How to Become a Full Stack Developer Without a Degree in 2024

What is a Full Stack Developer?

The job of a Full Stack Developer often involves managing the process of software development from the very beginning--and continuing to both maintain and upgrade the software once it has been launched. A Full Stack Developer will lean heavily on coding skills, and will also need to be comfortable working through the build and analyzing along the way. The development process is likely to include both oversight of program testing and feedback as well as follow-up with management as the testing progresses. Any changes that are needed will be implemented by the development team, and the process of testing and feedback will start over again.

While the back end development process relies on technical know-how, the front end process depends equally on an understanding of the needs and usage patterns of the intended audience. A Full Stack Developer should be comfortable with designing the graphical user interface, or GUI, that users will encounter and interact with directly. These elements include navigation menus, images, buttons, and graphs, along with other design elements. 

Full Stack Developers will engage with the entire web development team on a regular basis, including Designers, Project Managers, Product Managers, and any area-specific developers, whether Front End or Back End. Depending on the individual workplace and industry--anything from corporate to nonprofit to government agencies--a Full Stack Developer might be working in-house or remotely. Wherever they’re working, they’ll need to be easily accessible--web development is a fast moving field, and good communication is key to effective implementation and maintenance.

Can You Really Become a Full Stack Developer Without a Degree?

A college degree is no longer a prerequisite for getting (and keeping) a well-paying corporate job. Hiring committees understand the value of both on-the-job training and industry-specific certificate programs and bootcamps that provide students with the skills they need to take on roles once reserved for those with four-year degrees.

A degree can be cost-prohibitive and generally takes several years to complete. If you are entering the workforce or looking to change careers and you’ve only got a high school diploma, you may feel discouraged at your prospects but unable to get the degree you think you need. There’s good news: you may not need that degree after all. There are ways to catch up to your peers in the industry, and quickly. 

A college degree, however, will never be a deterrent in gaining a foothold in an industry--even if it’s in an unrelated field. There’s no reason a history or biology major can’t become a Full Stack Developer, and in fact, a college graduate who didn’t major in computer science may have just as much to offer in the workplace as one who did. U.S. News & World Report reminds us that liberal arts degrees equip students with adaptability, critical thinking skills, a willingness to challenge preconceptions, and an open mind, all of which will serve them well in the workforce.

While you don’t need a college degree in computer science to get a job as a Full Stack Developer--you can enter the field with an unrelated degree or with no degree at all--you do need training. Relevant skills, practical experience, and a deep interest in solving problems (as well as the ability to do so) will be hugely helpful in landing a position as a Full Stack Developer. 

If you wanted to go into a trade, like HVAC or plumbing, you’d go to a trade school. If you wanted to become a biology teacher, you’d get a degree in education or the hard sciences. The tech industry is a relatively new one, though, so the path to becoming a developer may seem less straightforward--and it may feel overwhelming to figure out how to break in on your own. Luckily, there are multiple ways to do it, starting with a few simple steps.

Steps to Become a Full Stack Developer

• The first step to becoming a Full Stack Developer is to gain an understanding of the foundational concepts in web development, which include CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. You’ll need to learn how to work with programming languages, databases, servers, and other technologies on the back end, and gain competency with frameworks and design/development tools on the front end. The question is: how to gain those skills in the first place?
• You may want to start small: by reading books and watching online tutorials. Your local library will likely have a book or two on programming, which is a no-cost way to explore your interest. Then search for videos that give you a sense of which skills you may already have and which you’ll need to work on. at a minimum, doing this initial legwork will confirm whether the job feels interesting, challenging, and worthwhile for you. 
• If you have some competency with software engineering to begin with, self-guided Full Stack Developer courses may be enough to give you a basic understanding of the specific skills you’ll eventually need to master, with time and experience. Nwadozie of LinkedIn reassures skeptics that self-taught programmers can get jobs, and she points to the creators of Ruby on Rails and code.org as prime examples. 
• Beyond the self-taught approach, a boot camp or certificate program can be a serious game changer as far as building a portfolio and equipping you with the skills needed to enter the industry. If you’re unsure about whether Full Stack is the right route for you, you might start with a boot camp that teaches individual programming languages, or more broadly, certificate programs that focus on the front or back end. Noble Desktop’s React Development Bootcamp, Flexbox, Grid, and Bootstrap class, or Web Development with HTML & CSS course, for example, offer instruction on individual skill sets that can get you started.
• When you’re ready to take it to the next level, Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate is a great example of a project-oriented program that graduates you with a portfolio you’ll be proud to hand over to a prospective employer. Covering everything you need to know on the back and front end, the course gives you the confidence to apply for full stack positions with a solid portfolio as your calling card--a way to show the hiring committee that you know what you’re doing and are ready to get to work.
• Portfolio in hand, it’s time to start looking for jobs. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job you’re applying for, and be sure to seek out feedback from friends or colleagues who will be honest about what’s working and what’s not.
• Got an interview? Excellent--now it’s time to hit the books. Make sure you know exactly the type of projects you’ll be expected to work on, learning as much as possible about the company and the industry before you take the interview. Doing the research will help you feel prepared and will show the company or the client that you’re serious about working for them.

Learn the Skills to Become a Full Stack Developer at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop’s award-winning Full Stack Web Developer Certificate program offers learners the hands-on training and industry-oriented expertise that will allow for a seamless transition into the software engineering and web development workforce. You’ll learn the fundamentals of coding both the infrastructure on the back end and the user-facing visuals on the front end. Expert instructors provide engaging, hands-on learning through projects that will ensure you both understand and retain the material--and that you stay interested throughout the session.

Noble Desktop’s certificate program offers several advantages, including its competitive pricing structure, flexible schedule, and options for in-person learning in New York City or remote from anywhere. The Full Stack Web Developer Certificate program represents a class bundle that’s offered at a 15 to 25% discount, and Noble Desktop is happy to provide an invoice if you’d like to seek tuition reimbursement from your employer. Plus, you can retake the class for free within a year, allowing you to brush up on your skills as needed.

Perhaps you’d like to start on a smaller scale--and that’s okay too. Rather than diving into the Full Stack Web Developer Certificate Program, you could begin with a boot camp that teaches individual programming languages, like Noble Desktop’s React Development Bootcamp, Flexbox, Grid, and Bootstrap class, or Web Development with HTML & CSS course. All three offer instruction on individual skill sets that can get you started, and help you determine if your interests are on the front end, back end, or both.

With the relevant training and experience, landing a role as a Full Stack Developer will be straightforward. Noble Desktop can help.