Every day, we interact with an unfathomable number of computer applications. Some are obvious, like the web browser you are using to view this webpage or any of the desktop computer applications that you use while at work. Others, like the computer systems that control traffic lights, are less immediately visible, and some, like the dozens or even hundreds of software applications that contributed to the development and construction of every product in your home, are completely invisible. Nevertheless, someone (or teams of people) had to program all those applications so that computers understand how they should process data and respond to user interactions. Owing to how many aspects of our lives are impacted by computer programs, skilled programmers and engineers are in high demand, and students looking to enter a high-paying career field should seriously consider becoming certified in coding.
Noble Desktop: Software Engineering Certificate
Key Information: This certificate-granting program is offered onsite at Noble’s Manhattan campus or online in a live instruction classroom. The program lasts for twenty weeks of full-time study and is a career-focused training program. Students enrolled in the course will receive one-on-one career mentoring sessions and will have the opportunity to retake the course, for free, within one year.
Noble Desktop offers an immersive, comprehensive Software Engineering Certificate program for students looking to learn all major aspects of coding a commercial software application or web development project. The course covers front-end (client-facing) and back-end (server- and database-side) aspects of programming and teaches students all the major programming languages they will need to start building complete applications. Students will receive hands-on experience learning how to read, write and compile code and the program is open to students with no prior programming experience, making this course an ideal introduction to the world of software development. By the end of the course, students will have completed practical development projects and have a collection of working applications that they can add to their professional portfolio to demonstrate their skills to prospective employers.
Students will begin by learning the fundamentals of computer programming through lessons in web development using HTML and CSS to code the appearance of webpages and application interfaces. Then, students will learn how to add interactive elements to their web projects using JavaScript. JavaScript is the program's primary focus, and students will spend more than two hundred hours learning everything there is to know about JavaScript and its major libraries (MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js). Students will use these libraries to build all of the elements of a software application, including database and server infrastructure. Once students are comfortable with their JavaScript training, they will start to learn Python and Django, rounding out their back-end training and preparing them for the course’s capstone projects in which they combine all of their programming knowledge into an elaborate software engineering project.
This program is offered to students onsite at Noble Desktop’s state-of-the-art Manhattan campus or in live digital classroom. In either case, the course is taught by expert instructors who can provide students with feedback and assistance in real time. Students learning online will be able to ask questions directly, and they can even permit their instructors to interact directly with their devices. Students can enroll in full-time or part-time classes, and the course is designed to help introduce students to complex computer programming concepts. In addition to hands-on instruction and practical experience, students who enroll in the course can participate in portfolio development workshops and receive one-on-one career mentorship sessions with Noble’s expert instructors. The course also has a free retake option that allows students to take the class again within one year, giving students even more chances to learn robust programming skills.
Noble Desktop: Data Science Certificate
Key Information: This career-focused certificate program is offered live online or onsite at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan campus. The course is available in two scheduling options, a four-week full-time class or a twenty-week part-time class. In addition to hands-on Python and SQL training, students will receive one-on-one career mentorship assistance and can retake the class, for free, within one year.
Another important aspect of computer coding is writing programs and databases that collect, organize and store user data. This includes simple things like password management systems, more complicated databases like the ones that collect user data from web traffic, and incredibly complex machine learning algorithms capable of reading and interpreting data without the need for a human operator. Students interested in working with these applications can enroll in Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate to receive a comprehensive education in all of the major programming languages and applications utilized in data-related professional projects. Students enrolled in this class will receive guided instruction in the skills they need to build, organize and query databases and the programming tools they need to manipulate, edit or interpret that data automatically.
Students will learn how to read and write code using Python, one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Students will learn to write code that controls data flow, organizes it into databases and automatically makes calculations based on collected data. They will then learn to use SQL to create complex databases and queries, making finding, organizing and interpreting data significantly easier. Once students are comfortable with their programming fundamentals, lessons will cover the more practical applications of data science in professional contexts. This includes lessons on using Python to automate the data collection and organization process, using libraries like Plotly and Dash to create compelling visualizations of collected and queried data and writing machine learning algorithms that read and interpret immense amounts of data. This program aims to provide students with a professional education in data science, giving them the tools they need to start a new career working with data.
