Full-Stack Web Development Certifications and Certificates

If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in full stack web development, you might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might also have a lot of questions. Will I need to become certified to work as a Full Stack Web Designer. How much time will it take to become certified? Are there multiple ways to become certified? This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward a full stack web development certification. Keep reading to find out more.

What is Full Stack Web Development?

Full stack web development is the name given to a process of web development that handles the programming and coding of front end (user-facing interactive elements of a web application) and back end (server-side infrastructure that handles issues like databases and is hidden from users). It represents the most complete kind of web development, since both front end and back end development infrastructure is required for web applications to run properly. Many different combinations of programming languages are used in the process of full stack web development and Full Stack Web Developers often specialize in specific sets of programming languages.

Some of the most commonly used full stack web development languages include HTML/CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Python, and Ruby on Rails. This list is far from exhaustive, but it is a good place to start considering your path to learning full stack web development. JavaScript, in particular, is an important language for Full Stack Developers to learn because it is versatile enough to handle all of the elements of full stack development, with programming frameworks that allow it to handle the server-side back end functions of a webpage. While there is no set path that a Full Stack Developer must follow in terms of learning how to code, learning a variety of programming languages will be a requirement.

Read more about what full stack web development is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Full Stack Web Development?

Full stack web development is a beneficial skill to have because it teaches you every element of the technical side of running a webpage or application. You will learn to use languages like HTML/CSS and JavaScript to create stunning, visually evocative web pages. You’ll learn back end languages or frameworks, like Python or the MERN stack, to build the server-side infrastructure that allows webpages to function. Thus, learning full stack web development will teach you how to find work building any aspect of a web application or system. It will set you up for future success in fields adjacent to these programming languages, like data science, cybersecurity, or machine learning. With Full Stack Web Developers being in high demand, learning these skills is a great way to break into a high-paying, diverse career field.

For students not looking to pivot to a new career, learning full stack web development is an ideal way to begin building your own web presence. Whether you are starting an advocacy organization, building a small business, launching a new product idea, hoping to create vibrant personal projects, or just starting a freelancing career, learning full stack web development will let you take care of every aspect of the web development process. The internet offers various creative and professional opportunities for you to take advantage of. Learning how to handle every step of the development process is an ideal way to ensure that the digital presence you are building works the way you want it to work.

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

For novice programmers, it might be shocking to learn that there are multiple ways to become certified in full stack web development. Certifications and certificates are different credentials, and while they both designate you as a certified full stack developer, they use different methods to demonstrate proficiency.

Certifications are awarded to web developers who pass a proctored skills exam that covers knowledge of web development skills and practical exercises. These certifications are offered by first-party developers and third-party licensing organizations, and they usually take approximately two hours to complete. These exams rarely come with supplemental training, but most service providers will offer review materials (sometimes at an additional cost). Many of these certifications expire after a fixed period of time, so developers may need to retake the exams regularly to keep their certifications current.

Certificates are awarded to students who complete industry-recognized training programs and operate the same way as a diploma. These demonstrate to employers that you have received intensive skills training and are prepared to begin working as soon as you start. These certificate programs provide students with the training they need to succeed as Full Stack Developers. The downside is that since these are comprehensive training programs, they can take weeks or even months to complete. Certificates do not expire, though the older a certificate, the less impressive it may be for a prospective employer.

Top Certifications & Certificates for Full Stack Web Development

Once students have decided on the ideal method for getting themselves certified, they should consider their options. Students who need additional training will want to look towards certificate-granting programs, such as Noble’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. Courses like this will teach students the programming skills they need to become successful Full Stack Web Developers. After the course, students will receive a certificate of completion that distinguishes them as certified full stack developers. Students who have a background in one or more of these languages and want additional training without covering their pre-existing knowledge should explore Noble’s other certificate-granting training programs for web developers.

Students with a background in web development will want to consider sitting for a certification exam. These exams are plentiful, and students can explore the certification options available through industry-recognized license providers such as the Global Skills Development Council, Google Developers, CIW, or the IWA. Each of these exams will differ in style and content, but they are all excellent ways to become certified in full stack development. Students wanting a refresher course in advance of sitting for one of these exams may wish to enroll in a short bootcamp through Noble Desktop to brush up on their knowledge.

