How to Become a SQL Developer Without a Degree in 2024

It is possible to become an SQL Developer without a degree. Gaining SQL skills and professional experience in building and developing databases are key to becoming an SQL Developer, whether one has a degree or not. To gain the necessary skills, consider free, self-teaching resources, on-demand classes, and live, instructor-led classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs. Prospective SQL Developers can gain experience in internships, entry-level development and programming positions, or through doing freelance SQL Developer work. As you determine whether becoming an SQL Developer is the right career path for you, consider the pros and cons of pursuing this career without a degree. 

Pros and Cons of Becoming an SQL Developer Without a Degree

The main benefit of pursuing SQL development without a college or university degree is that one can receive more cost-effective, targeted training faster by taking only the courses necessary for one’s career. On average, college costs U.S. students $38,000 per year for tuition, school supplies, and daily living expenses. Taking singular classes, intensive bootcamps, or even comprehensive certificate programs will allow one to receive SQL training for much less and over a shorter time frame. 

There are no specific degrees in SQL Development, meaning one usually ends up earning a Computer Science degree or something similar. Even going through a full degree program does not guarantee that you will have all of the skills necessary to become an SQL Developer and you might end up having to find additional training options even with a college or university degree. Taking an SQL class or bootcamp, by contrast, will be focused only on the knowledge, skills, and tools one will need for their career. Bootcamps and certificate programs are often career-oriented and are more likely to offer career services along with proficiency in certain skills, which is another pro to receiving this kind of training. 

There are also some important downsides to pursuing SQL development without earning a college or university degree. Many employers are still looking for job candidates to have a degree, though some specify that they will also accept equivalent training in place of a formal degree. Without having years of proven experience to back up one’s SQL Developer skills, it can be a risk to enter the job market without a degree. Additionally, many SQL Developers will need training in software programming and data analysis, in addition to specific training in SQL and database management systems. This means that you might end up needing to take more than one class or bootcamp to prepare to become an SQL Developer, though, even if this is the case, it will still be less expensive than undertaking a full four-year college or university program of study. 

Learning Methods to Become an SQL Developer Without a Degree

Without a degree, the best way to prepare to become an SQL Developer will be by taking an instructor-led class or learning on one’s own. Some people choose to learn SQL through free resources and there are eBooks, guides, websites, and free courses where one can learn the basics of SQL and specific database management systems. Many popular database management systems and database management tools are free and open-source, making them great for learners who want to gain familiarity with the tools of an SQL Developer. Learning through free resources will not provide experience in building, developing, or managing large-scale databases professionally for specific businesses, but they can be a good entry point into the SQL Developer career path. 

It can be difficult to learn skills on one’s own, so for those who need more structure and guided instruction, there are both on-demand and instructor-led classes one can take. On-demand classes are self-paced courses where students are given access to the course material and can work through it at their own speed. This is a great option for self-motivated learners and most on-demand classes should be able to provide quality, up-to-date SQL training. 

Live online and in-person instructor-led classes and bootcamps are a great way to receive targeted training quickly. In these classes, students are guided through hands-on learning and practice by an expert instructor. There are individual classes for learning SQL at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels as well as comprehensive, intensive bootcamps that will teach students everything they need to know about SQL to get started using it in their careers. Not only do instructor-led classes offer 1-on-1 mentorship opportunities and individualized feedback, but they are also the most likely mode of instruction, along with career-oriented certificate programs, to provide career-support services like help building a portfolio or navigating the job market. 

Internships, freelance work, and entry-level positions as an SQL Developer or Programmer can also be useful ways to gain the necessary skills and experience to become a full-time SQL Developer. Some entry-level positions will allow for on-the-job training and internships should let prospective SQL Developers become familiar with the work of the field as well as undertake projects that can qualify as experience. Those with enough skills and experience can also pursue freelance work to gain more professional experience building and developing databases for businesses and organizations. 

What is an SQL Developer?

An SQL Developer designs, develops, and maintains large-scale databases for a business or organization. SQL Developers are responsible for tasks such as creating database structures, writing, analyzing, and optimizing SQL queries to retrieve data and enhance performance, and making sure databases are up-to-date, backed up, and secure. To do this job, one needs to not only know SQL and database design, but also be familiar with major relational database management systems, like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle. In addition, SQL developers often need to know other programming languages and Business Intelligence (BI) processes and tools. 