Students can attend this course onsite at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan campus or online in a private digital classroom. In either case, students will receive expert instruction from Noble’s experienced data science professionals, and their instruction will be delivered in real time. This means that students can get personalized feedback on their work, assistance on issues troubling them and advice on basic or advanced programming skills from experienced instructors. The program is a career-focused seminar, meaning that all of the lessons are geared toward helping students find jobs in data science upon completing the course. In addition to working on practical exercises and building programs that students can add to their job materials, they will receive career development assistance in the form of one-on-one career mentoring sessions, during which they can ask questions and receive practical assistance on everything from job searches to resume writing and interview prep. The course also includes a free retake option for students, allowing them to get even more experience working with data science programming skills.
Digitalcrafts: Web Development Certificate Bootcamp
Key Information: This live web development bootcamp is available in-person or online, and courses can be taken in 17-week full-time sessions or 26-week part-time sessions. These lessons are open to beginners, but the course is focused on helping place students on new career paths. Students enrolled in the course will have access to career services such as portfolio-building workshops and online job fairs.
Students seeking a complete programming education may also want to consider a course like Digitalcrafts’s Web Development Certificate Bootcamp. In this course, students will learn the process of full-stack web development and they will have the opportunity to learn either in-person or online. This beginner-friendly course begins with an introduction to the basics of computer programming and serves as an introduction to writing code using HTML and CSS. Once students are comfortable with the basics of coding, they will start working on more complex programming skills such as using JavaScript to add interactivity to a web application, building back-end infrastructure with SQL and working with third-party APIs. The course concludes with instruction in building a full-stack ecosystem, including a final capstone project in which students build a working web application that they can add to their professional job materials.
The program is available in-person or online and is offered in full-time or part-time instruction schedules. In either case, students will have the chance to work with live instructors and receive quality web development training. Lessons are heavily built upon solo or group lab work, so students will have plenty of opportunities to get hands-on coding experience. The course is open to students with no prior programming experience and the only requirement is access to recent computer hardware. Students enrolled in the program will receive tailored career development support, including portfolio guidance, mock interviews and access to online networking opportunities. Students will also have access to elective workshops that can help them round out their skills or become more specialized in specific areas of the field of web development.
UCLA Extension School: Coding Bootcamp
Key Information: This live online coding bootcamp allows students to participate in 12-week full-time or 24-week part-time sessions as they learn basic and advanced coding skills. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion from UCLA and be able to access career mentoring assistance programs.
Offered through the UCLA Extension School, this Coding Bootcamp offers students the chance to learn a wide range of computer programming skills while earning a career certificate from UCLA. This course covers all of the major aspects of full-stack development and provides students with a robust, well-rounded education that they can use in almost any coding job. Students will learn how to manage the front-end of an application with HTML and CSS, JavaScript and jQuery, and they will learn how to use Bootstrap to simplify the process of ensuring solid performance when an application is running. Then, students will learn the major JavaScript frameworks and libraries utilized in full-stack development projects, including MongoDB, Express.js, React and Node.js. Learning these frameworks will let students complete a capstone project in which they build a working web application.
The program offers live online instruction in full-stack web development, and students can enroll in the class as full-time or part-time learners. All of the lessons are designed to mirror real-world development projects, meaning that students will get practical work experience that they can take onto the job market. In addition to expert instruction and practical, hands-on training, students who take this course will receive career development assistance, including personalized feedback and advice on developing their job materials. The program is open to coders of all skill levels, and it is an ideal place for new programmers who want to break into the field to learn how to code.Â
Amazon: AWS Certified Developer- Associate
Key Information: This certification exam tests a student’s understanding of basic application development skills, programming languages and the AWS platform. The exam comprises 65 questions detailing the platform's functions, lasts about two hours and measures how well a candidate can navigate and utilize AWS for cloud-based application development. This certification lasts for three years before requiring recertification, and Amazon provides users with free and paid study options.
Students looking to become certified in programming may want to pursue certification in the use of specific hosting and development platforms, like the one offered by Amazon through their AWS Certified Developer- Associate exam. This exam aims to test students’ proficiency in using the Amazon Web Services platform for developing, debugging and launching cloud-based applications. The exam gauges how well a student understands the fundamentals of web and application development and their specific understanding of the features and functionalities that the AWS platform offers to developers. Students will also need a background in cloud-based IT skills to pass the exam. While this is a fairly narrow certification, it can be useful to demonstrate your application development skills or to demonstrate to employers that you understand the intricacies of commonly used services like AWS.
