The Technology Learning Journey · the finish line
Technology Competency Assessment (TCA-100)
How the finish line works, step by step. There are two different things here, and they do different jobs:
| What | What it needs | What it gives you | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to the specialisations | Pass the 500-mark final examination (70% or more, multiple choice, taken on this site) | The specialisation paths unlock | Live now |
| Course completion | Pass all 100 module quizzes, every level test and combined test, and the final examination | A completion record for your own study, saved on your device | Live now (self-recorded) |
| Self-assessed certificate | Course completion, plus the eight level projects checked against their rubrics by you | A ProLearners Certificate of Completion that says it was self-assessed, with the curriculum and paper versions | Planned |
| Independently reviewed credential | The TCA-100 below: practical tasks, a capstone and a live defence, judged by a reviewer against published rubrics | A competency report and a reviewed credential | Planned: reviewers, rubrics and evidence rules still to be set |
The multiple-choice final shows understanding, and it opens the next stage of study. It does not by itself prove practical skill, and because results are stored on your own device, it is not a verified qualification. Practical capability is what the TCA-100 below is designed to judge, and the mentor reviews and follow-ups it describes are planned, not yet running.
Not one exam you pass or fail, but an audit of the whole journey. It answers: what do I understand, what can I build and fix and explain, where am I weak, and how ready am I for today's tools, including AI.
100 points, 7 sections, 20–30 hours over 5–10 days:
| Section | Points |
|---|---|
| 1. Foundations (50–60 questions; understanding, not memory) | 15 |
| 2. Coding and debugging (fix a buggy app, add a feature, write tests) | 20 |
| 3. Full-stack and database practical | 15 |
| 4. Deployment and cybersecurity (fix a misconfigured environment, show recovery) | 15 |
| 5. AI engineering (includes spotting a prompt-injection trap) | 10 |
| 6. System design (a growing booking platform; justified choices, no single right answer) | 10 |
| 7. Independent capstone and defence | 15 |
Three modes, scored separately: A, on your own (no AI); B, with AI (good instructions, review, testing, checking the AI's work); C, technical defence (explain it and handle changed requirements).
Results: a composite score plus a proficiency level (for example 72/100, "Functional"). Completion needs 70/100, a minimum in every domain, the capstone, and no unresolved critical security failure.
Personal competency report: scores by domain, weak areas, which tasks were done alone, with hints or with AI, and whether the learner could explain them; recommended modules to revisit.
Staying current: permanent foundations (algorithms, networking, SQL, auth, architecture) vs evolving tech (frameworks, AI models, tools, cloud, threats). A Technology Currency Assessment every six months, reviewed by experts. Separate measures: core competency, independent problem-solving, AI-assisted productivity, security readiness, technology currency.
After completion: a retention test at 30 days, practical reassessment at 90 days, a currency review every six months, an optional full reassessment yearly.
What the learner receives: a competency report, a skills portfolio (repos, projects, diagrams, deployed demos), a personal 30/60/90-day roadmap, and a certificate stating the curriculum, date, version and whether it was supervised. It mustn't imply university or professional accreditation unless that is actually earned.
Three things measured throughout: Knowledge (what can you explain?), Capability (what can you build and maintain?), Judgement (can you choose well, see risks and explain trade-offs?).