Tech Proficiency Score (TPS)℠
TPS is a short, skills-aligned assessment that places you on a 5-star ladder of professional growth—an honest read on where you stand and what to do next.
The 5-Star Rating System
Your TPS places you at one of five stages of professional growth—from early potential to elite impact.
The Reality Check Stage. Early in the journey with strong motivation but limited practice. TPS directs you to foundational coaching and exposure to real environments.
The Conceptual Connection Stage. You see how things fit together and can handle tasks with guidance, building toward independent productivity.
The Value Inflection Point. You contribute more value than you cost in supervision and can deliver work independently—meeting the bar for many entry roles.
The Multiplier Stage. Consistent high performer who enables others, improves team output, and builds a strong professional reputation.
The Elite Stage. Mastery across technical, tactical, and professional domains—sought after by teams and shaping how work gets done.
How TPS Guides Your Next Move
Your score lands on a star level, then maps to concrete next steps—whether that’s Foundations, Training Lab, or advanced support.
- 1–2 Stars: Focus on foundational coaching, structured training, and exposure to real environments.
- 3 Stars: You’re at the value inflection point—ready for many entry-level roles and project-based training.
- 4–5 Stars: You’re enabling others or operating at an elite level; TPS highlights stretch roles and leadership paths.
The 10 TPS Domains
TPS looks at a complete picture of workplace readiness—beyond credentials. Together, these domains answer the real question: can you perform in a tech job?
Getting Started
Intentional engagement and goal-setting at the beginning of your tech journey.
Business & Professional Experience
Work history, reliability, and understanding workplace dynamics.
High-Tech Training Experience
Structured learning through programs like CyberForward Academy.
Academic Experience
Formal education, persistence, and measurable outcomes.
Team & Communication
Collaboration and clear communication across teams and levels.
Execution & Technology
Hands-on delivery quality and speed—can you actually do the work?
Learning & Domain
Depth in your specialty (for example, cybersecurity) and adjacent technologies.
Leadership & Teaching
Leading teams, teaching others, and contributing to the field.
Human & Situational
Resilience, well-being, and environments that sustain high performance.
Ecosystem Awareness
Understanding industry landscape, trends, and interconnections.
What Taking TPS Feels Like
Short, realistic prompts instead of trick questions—focused on how you think and work, not just what you’ve memorized.
- Mix of knowledge checks and mini-scenarios across the TPS domains
- About 20–30 minutes to complete
- Immediate star-level result, focus areas, and recommended next steps
Example Result
Strong starting point with room to grow in specific domains.
Systems & Networks
Baseline strengths in operating systems and networking; build depth in troubleshooting and routing concepts.
Next up: Start with Foundations, then move into Training Lab projects that rely on network visibility and logging.
TPS FAQs
No. TPS is a placement tool. Your result is a star level that guides coaching and starting point—Foundations, Training Lab, or advanced pathways.
The TPS changes and grows as you continue developing your skills. If your experience changes, or you build new skills, you can re-take TPS to update your star level before a new cohort.
Individuals, educators, and employers use TPS to align training, hiring, and career moves around a common, job-aligned benchmark.
Use TPS with Your Own Team
TPS is built for organizations that want clearer visibility into technical readiness — without turning assessment into a high-pressure exam. Your staff experience the same short, scenario-based assessment, and you receive an aggregate view of strengths and focus areas.
- Spot skills gaps across teams and roles before you invest in training.
- Align Tech Skill Pass, Foundations, and Training Lab enrollment with real assessment data.
- Support internal mobility by matching people to the right learning pathways.
- Use TPS results to inform workforce planning, coaching, and professional development.
Use aggregated placement data to plan training, coaching, and workforce development — while each individual receives their own private feedback and next-step guidance.