This exam lasts slightly longer than two hours and comprises sixty-five multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam anticipates that students will have at least one year of formal training or hands-on experience working with AWS development projects, and questions can cover a wide range of AWS and application development concerns. Questions and answers are weighted using an automated scale, and final scores will range between 100-,000, with a 720 being the lowest passing grade possible. Amazon offers a range of free and paid study materials, including an exam guide, an on-demand exam prep course and sample exams for students to practice. Higher-level certifications are available to students with more experience. AWS certifications last for three years and can be renewed by taking the latest version of the exam or by passing a more advanced certification exam.
Google: Associate Android Developer
Key Information: This certification exam tests the developer’s understanding of basic application programming and their knowledge of Android-specific concerns. The exam consists of a practical programming design assignment and an exit interview. The process lasts eight hours. The certification lasts for 36 months, and there are a few options for recertification. Google offers paid and free study materials.
Another option for students seeking to become platform certified is completing Google’s Associate Android Developer exam. This exam tests practical programming skills and students’ understanding of Android-specific development techniques and languages. The exam covers application functionality, user interface design, user testing and debugging and data management. The exam covers practical programming skills (including options for taking the exam in Java or Koltin), interface design and testing skills and platform-specific skills (including knowledge of app store policies and data management regulations). The certification aims to demonstrate a student’s proficiency in app development and their preparedness to start publishing and maintaining applications on Google’s various platforms and the Android OS.
This exam tests a student’s ability to work in an entry-level application development role. The exam includes a live programming project and an exit interview, which must be completed in English. Students will have eight hours to complete the exam though they often take less time, and the exam is not built with the expectation that all eight hours will be necessary. Students do have the option to take the exam again if they are unsuccessful in their attempt. Google offers paid and free study materials for students looking to prepare for the exam. The certification lasts 36 months, after which students must pass a recertification exam.
Fullstack Academy: Coding Bootcamp
Key Information: This live online coding bootcamp is offered in 17-week full-time and 28-week part-time sessions. Students will receive practical, hands-on, project-driven instruction in full-stack software engineering and by the end of the program, they will have finished several working applications (individually and as part of a group). Students can also benefit from career development services, including resume and portfolio-building workshops.
Fullstack Academy offers an immersive, live online Coding Bootcamp for students looking to learn all major aspects of software development and computer programming. The course begins with an introduction to programming and lessons on reading and writing code using HTML and CSS. Students will then learn how to use JavaScript and its associated libraries to add interactive elements to an application and build complex back-end functionality into their designs. Students will learn how to use industry-standard tools and they will learn programming skills in hands-on exercises that teach them to think like programmers. Once students are comfortable with basic programming skills, they will learn to use frameworks like Node.js and languages like SQL to build server and database infrastructure and develop fully functioning web applications. The course concludes with a guided collaborative project in which students create an ecommerce website, a personal project in which students design their own web application and a capstone project in which students build a complex, ambitious application over two weeks.
This online coding course offers students the option to attend classes full-time or part-time. Regardless, students will receive live instruction from experienced computer programmers and get the chance to work in a collaborative setting with classmates. The program is a project-driven, career-focused course, so much of the time students spend in the class will be dedicated to building working applications that they can add to their professional portfolios. The course will pair students with a programming partner with whom they will collaborate and the course aims to teach students how to navigate the team-driven world of professional programming. Fullstack offers robust career support services, including portfolio management workshops and resume/LinkedIn profile development seminars.
Ironhack: Web Development Bootcamp
Key Information: This live online web development course runs in nine-week full-time or 24-week part-time sessions. Students will work on practical web development projects and the course is designed with programming novices in mind. Students enrolled in the course can attend Ironhack career development events, including their career week, providing valuable networking opportunities.
This remote learning Web Development Bootcamp is offered by Miami-based training provider Ironhack. Students will begin by completing approximately fifty hours of self-guided lessons in which they will learn the basics of computer programming and coding generally. From there, students will learn modern web development techniques, beginning with front-end development training in HTML and CSS and JavaScript. Then, students will move on to back-end development lessons, learning how to use Node.js, Express.js, React, MongoDB and Handlebars to build fully functional web development infrastructure to run their front-end applications. The course concludes with a full-stack web development capstone project in which students will build all of the elements of a functioning web application that they can add to their job materials.
