Are FinTech Bootcamps Worth It?

Before enrolling in a FinTech program, carefully consider the type of program that will best help you reach your learning goals. This may mean enrolling in a beginner-level class, a certificate course, or a bootcamp. The type of program you choose should depend on how much time you can dedicate to attending class and practicing, your budget, and how career-ready you need to be. This article will discuss FinTech bootcamps and aims to help those interested in learning FinTech understand how learning FinTech in a bootcamp differs from learning FinTech in a different type of class.

What is FinTech?

FinTech, also known as Financial Technology, refers to financial services delivered and utilized by using technology. This includes digital payments, cryptocurrency, and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending. It can also include the technology and concepts that go into financial planning and management. Learning FinTech means understanding financial concepts, gaining technological proficiency, practicing ethical and legal means of business according to the industry’s regulations, and understanding trends in FinTech. 

What Can You Do with FinTech?

FinTech skills can help you begin a career in the FinTech industry. Within FinTech, you’ll find Data Scientists, Software Engineers, Financial Analysts, Product Managers, and even Customer Service Representatives. These roles make use of skills developed in FinTech classes, such as financial modeling, data science and analysis, cybersecurity, and customer experience. As the FinTech industry continues to grow, companies continue to look for highly talented candidates with specialized skills that can help them innovate within a competitive market. 

Why Learn FinTech in a Bootcamp?

You should consider the benefits and disadvantages of learning FinTech in a bootcamp compared to other training programs available to you before enrolling. In a bootcamp, you’ll receive thorough training at an accelerated pace with potential access to career services. The accelerated training taking place in a FinTech bootcamp guarantees that you’ll advance your skills in a shorter length of time than students in other programs do. 

Bootcamps Compared to College Programs

Colleges and universities offer FinTech training as part of degree programs and continuing education programs. These programs often include training in other areas, not just FinTech. It’s likely that learning FinTech through a college program will also include learning other aspects of business administration or finance. These types of programs tend to focus on the specifics of FinTech as well as the general ideas of business and finance, unlike bootcamps. 

College programs can last anywhere from one to six years--much longer than a bootcamp program. Because of the long length of the programs, college programs often cost quite a lot. Tuition may come out to tens of thousands or even over $100,000 to receive a degree from a college program. This option is out of budget for most students and may also be too long for most students as well. Working professionals looking to switch careers in particular will have a hard time attending classes. This training option provides thorough knowledge of FinTech to students, but is most accessible to those who can afford the cost and time commitment of the program.

Attending a bootcamp will save you time and money compared to a college program. FinTech bootcamps provide accelerated lessons at a more affordable price. The average bootcamp costs between $1,000-$3,000 and may take place during the week, in the evenings, or on weekends. Unlike college programs, bootcamps frequently offer in-person and live online classes. 

The accelerated pace of a FinTech bootcamp means fewer hands-on training sessions compared to college degree programs. This can prove difficult for students who need more hands-on experience with FinTech programs or individuals looking for more drawn-out lessons. However, live FinTech bootcamps include access to an expert instructor who can answer questions and help students remain on pace. 

Bootcamps Compared to Introductory Classes

Introductory FinTech classes will help students learn the basics of FinTech without committing the time and money needed to attend a fully immersive course. Individuals who need to brush up on the basics or those looking to explore the world of FinTech before committing to a career change can attend an introductory class. Introductory classes cover the basics of FinTech, from financial literacy to data management. Classes may take place over the course of one or several days. 

An introductory FinTech class will help students understand the connection between finance and technology while also introducing them to concepts and skills they may need to use within the industry. Introductory classes focus on developing beginner-level skills, so students will spend little time on career development. Intermediate and advanced-level classes often follow up on introductory courses. You can enroll in an in-person or live online introductory FinTech class. These classes cater to beginner-level students with no prior experience in FinTech through an easy-to-follow pace, unlike bootcamps, which provide accelerated lessons. 

The accelerated and advanced nature of bootcamps means they cost more than introductory classes. An introductory FinTech class may cost several hundred dollars, whereas a FinTech bootcamp is likely to cost several thousand dollars. The bootcamp will take students further in terms of curriculum, but some schools offer follow-up classes to their introductory classes which, when taken in succession, cover the same curriculum as their bootcamp offering. 

Bootcamps Compared to Self-Paced Classes

Self-paced FinTech classes provide students with a flexible form of learning. The exact opposite of college degree programs, self-paced class providers, like Coursera or Skillshare, offer courses at a low price under the expectation that students learn on their own. This learning option allows students who have busy schedules to work on learning FinTech at a pace that suits them. These classes provide basic lessons in FinTech that students must motivate themselves to work through, as they don’t have access to a class instructor. Working professionals and full-time students often turn to self-paced classes to learn in their free time. 

Self-paced classes typically cost significantly less than bootcamps. After enrolling in a self-paced class, students will receive instant access to course materials, like video lectures, exercises, and reading material. This form of learning, where students work through the material themselves, keeps costs low. The major drawback to a self-paced class is the lack of a live instructor. Not having a live instructor means you have nobody to turn to with questions about course material and you cannot ask anyone for personalized feedback about your work. Self-paced classes also receive updates less frequently than classes taught by a live instructor, so it’s important to research how up-to-date a self-paced course is before enrolling. 

For students too busy to attend a FinTech bootcamp, self-paced classes provide a workable alternative at an affordable price. However, most students say they prefer live learning to self-paced learning. It’s easier for students to fall behind in classes where they don’t have an instructor pushing them through lessons or a scheduled class to attend. Self-paced classes do provide a means of testing out how much FinTech interests you before enrolling in a FinTech bootcamp. 

Bootcamps Compared to Free Training Options

Students can explore free FinTech training options online. Training centers and industry experts may upload free training tutorials on YouTube or a similar video hosting platform. These videos often cover the basics to help students get started in learning FinTech or may provide troubleshooting tips. These same experts may also upload guides to FinTech concepts like data science or programming to online forums where learners can engage with each other and ask questions. Finally, students can turn to their local library to look for books covering FinTech.

Free training is a great way to get started with programming, financial analysis, and data management. Plenty of videos and tutorials online can help students get started with the basics of FinTech and develop a beginner-level understanding of FinTech. However, free training does not replace live training. Free training is unlikely to go as in-depth as live training does and lacks the level of hands-on training that live classes offer. 

Free training also lacks live instruction, which many students benefit from. With live classes, students have access to an instructor who can answer questions and provide feedback. Without this, students need to verify information for themselves and make sure that the free resources they choose to use provide true and reliable information. Like self-paced classes, free training requires students to motivate themselves to learn FinTech in a way that live training does not require. 

Turning to free training offers a good base knowledge of FinTech before enrolling in a class. Consider learning the basics of FinTech with free training or exploring the different aspects of FinTech with free training to decide what area you would like to focus on before enrolling in and paying for live training. 

Learn FinTech with Noble Desktop

Learn FinTech skills by enrolling in one of Noble Desktop’s FinTech programs. Noble Desktop offers most classes live online, where students will learn under the guidance of an instructor via a web conferencing platform, and in person at their midtown Manhattan campus. 

Noble’s FinTech Bootcamp is an interactive program covering the essential skills needed to begin a career in the FinTech industry. Under the guidance of an instructor, you’ll learn Python programming, data science, financial analysis, data visualization, and machine learning. Noble Desktop offers the bootcamp in a 4-week full-time schedule on weekdays, or a 4-month part-time schedule on evenings and Saturdays. In addition to five units covering Python and SQL as used for FinTech, you’ll also have the option of choosing a bonus 18-hour elective unit covering either Python or financial modeling. 

Students pursuing or currently in a finance-related profession, interested in using Python’s financial libraries to manipulate and analyze financial data, should enroll in Noble Desktop’s Python for Finance Bootcamp. Over the 18-hour live online course, students will learn how to use Python’s financial libraries and gain hands-on experience gathering and manipulating financial data, fetching APIs for company and economic data, analyzing SEC financial statements, building risk models, and applying linear regression for stock price predictions. Aside from a financial background, students should also have taken Noble’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp, or have equivalent knowledge. If you want to take the course but don’t think you have the financial background necessary, contact Noble after registration to access a free on-demand supplemental guide. 

Financial modeling plays an important role in the FinTech industry. Analysts working for a firm or taking on clients should understand how to use financial models to predict risk and evaluate and compare financial decisions. In Noble Desktop’s Financial Modeling Bootcamp, you’ll learn essential financial and accounting concepts as you work toward gaining the core skills required for a career handling equity research, financial planning and analysis, investment banking, private equity, or corporate finance. Prior financial experience is helpful when enrolling in the bootcamp, but not required. After completing the three-day course, you’ll receive a verified digital certificate of completion and have access to a retake for free within one year. 

Noble Desktop’s beginner-level Data Science Certificate program will provide you with the hands-on training needed to start an entry-level data science or Python engineering position. Spend four weeks full-time (weekdays) or 20 weeks part-time (evenings or Saturdays) learning how to program with Python, perform data analysis, query with SQL, and create predictive models. You’re guaranteed to succeed in this class as you spend 114 hours plus an additional six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions where you’ll receive professional advice, detailed and personalized feedback, and map out your learning goals. No prior knowledge is required to enroll, making the class ideal for individuals looking to get started with data science, Analysts who want to transition to using Python and SQL, and Developers looking to gain additional skills.

After completing Noble Desktop’s Data Science Bootcamp, you can enroll in AI for Python, a hands-on course that covers the development of AI apps. You’ll receive an introduction to AI using Python at a beginner and intermediate level. The course includes lessons to help you develop theoretical and practical knowledge so that you have a strong enough understanding of AI concepts, along with practical experience with Python libraries. The 30-hour class will introduce you to ChatGPT, algorithms, and how to deploy your app.