA Section 608 certification; ATE includes the test fee. Automation is a 24-week in-person course on electrical basics and PLC control of automated industrial processes; it names no certification and is not electrician training. Autodesk Fusion 360 runs 24 weeks, hybrid, and prepares for the Fusion 360 Certified User exam, a single-software credential rather than a drafting qualification. OSHA 10-Hour General Industry runs 4 weeks, hybrid, and leads to an OSHA 10 card.
Flat course prices, no federal aid
ATE charges one flat price per course, with no in-state or out-of-state rates and no dated tuition sheet. On its programs page, checked 16 October 2026, prices ran from $1,500 (OSHA 10) to $14,500 (Java Developer and Automation). Examples: CompTIA Data+ $2,400; Network+ $4,500; CompTIA A+ and CCNA $6,400 each; Pharmacy Technician (24 weeks) $14,230; Cybersecurity Bootcamp (84 weeks) $14,285. ATE does not say whether books, exam vouchers or other fees are included, except that the HVAC price includes the EPA 608 test fee.
Tuition is non-refundable after the first week of class, and students on a payment plan owe the full balance even if they leave, according to ATE’s admissions page.
ATE does not offer federal student aid and we found no record of it in the federal College Navigator database. We found no GI Bill approval and no named scholarships. ATE says its courses are “Area 11 approved” and that “workforce funding” is accepted, and it discusses financial help at the enrollment consultation. Area 11 is also the number of the Columbus-Franklin County workforce area, but ATE ties its approval to an Ohio Department of Education career-technical planning district and never mentions WIOA. Before counting on workforce funding, confirm with ATE and your local workforce office that your course qualifies.
Enrolling: a consultation, then a cohort
ATE’s admissions steps are an online inquiry (answered in one to two business days), an enrollment consultation about programs, schedule and funding, an application with a start date, and then joining a cohort. ATE says no prior tech experience is required, and a signed Student Handbook acknowledgment must be on file before class starts. ATE’s admissions page does not state age or diploma/GED requirements, so ask at the consultation. ATE mentions “flexible scheduling options” but publishes no start dates or class times. Contact is by the online form or (614) 389-0026.
Approval, accreditation and results
ATE says “All ATE courses are approved through the Ohio Department of Education Area 11 Career-Technical Planning District.” It names no institutional accreditor, and its site shows no registration number from the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools. Ask ATE to confirm its current approval and registration status, in writing, before you pay.
ATE publishes no completion, job-placement or certification pass rates. Its Get Involved page says 300+ students have been trained, while its home-page counters showed placeholder “0+” figures in October 2026. We found no review platform with 25 or more reviews of ATE, so this page has no reviews summary.
Before you enroll
- Finishing an ATE course does not give you the certification: you still have to pass the outside exam (CompTIA, Cisco, BICSI, EPA or Autodesk). ATE publishes no pass rates and, except for HVAC, does not say whether the exam fee is included.
- Tuition is non-refundable after week one, and payment-plan students owe the full balance if they leave. Four courses cost $14,230 or more.
- Pharmacy Technician names no national exam and no externship. Check the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy’s registration rules before paying $14,230.
- Automation is industrial automation and PLC training, not an electrician program, and ATE names no certification or licence for it.
- ATE’s admissions page also names phlebotomy, EKG and medical assistant courses, but its programs page does not list them. Ask whether they run before planning on one.
One published address in northwest Columbus
ATE’s only published street address is 2945 Donnylane Blvd, Columbus, OH 43235, its e-waste drop-off point (weekdays, 9 am to 3 pm) and a Northstar Digital Literacy testing site. Classes are likely held there, but ATE’s course pages give no class address and one photo shows students at SWACO’s Education Resource Center, so confirm the class site when you enroll. ATE says its courses are open to adults in the Columbus metro area.
No housing or published placement service
ATE offers no housing and publishes no job-placement service. It says it has 10+ partners but does not name them.
Facts checked October 2026.
Programs & Courses
IT Support and Cloud
- IT Fundamentals (CompTIA ITF+)
- IT Support Specialist (CompTIA A+)
- CompTIA Linux+
- Cloud Architect (CompTIA Cloud+)
- Amazon Web Services
Networking
- CCNA Networking (Cisco CCNA)
- Network+ (CompTIA Network+)
- Fiber Optic Cabling Technician (BICSI Installer 1)
Cybersecurity, Data and Software
- Cybersecurity Bootcamp
- Data Analyst (CompTIA Data+)
- Java Developer
Trades, Design and Safety
- HVAC (EPA Section 608)
- Automation (PLC and industrial automation)
- Autodesk Fusion 360 (Certified User)
- OSHA 10-Hour General Industry
Healthcare
- Pharmacy Technician
Campus Locations
Columbus, OH 2945 Donnylane Blvd, Columbus, OH 43235