The course aims to provide students with the career skills needed to find employment in a web development position. Thus, lessons are project-driven and students will build everything from simple browser games to complex full-stack applications. The course is available in full-time or part-time instruction and in either case, students will receive personalized, live training. Students will need to complete an entrance interview and exam to enroll in the course, but no prior programming experience is required. Students enrolled in the course will also be able to participate in Ironhack’s career week seminars, giving them valuable networking opportunities and the chance to meet with potential employers.
NYC Data Science Academy: Data Science Bootcamp
Key Information: This data science bootcamp aims to provide students with extensive, career-focused data science training. The full-time version of the program lasts twelve weeks and the part-time asynchronous version is self-paced with an expected completion time of about 24 weeks. Students will receive professional development training, including structured one-on-one job application mentorship sessions.
The NYC Data Science Academy offers an immersive, flagship Data Science Bootcamp for students interested in learning how to program databases and the applications that utilize and query them. In this program, students will start by learning the basic mathematical concepts that underlie data science and the programming skills (in R and Python) that they will need to start working with data. Students will then learn how to analyze, organize and query data using SQL, Python and R with lessons aimed at demonstrating the practical application of data science techniques. Once students understand these programming concepts, they will move on to lessons in machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and other concerns such as scalability and deep learning. By the end of the program, students will be able to work on complex data science projects and they will be prepared to find work on the kinds of cutting-edge programming projects that are shaping the world of data science.
The course is offered online as either a full-time live course or a part-time asynchronous course. This gives students additional flexibility in their scheduling and helps students ensure that they can complete the program at their own pace. As a career-focused program, students will be working on practical projects built around real-world data science scenarios, particularly those utilized in the business world. This will give students an understanding of the role that they are likely to play in the professional world. In addition to this, students will receive access to career development and support services, including one-on-one job material review sessions, mock interviews and access to the NYC alumni network.Â
General Assembly: Software Engineering Immersive
Key Information: This live online software engineering program is a beginner-friendly, career-focused training program that runs on a flexible four-month full-time basis or six-month part-time basis. The program offers students hands-on training and career development services including one-on-one mentoring and expansive networking opportunities.
General Assembly offers its Software Engineering Immersive certificate program for students looking to learn all the major skills that go into developing a working software application. This program, available onsite or online, teaches students how to build web applications, mobile apps and other desktop software. Students will begin the course with guided preparation work covering the basics of computer programming in languages like HTML and CSS, and once they are comfortable with this work, they will begin working on practical development projects and exercises. Students will learn front-end and back-end development skills, including training in JavaScript and its associated libraries. The course concludes with a full-stack development project in which students will apply their technical knowledge of front-end, back-end, and API development to create a working software application.
The program is offered in full-time or part-time seminars, but regardless of the modality a student chooses, they will still receive live instruction from experienced computer programmers. During the program, students will receive hands-on training in computer programming skills and the lessons they learn will be easily transferable to almost all software or web application development projects. These hands-on lessons allow students to practice practical career skills and create working applications that they can include in their job application materials. Students will also receive personalized career support, including one-on-one mentoring sessions and expansive networking opportunities through General Assembly’s corporate partnerships team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
Students who aren’t familiar with the inner workings of the computer programming industry may be surprised to learn that certificates and certifications are not the same things. While they are both ways for professionals to demonstrate their proficiency in important skills, they measure those skills differently. Certifications are conferred to professionals who complete industry-recognized certification exams, usually by third-party vendors or first-party publishers. These certifications test an individual’s existing knowledge of development skills and platforms. Since they test existing knowledge, they rarely come with the associated training, though they do often offer free or paid study materials to help students prepare for the exam. Most certifications expire after a certain period, so students must either retake the exam or complete another recertification process to stay current.
Certificates are more akin to diplomas and are awarded to students who complete industry-recognized training courses. These classes are designed to teach students the practical programming skills that would be tested during a certification exam, meaning that the courses are longer and more expensive but provide students with more assistance and guidance. These classes allow students to build the skills they need to start on a new career path. Certificates do not tend to expire, and they are offered in a wide variety of different modalities in terms of delivery method and schedule.
Should I Get a Certificate or a Certification?
The best option for becoming certified is likely to depend on how much skills training you already have. Students with degrees in computer science or practical on-the-job training may want to consider passing a certification exam, particularly if they aim to demonstrate specific professional credentials. These exams test skills students already have, so they are much less time-consuming. Students who aren’t formally trained in computer science will instead want to enroll in a certificate-granting program since the main selling point of these courses is the professional skills training you will receive while in the course. Students who enroll in a certificate-granting program will also receive the training that will help them complement their certificates with professional certification.
Do I Need to Be Certified to Find a Job?
For the most part, you don’t need to be certified to find a job in coding. However, since coding is such a varied field, some sub-specializations will require you to become certified (such as jobs working with government data or handling cybersecurity responsibilities), and some listings may require certification. However, for most job listings, being certified isn’t necessary. Still, becoming certified is a great way to set yourself apart from other applicants in the eyes of prospective employers, and certificate-granting programs are a good place to get the professional development training you need to find a job in the field.
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
Once you’ve decided to enroll in a certificate-granting program, you must explore your options and find the course that best fits your needs. There is a wide range of different subjects and classroom modalities being offered, and all of these different approaches to learning computer coding come with advantages and disadvantages. Students will need to decide whether they will enroll in an online or an in-person course, and they will need to choose what kind of meeting structure they want out of their course. In addition, students who opt for online classes must choose between live classes, asynchronous courses or classes that are hybrid.Â
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Instruction?
As the general quality of online instruction improves, more and more training providers are offering their certificate programs through online instruction, and several have begun to move entirely towards online delivery. These online classes are taught in various modalities, giving students flexibility in choosing the course they want to take. Nowadays, students will want to seriously consider online learning as a viable alternative to traditional in-person classroom instruction.
Many students find that in-person instruction helps them stay focused and on track for success. Working in a classroom with a live instructor can help students receive immediate feedback and assistance on their work. Having an expert who can easily read your code and manipulate the files in real time can be productive. Students also may find that the classroom is a good way to find a distraction-free working environment. Plus, in-person courses allow students to work face-to-face with their colleagues and classmates. The drawback to these classes is that students will only be able to enroll in the courses that are located nearby since they will need to commute to attend class. This can be restrictive for students, particularly those who don’t live near a major city and who are looking for a course that fits their specific needs.
Online courses address this by allowing students to enroll in virtually any course in the country without having to travel. They also offer students increased flexibility in terms of scheduling and course content by there being significantly more options available for students to choose from. Many students also report that learning how to code on their personal devices makes the work much easier and allows them to practice more easily on their own time. The drawback to these courses is that students will need more self-regulation when keeping up with materials, particularly if they are in a course with a lot of asynchronous work. Students may also find it easier to become distracted in their home environment than in a classroom, which can be a deal breaker for some students.
Which is Better: Live Online, Asynchronous, or Hybrid Instruction?
Students enrolling in an online class must decide whether to enroll in a live instruction course, an asynchronous course or a hybrid class. Live online classes are like regular classroom courses, but instead of being taught in real-time at a training center, they are taught in real-time by experienced instructors over telecommunication platforms like Zoom. Asynchronous courses comprise recorded video content and guided modules that let students work at their own pace. Hybrid courses combine the two, but more hybrid courses are either asynchronous classes with live office hours or live online classes with the asynchronous preparatory material.
Asynchronous courses are best suited for students with specific scheduling concerns who want to learn specific programming skills. Students in these courses will have the flexibility to work on material when it best suits their needs, and they can pick up or put down lessons as often as they require. The drawback to these classes is that students will need to be more self-motivated to keep up with their lessons and won’t have a live instructor to provide them with assistance and feedback. If something in their code isn’t working, they will need to find alternative means of getting help, which can be a major time and energy investment that causes students to lose their motivation. In addition, even reputable on-demand training courses may fall behind recent developments in computer programming or updates to commonly used applications. This means students might risk finding themselves learning out-of-date material.
Live online classes address these concerns by placing students alongside live, professional instructors who can provide assistance and feedback that is personalized and immediate. This can help students stay on track, and it is a great way to ensure you aren’t falling behind in your lessons. Live online classes also give students a chance to work alongside classmates on collaborative projects, which can keep students invested in their work. On the whole, live online classes are more structured and give students more chances to get the personalized attention they need to succeed. These classes tend to be more expensive than the alternative because live instructors teach them, but this also means that students can be confident that the material is up-to-date. Unless you absolutely need the scheduling flexibility provided by an asynchronous course, live online classes are your best option for learning the programming skills necessary for long-term career success.