FAQ: Can You Become a Web Developer With No Degree?

When considering becoming a web developer, individuals are often interested in whether they need a college degree to get a job. Since this career is still rather new, there are many career options to take to become this kind of professional. Understanding the requirements to become a web developer can help you decide if it’s a career you are interested in pursuing and which option is best for you. In this article, we explore whether you can become a web developer with no degree along with answers to other related questions.

What is a web developer?

A web developer is a programmer who builds websites and applications. They focus on the appearance of a program and make sure it performs effectively. Web developers make their client’s vision a reality by creating a web development that meets their needs and wants. There are three main types of web developers:

Back-end developer
Front-end developer
Full-stack developer

Can you become a web developer with no degree?

Since there are many ways to learn web development on your own, you can become a professional in this industry with no degree. In fact, many web developers are self-taught. The web development industry doesn’t have a specific education path for students to take and currently there is not a specific web development degree.

Typically, web developer employers are more concerned about your work experience than your educational background. This is why job seekers often build a professional portfolio to show potential employers. Rather than looking at your education section on your resume, web developer employers want to see if you can code and develop websites.

Why is a degree unnecessary for web developers?

Many employers don’t require a college degree since there are limited experts to hire from. This is because the web development industry is still a new field of study, meaning there is a finite amount of labor for employers to select. However, earning a degree can help set you apart from other candidates and give you the opportunity to pursue a senior role. College degrees often go more in depth in web development knowledge and history information which can help individuals become more diverse.

How can you learn web development?

There are a variety of ways to learn web development beyond earning a computer science degree. Learning options for web developers include the following:

Coding boot camp

One option is to complete a coding boot camp, where you learn beginner web development skills at an accelerated pace with hands-on experience. These are project-based learning programs and take between one week to a couple of years. Upon completion, web developers have a portfolio to use for future job applications and earn a certification.

Online learning

Another option to learn web development is to take online courses. These often teach you a specific coding language, such as Python, or a concept that interests you. They may also give you opportunities to apply what you learn through practice in building live, responsive websites. Like boot camps, many online programs offer certifications upon completion.

Self-education

Additionally, you can learn through reading web development and coding books on your own. Or consider studying excellent websites designed by experienced web developers. Other ways to pursue self-education include following web developing forums to learn about new trends, watching videos on a specific topic and building projects to practice your skills.

What skills do web developers need?

Depending on the type of career you are interested in determines what types of tools and technical skills to learn. Some skills successful web developers possess include:

Cloud service providers: Often web developers are knowledgeable about cloud service providers, or databases, to access and manipulate data.
Coding languages: Learning coding languages, such as JavaScript and CSS, can help web developers design websites and make them interactive.
Collaboration: Web developers work with web designers and others to create web projects and are in constant communication with one another.
Communication: To create excellent projects, web developers communicate with clients as well as other team members, sometimes asking for advice on a problem.
Composure: Web developers often work under pressure and perform multiple tasks a day, making it helpful for them to have a strong composure, especially when working with clients.
Detail-oriented: When looking at a line of code, web developers pay careful attention to make sure they include key details to perform their desired action.
Problem solver: Web developers find ways to meet their client’s vision and requests and translate it into a website, which sometimes involves finding a solution for challenges that occur.
Time management: Since web developers work for clients, they have multiple deadlines to meet in addition to helping their team accomplish their goals on time.

Can you get on-the-job training as a web developer?

Some employers offer on-the-job training for junior web developers. They may offer mentorship programs with ongoing support throughout their career from senior web developers. This opportunity allows new web developers to learn through observing experienced employees. Employers may also provide pre-paid courses to help beginner web developers learn valuable concepts and coding languages to apply in their position.

What are the benefits of being a self-taught web developer?

Being a self-taught web developer has several advantages. Since these individuals use their own resources when searching for answers to problems, rather than asking a professor, they learn how to research effectively. This process for finding answers can help them in the future when they work in the web development industry and helps them develop a strong work ethic for their career. Some other benefits of being a self-taught web developer include: