Outcomes of a first Quantum Technician Bootcamp

Recent projections continue to show a significant workforce gap in the growing field of Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST). Less than half of job postings in QIST require a PhD, and an increasing number require Associate's or Bachelor's degrees or less. Despite this, early exposure to QIST often occurs late in undergraduate education, which limits participation from skilled workers who have not pursued a 4-year degree. In a first-of-its-kind effort, CNM-Ingenuity (the workforce branch of Central New Mexico Community College) and Sandia National Labs teamed up to offer a 10-week quantum technician training bootcamp in fall of 2025. The program upskilled 9 trainees with no prior math or science knowledge who learned quantum concepts and hands-on skills in ultrahigh vacuum processing, optics/lasers/photonics, and general technician skills. Here we present an overview of the bootcamp structure and outcomes, how our first graduates are doing in their quantum careers, as well as future plans.