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To reward study and dedication, Open Tech Academy offers shareable certificates for completed courses and full learning pathways.

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Computer Hardware Path Certificate Tiers

Students working through the Computer Hardware path can earn tiered certificates based on completion milestones.

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Bronze Certificate

  • Requirements: Complete HW101 and any two HW2xx deep-dive courses.
  • Audience: Ideal for showing a basic grasp of desktop hardware assembly and specific subsystems.

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Silver Certificate

  • Requirements: Complete HW101, any four HW2xx deep-dive courses, and one advanced course (HW301 or HW401).
  • Audience: Demonstrates intermediate expertise across multiple subsystems and advanced integration principles.

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Gold Certificate

  • Requirements: Complete all 9 courses in the Computer Hardware path.
  • Audience: Our highest hardware credential, representing full mastery of PC building, motherboard architectures, expansion, and system integration.

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Public Certificate Verification

To ensure the validity of our credentials, we host a public verification lookup portal at verify.opentechacademy.org.
  • How it Works: Employers, teachers, and sponsors can enter the unique verification code printed on any Open Tech Academy certificate.
  • What it Returns: The lookup queries our database and returns:
    • Recipient Name
    • Course or Learning Path Title
    • Issue Date
    • Expiration or Revocation status (if applicable)
The verification system is fully automated and runs serverless functions against our central PostgreSQL database to verify records in real time.
Last modified on June 29, 2026