How To Become a Software Engineer Without a Degree

Tech is a sector that continues to grow and change every day. It's also a sector with many of self-taught professionals, as you don't necessarily need a degree to become a software engineer or another type of developer.

While a computer science degree can help you land a software engineering job, there are ways to break into the field without one. Keep reading to learn how to become a software engineer without a degree.

Can You Become a Software Engineer Without a Degree?

A college degree is not always a requirement for software engineers. Still, many employers and tech companies prefer to hire those with a software engineering bachelor's degree, or even a master's degree.

Without a degree, you may have a harder time landing a job as a software engineer. However, no licenses are required to become a software engineer, and as such, no specific education requirements are set to enter the field.

Can You Get a Coding Job Without a Degree?

Like software engineering, having a degree can make it easier to get your foot in the door, but it's not a requirement for a job in coding. Many coders are self-taught or learn coding through nontraditional methods.

Many colleges and universities offer coding bootcamps which can be a great way to learn how to code and learn some of the most popular programming languages. There are many other resources, like online courses and videos, that can also help you learn coding without a degree.

Steps To Becoming a Software Engineer Without a Degree

As mentioned, becoming a software engineer without a degree is difficult, but not impossible. There are several steps you can take to become a software engineer without a degree.

1. Learn Programming Languages

Coding skills are imperative for software engineers, and if you want to become a software engineer without a degree, you'll need to know some of the most popular programming languages.

Multiple platforms teach coding skills online, including free resources like Codecademy. Some of the most popular programming languages for software engineers are Python, JavaScript, and SQL.

Python

Python is an open-source programming language that's perfect for beginners who are just learning the fundamentals of coding. It's used to develop various software and application types, and it's versatile and simple to use.

JavaScript

JavaScript, not to be confused with another programming language called Java, is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It's used to add interactive features to websites and mobile apps; it can also used for game development.

SQL

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a programming language for managing data and data structures. It's a common programming language in the data science field.

2. Pursue Certifications

Multiple professional certifications are available for software engineers and do not require a college degree. These include:

• Certified Software Engineer credential from the Institute of Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP)
• Associate Software Developer credential from the IEEE Computer Society
• Azure Fundamentals credential from Microsoft
• AWS Certified Developer credential from Amazon Web Services

Some are general certifications, while others focus on a specific aspect of software engineering. Many do not require a college degree, but some may require completing a course or series of courses.

3. Take Online Courses

Free online software engineering courses are available through many different platforms, including learning platforms like Coursera and edX. Some courses cover software engineering fundamentals, while others cover specific areas of software engineering, such as:

• DevOps
• software design
• Java programming
• data science
• full-stack development
• machine learning and AI

These online courses can help you hone your software engineering and programming skills and require less time and money than a formal degree. Many provide certificates you can add to your resume or post on sites like LinkedIn.

4. Create Websites Using HTML/CSS

HTML and CSS are beginner-friendly, simple programming languages used for web development. They allow you to create websites, which you can then use in your portfolio to show recruiters and potential employers.

You can create these websites just for yourself or ask around to see if any friends or family could use your skills. You can also use sites like Fiverr to find clients.

5. Enroll in a Coding Bootcamp

Coding and software engineering bootcamps are great opportunities for programmers to increase their skill sets. They prepare students with the technical skills they need to take on coding challenges in the tech industry.

These bootcamps may focus on different coding languages, the development of software applications and algorithms, or cybersecurity. They're offered by universities and online learning platforms.

6. Build a Strong Portfolio

As mentioned, building a portfolio allows you to show that you're a good software engineer as you proceed in your job search. As you complete each of the above steps, you should add them to your portfolio.

It should showcase your best work, whether that's a website you built, an app you developed, or code you created. A solid portfolio can help you land a software engineering job, even without a degree.

Common Software Engineering Career Paths

There are a few different types of software engineers and developers. Some common types are front-end developers, back-end developers, and full-stack developers.

Front-End Developer

Front-end developers focus on the front end of websites and web applications, that is, the parts that users see and interact with. They create the visual aspects of the user interface (UI).

These developers need to know coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as the frameworks for those languages. They also need to understand user experience and how to design a website that's easy and pleasing for the user.

Back-End Developer

Instead of focusing on the user-facing side of things, the specialization of back-end developers is the stuff the user doesn't see, like databases and architecture. They build the websites and ensure they're running smoothly.

Back-end developers must know various programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, Java, Ruby, and C#. They also need to understand frameworks, databases, and servers to do their job properly.

Full-Stack Developer

Full-stack developers deal with both the front-end and back-end of websites and web applications. They not only build the website but also design the parts the user sees and interacts with.

Essentially, full-stack developers tackle the entire development of a website. Smaller companies may use full-stack developers, while larger tech companies may have multiple front-end and back-end developers.