How Long Do IT Courses Take?

Lengths of Classes

Before you take the leap into an IT training course, you need to be sure you can reserve enough time for your studies. It can take anywhere from two to five months to complete IT training with regular practice and consistent instruction. It all depends on which course you take and how much time you can dedicate to complete each certification. The basic elements are fairly straightforward to learn, but the more complex pieces will take more time and dedication. For instance, algorithms, data structures, and computational theory may be more difficult to grasp. 

The type of class you choose will directly affect the length of time it takes you to learn IT. It’s important to know the differences between each class, the depth of their curriculum, and what they all require. Read below for a brief rundown of the available options so you can make the best choice for yourself.

Introductory classes

The shortest classes you’ll find will be introductory level courses. These classes can typically be completed in just a day or two. You’ll learn what IT is, how it’s used, and the fundamental techniques and tools associated with it. These classes are often held live, either in-person or online, allowing you to chat with your instructor and receive feedback in real time. It’s important to keep in mind that these classes won’t cover advanced subjects, so if you want to learn more than just the basics, an introductory class may not be the best option for you.

Advanced Courses

Advanced courses will teach higher level, more challenging topics while still being relatively short. Because you’ll have the basics established, advanced level courses can easily be completed either live or on-demand. Self-paced courses allow you to spend as much time as you need mastering the materials, which can be especially helpful while learning advanced techniques. Much like introductory classes, these are often just a few days long, allowing you to improve your skills in a short amount of time. These classes tend to focus on specific tools or skills though, so you could miss out on the more in-depth knowledge of an immersive program. 

IT Bootcamps 

IT Bootcamps, certificate programs, and professional development classes combine several benefits from the above options. They are immersive and encompass a wide variety of skills, from beginner to advanced. While they do take more time to complete, they also better prepare you for a career in IT with a more in-depth curriculum, the opportunity to create a portfolio, individual mentorship, and the ability to network with established professionals. Held live online or in-person, bootcamps are led by expert instructors that can provide in-the-moment feedback and industry insights you wouldn’t find elsewhere. 

Programming Degrees

If you’re willing to invest even more time and money, an undergraduate or graduate degree in web development or programming may be a good fit. These can vary in length from two to four years and consist of hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of coursework. These programs require you to apply and get accepted, and have prerequisites involving SAT and ACT scores, foreign language requirements, and a minimum acceptable GPA. College is substantially more expensive than other training options, too, costing between $27,000 and $100,000 per year. Of course, scholarships and financial aid are available, and community colleges can help make a degree more affordable. 

On-demand classes

If your schedule is complicated or you prefer to learn at your own pace, on-demand classes offer the most flexibility and freedom. All lessons are prerecorded and there’s no due dates or class times to worry about. You can skip any lessons you’ve already mastered or spend more time on more difficult subjects. It’s important to remember that with more freedom comes less accountability. On-demand classes can work for independent learners who can keep themselves on task and motivated, but may not be the best fit for those who find motivation through accountability. Without the right level of motivation, you can easily fall behind or lose interest in completing the training altogether. 

Part-time or Full-time?

When choosing an IT class, you’ll need to decide if full time or part time is better for you. Are you between jobs or able to take vacation time to complete a full-time training course? Or are you only free in the evenings and need a class that can accommodate your schedule? For most students, a part-time course will be the best option, allowing you to master a new skill set without interfering with your day job. These courses can take longer, as your hours of class time will be spread over more days or weeks, but they also offer you more time to master IT. Full-time courses, while requiring a larger commitment of time up front, can often be completed in half the time of part-time courses. This means you can begin your new career or advance your current one much quicker. Choosing which option is right for you will come down to your schedule and how quickly you wish to gain mastery. 

Learn IT Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate prepares you for entry-level data science and Python engineering roles. You’ll learn how to manipulate databases and perform data analysis, read and write complex database queries, prepare and clean data for analysis, and use Python to automate everyday tasks such as aggregating, updating, and formatting data. This course also covers how to clean and balance your data with Pandas, apply machine learning algorithms with the scikit-learn library to solve real-world problems, and analyze the results to detect areas for improvement. Finally, you’ll build and present dynamic dashboards and other data visualizations and deploy your projects online with GitHub to demonstrate your analytical abilities to employers.

Their Software Engineering Certificate is another option for aspiring IT students. Divided into front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development, you will learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt web page content to different size screens. You’ll then move on to the fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.

By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.

Or, you could try your hand at Noble’s Python Developer Bootcamp. This three-week online course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python, including its lexical syntax, then move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST. 

It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate are included with your purchase.