Arizona State University is launching a new semiconductor technician training program in collaboration with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, to help meet growing demand for skilled manufacturing workers. 

The new ASU Foundations for Equipment Technician Program is designed to prepare participants for semiconductor equipment technician roles in weeks or months rather than years.

The program, offered at no cost to participants, launches as TSMC continues expanding its Arizona manufacturing operations. The company expects to fill thousands of technician roles to support its first three fabs. By the end of this year alone, TSMC Arizona plans to hire more than 100 equipment technicians.

“This is an opportunity for individuals who are looking to try something new or connect more directly with an industry that’s growing rapidly in the Valley,” says Adam Eklund, senior program manager for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU. “There are a ton of roles that need to be filled — and they need them fast.”

To make training more accessible, the program offers three flexible formats: a five-week, Monday-through-Friday accelerator; a 16-week, Monday-through-Thursday intensive; and an 18-week Saturday-only option. This structure allows participants to choose a schedule that fits their lives, whether they’re working full-time, transitioning careers or just starting in the field.

Participants who complete the training and meet program requirements will be guaranteed an interview with TSMC and also gain industry-recognized credentials that can help them pursue opportunities with other companies and employers across the semiconductor sector.

The new training program is intended to prepare participants specifically for equipment technician roles, a critical position at semiconductor fabrication facilities, also known as fabs. These technicians are responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting the highly specialized systems that keep chip production running around the clock.

“Some programs provide credentials, but don’t necessarily connect you directly to employment opportunities,” Eklund says. “This one is unique in that it does both.”

While the guaranteed TSMC interview is a central benefit, the training also equips learners with technical skills that can open doors for similar roles across Arizona’s broader semiconductor industry. That wider career value is part of what makes the program relevant to people at different career stages.

“This audience isn’t your typical engineering student,” Eklund says. “It could be someone right out of high school, in the workforce looking for a change or between roles.”