SQL Developers work in all industries and are frequently employed by companies that handle large amounts of data and information, like the tech industry, education, healthcare, finance, and retail. Depending on the position, some employers in industries like healthcare and finance are looking for SQL Developers who have experience working with their data and platforms, in particular. An SQL Developer will most often find themselves working on a larger team of IT professionals, meaning they need to work collaboratively and have good communication skills. SQL Developers need to collaborate with software developers and data analysts and communicate with those in other departments like marketing or operations about how to implement data requirements. Additionally, SQL Developers may need to communicate with other stakeholders, third-party vendors, and clients as part of their role. 

Can You Really Become an SQL Developer Without a Degree?

Yes, someone can become an SQL Developer without a degree. While many employers will look for applicants to have a degree, some will also readily accept equivalent training. Experience is more important for an SQL Developer than a formal college or university degree. Those applying for SQL Developer jobs might even have to go through a test of their skills before getting hired and as long as someone can pass this test or otherwise show one’s experience working with data and databases professionally, they should be able to become an SQL Developer. 

To get the necessary experience, one should not only practice their SQL skills but also consider looking for internships and entry-level positions as a Junior SQL Developer or SQL Programmer. These positions are most likely to allow for on-the-job training. Additionally, one should consider seeking out other opportunities to work with databases and data management, manipulation, or analysis. Even if not in an internship or entry-level position for SQL development, there are still projects one can undertake that will provide the skills and training necessary to become an SQL Developer. 

It is also possible to become an SQL Developer with a degree or training in another field. SQL is commonly used in many professions, so those with training and education that includes learning SQL and working with databases or data analysis in some form will be able to transition into becoming SQL Developers. This can include those with degrees in Computer Science, Information Technology, and Computer Engineering and also those who have worked in such fields as data analysis, data science, software engineering, and web development.

Steps to Become an SQL Developer

Your first step to becoming an SQL Developer will be to get the necessary skills and training. Completing SQL classes, bootcamps, or certificate programs will help to show potential employers that you have received the education necessary to know SQL. Another way to let employers know that you have proficiency is to get a database or SQL certification. Microsoft and Oracle both offer different certification programs for their SQL products and other vendors offer more specific certifications to show you can work with certain database management systems. 

After training, an SQL Developer can find internships or entry-level jobs as a Junior SQL Developer or an SQL Programmer. Some of these positions will even train employees to use SQL as part of the position, though most will require someone to have received this training before starting the job. Internships or entry-level positions allow someone to get the experience necessary to move into SQL Developer positions and eventually become a Senior SQL Developer. 

Hands-on, professional experience is key to becoming an SQL Developer. SQL Developers often have at least one to two years of professional experience working with SQL and Senior SQL Developers should have at least five years experience. Taking a class can help to provide some of the hands-on experience that employers are looking for and Noble Desktop offers SQL training in classes for beginning, intermediate, and advanced SQL learners and intensive, all-inclusive SQL training in bootcamps. Outside of a class or bootcamp, there are other options to gain experience, as well. Someone just getting started can do freelance SQL development work, volunteer their services, or look for jobs that allow one to undertake projects working with databases, manipulating or analyzing data, or generating reports.

Learn the Skills to Become an SQL Developer at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides high-quality classes taught by expert instructors that can prepare you to become an SQL Developer. Whether you want to transition from another job into a career as an SQL Developer or upskill by learning SQL, Noble offers classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs with full-time and part-time scheduling options. Those with no experience with SQL will want to start by taking a beginning-level class or bootcamp and those looking for comprehensive, career-oriented SQL training should consider a bootcamp or a certificate program. 

Noble offers two SQL bootcamps that will provide comprehensive training, the SQL Bootcamp and SQL Server Bootcamp. Both offer expert instruction in extracting information from databases and turning that information into actionable insights, with minor differences in the flavor of SQL students will learn in each bootcamp. The SQL Bootcamp teaches PostgreSQL, can be taken by those with a Mac or a PC, and is useful for those following the SQL Developer career path or going into data science or data analytics careers. The SQL Server Bootcamp is specific to Microsoft’s database management system which is often used by businesses and requires students to have a PC. The core concepts students learn in each bootcamp will be the same, so students should be able to learn other flavors of SQL, as needed, after completing either bootcamp.

Noble also offers singular SQL classes for beginners (SQL Level 1), intermediate learners (SQL Level 2), and advanced learners (SQL Level 3). These classes are a great option for those who want to get started learning SQL but who want to avoid taking an intensive SQL class or enrolling in a bootcamp. Noble’s SQL Bootcamp is also part of multiple data-related career-oriented certificate programs, including the Data Analytics Certificate and the Data Science Certificate. Both certificate programs are comprehensive and are intended to provide students with all of the skills they will need to get started as a Data Analyst or Data Scientist upon completion.