Best Part-Time Coding Bootcamps

Many bootcamps are offered in two formats; full-time and part-time. One of the biggest differences between the two types of programs is the amount of time it takes to complete your education, with a full-time program generally being significantly quicker. However, while they take longer, part-time programs are a popular way to learn coding. They have a number of unique benefits over full-time options including the fact that you can spread out the cost of your tuition and that you can take more time to develop your coding skills and gain work experience.

Why Learn Coding Part-Time?

There are a number of benefits associated with learning coding part time. One is that you won’t have to quit your job or give up other important obligations. With a part-time program, you can spread out your learning over a longer period of time rather than trying to fit too much into an already busy schedule. Not giving up your job can also improve your financial security because you’ll continue to have an income while you learn. In addition, rather than feeling the pressure to find a job immediately after graduation, you can relax a bit since you are already employed, and wait until you find a new job that you really want.

Another advantage of learning part-time is that you’ll have more time to absorb all the new information you’re gaining, practice your coding skills, and develop a portfolio of projects. You can also spread out the cost of your education over a longer period of time. Further, when you learn part-time you may also have more time to accrue relevant work experience, which can increase your chances of finding work when you graduate.

Drawbacks to Learning Coding Part-Time

While part-time learning has some unique benefits, there are also some drawbacks. The biggest drawback to a part-time program is that it will take a lot longer to complete than a full-time program. If you’re anxious to start your coding career, this can be a significant concern. By taking longer to start a professional coding job, you could be getting left behind by peers who opted for the full-time option and have already started working in this field.

Another concern is how much focus you’ll be able to put on your education. Most people say that learning to code is difficult and takes a lot of focus and practice. When you’re only learning part time you may not end up devoting the time and attention that is needed to master coding. Further, if you’re learning part-time, you may have competing obligations--such as a job--that can further detract from your focus. For these reasons, some people argue that the most effective way to master coding is to follow an intensive full-time program, where you focus all of your energy on learning coding skills.

Is a Part-Time Coding Bootcamp Right for You?

Everyone has different goals and needs, so the decision about whether a part-time coding bootcamp is best will vary from person to person. Some students will want to complete their education as quickly as possible and will have the time and money to do so. For them, a full-time program will be a better option. However, for many people, a part-time bootcamp is an excellent way to prepare for a career in coding. When you learn part-time you won’t have to quit your job or feel pressured into accepting another. You’ll also be able to spread out both the cost of the class, and the learning experience. 

Ways to Make Learning Coding Part-Time Easier

Some students say that when you’re learning coding part-time instead of full-time, you need to make an extra effort to make sure you stay focused on learning. They explain that when you learn part-time and also have a job or other obligations that take a significant amount of your time, it can be easier to lose focus. Tips for success include setting aside a certain time each day to work on coding, having a learning plan, and practicing time management. 

Whether you are learning to code full time or part-time, another tip for making the learning process easier is to practice as much as you can. Practice is an important part of mastering coding. It reinforces the concepts you have learned, helps you master them, and teaches you to apply them in real-world situations. In a January 21, 2023 LinkedIn article, Software Developer Umair T. explains, “Practice is the key to mastering any skill, including software development. It allows developers to become familiar with different tools, technologies, and programming languages, and to learn how to use them effectively. As developers practice, they become more efficient and are able to solve problems more quickly and effectively.” 

Another common piece of advice for beginning coders is to make sure you don’t advance too quickly; first, you need to build a strong foundation and master the basics. After that, you can move on to more complex coding skills. In an October 2020 post on the Stack Overflow blog, programmer Daniel Chae emphasizes the importance of mastering the fundamentals and not being in too much of a rush to get to more advanced skills. He says, “The best programmers embrace a ‘long game’ mentality. They aren’t in a rush to memorize every bit of syntax, but instead, focus on real, sustainable progress. They know each programming concept builds off of another one and they don’t move on to another concept until they’ve understood the current one.” In this respect, part-time learners may have an advantage over full-time learners because they are forced to move more slowly.

Choosing the Best Part-Time Coding Classes or Bootcamp

One of the most obvious things to look at when you’re researching bootcamps is curriculum. Every bootcamp will have its own unique curriculum, and the answer of which bootcamp program is best will vary depending on your learning goals and your learning style. Some bootcamps focus on specific coding languages like SQL or JavaScript, while others focus on a wider set of skills like web development. You’ll also find differences in the ways these bootcamps are taught. Most will include at least some hands-on training, where you work on coding projects, however, the degree of project work can vary. 

Cost is also an important consideration for most people. The cost of a bootcamp can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars, to up to $20,000 or $30,000. This is generally cheaper than the cost of a college education, but it is still a substantial investment. Some schools require you to pay the entire tuition up-front, while others offer payment plans. Some of these incur interest, while others are interest-free. Some bootcamps even offer job guarantees, where if you don’t find a job within a certain amount of time after graduation then you get a refund of your tuition. However, experts caution that many of these guarantees come with a long list of conditions.

When evaluating coding bootcamps, you can also consider whether they include any unique benefits. For instance, some schools--like Noble Desktop--give students the option of a free course retake. This can be an excellent way to refresh your coding skills for free. Many schools also offer a variety of career services like help building your resume and portfolio, mock interviews, and access to internships or industry networks.

Learn Coding with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers a number of live coding classes. You can learn in-person at Noble’s Manhattan facility, or live online from any location that you choose. Classes are immersive and hands-on, and are designed to leave you ready to work in a professional coding role. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department and all of its classes come with the option of a free retake within one year in case you want to refresh your skills.

If you’re looking for a short coding class, Noble offers a beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.

Noble Desktop also offers many bootcamps. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp is a multi-day course that starts with Python basics and takes you to the start of machine learning with Python. You’ll begin by covering fundamentals like writing statements and expressions, creating variables, and working with different data types. After that, you’ll learn about structuring programs, which includes using conditional statements and control flow tools. The next part of the bootcamp is focused on arrays and dataframes and covers importing and cleaning data using NumPy and Pandas. Finally, you’ll learn to analyze and visualize data. This includes working with key data science libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib. This class also comes with a one-on-one bonus training session.

Finally, this school also runs a number of certificate courses that will cover a broad range of coding skills over a number of weeks. The Software Engineering Certificate is popular. This comprehensive, multi-week course is designed for students who want to become a Software Engineer or a Full Stack Developer. It covers front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. You’ll learn a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll learn how to use Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. In addition, you’ll learn about JavaScript, including data types, loops, and variables. Instructors will also cover the JavaScript library, React. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In this course, you’ll also learn about Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.

Another popular certificate program is the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. This course covers everything you need to know to create a website from scratch. You’ll learn both front end and back end skills. Some of the specific skills covered include HTML and CSS, JavaScript, MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js. You’ll also learn about databases, APIS, databases, server environments, and interactivity. Ten one-on-one mentoring sessions are included. As part of the course, you can also choose to attend Noble’s SQL Bootcamp or WordPress Bootcamp for free. Finally, this hands-on program includes working on real projects that can be used for a portfolio.