Should I Get Certified in Full Stack Web Development?

While it will not be true for all jobs, as a general rule, being full stack web development certified won’t be a requirement for finding a job in the industry. However, while it isn’t a requirement, becoming certified in full stack web development or a few of the languages involved in full stack development is an excellent way to set your application apart from the competition. Being certified isn’t a replacement for a strong collection of job materials, but it is a wonderful addition to any resume.

How to Get Certified in Full Stack Web Development

The best way to become certified in full stack web development will depend on how much prior training you have in the languages that contribute to your full stack work. If you are an experienced programmer looking to become certified, the best option is to sit for a certification exam. Since you are already trained in programming skills, you won’t need to spend extra time reviewing or relearning things like HTML/CSS or JavaScript to pass an exam.

Students who don’t have a background in programming will instead want to enroll in a certificate-granting career training program. These students need training more than professional accreditation, so enrolling in a program that covers both aims can be an ideal way to become certified. Tailored programs can be found no matter your experience level or education, making these classes a great way to become certified for anyone who want to receive additional hands-on training.

Learn Full Stack Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Becoming a full stack developer will take a decent amount of time and energy since it will require students to learn many different programming languages. While these languages all complement one another and learning one will make learning another easier, students will still need to spend a decent amount of time training as programmers. One of the best ways to learn a complex set of new skills is by enrolling in a professional training program, such as those offered by Noble Desktop. In these classes, professional instructors will provide students with guided instruction and give them hands-on experience in all aspects of full stack development. These classes are available in-person and live online classrooms, and regardless of the delivery method of the course, class sizes will remain small. Students will be able to work directly with their instructors. Noble also offers a free retake option for all of its courses, meaning that after you’ve completed a seminar, you can retake that course for additional training anytime in a calendar year.

Noble’s most comprehensive training option is its Full Stack Web Development Certificate program is its comprehensive training option. This course is designed with programming novices in mind, meaning you don’t have to have any programming background to succeed in this course. Students will learn how to program the front-facing aspects of a webpage using HTML/CSS and JavaScript, and they will receive hands-on experience working with common developer tools like VSC and Git. After this, students will learn the important JavaScript frameworks and libraries like React, Node.js, and Express.js that give JavaScript full stack development capabilities. In addition, every student who enrolls in this course will have the opportunity to take an SQL course, which will teach them the basics of programming functionalities into databases.

Noble also offers a wide array of shorter, more skills-focused bootcamps that will teach students one or more elements of the full stack development process. This training can include narrow career-certificate programs, like the Front End Development Certificate program, which will cover lessons in HTML/CSS and the interactive elements of JavaScript, and the Python Developer Certificate program, which teaches students how to use the Python programming language to build back end server and database infrastructure. 

These classes are ideal ways to learn significant elements of the full stack development process, though students should know that some of these courses have requirements. For example, Noble’s JavaScript Development Certificate program is a great way to learn full stack web development skills using JavaScript, but it will require students to know HTML/CSS to enroll. Students looking for a slightly more accelerated lesson that is still beginner-friendly may want to consider enrolling in Noble’s Software Engineering Certificate program, which provides training in all of the elements of full stack web development and compliments that training with lessons in Python so that developers can utilize back end languages other than JavaScript frameworks.

Regardless of your goals or prior experience levels, Noble Desktop is here to assist you with a full stack web development class built to suit your needs.

Key Insights

• While not a formal requirement for most jobs, becoming certified in full stack web development is a good way to improve your long-term career prospects.
• There are two ways to become certified. Students can pass a certification exam, or enroll in a certificate-granting training program.
• Certification exams are ideal for anyone with a significant amount of prior full stack development experience or on-the-job training.
• Certificate-granting programs are the best fit for students who need significant skills training in how to work as a Full Stack Web Developer.
• Whether you want to enroll in a certificate-granting program or just brush up on your skills before taking a certification exam, Noble Desktop has comprehensive training courses built to fit your needs, available in live online classrooms or in person.