Are Web Development Classes Worth It?

If you’re considering whether or not to enroll in web development classes, you’ve likely asked yourself if the investment is worth it. The answer to this question will differ for each individual. There’s a lot of nuance to whether or not a class will be in your best interest. There are a lot of considerations to make, such as the fact that you may need to spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to learn more advanced skills and techniques that will allow you to have the web development career of your dreams. 

The short answer is yes. Web development classes are a worthwhile investment for those who are fully committed to changing their professional landscape for the better. Learning web development skills in a structured environment is the best and most efficient way to obtain the skills you’ll need to change the trajectory of your professional life. Enrolling in a class is a great way to create an entry point into a new career in web development, and it’s helpful to development professionals who already work in the field and need to upskill or fill in knowledge gaps. 

Consider the Costs

Getting a quality education in web development is a significant investment. It is going to cost you real money and a significant amount of time to get to a professional level of web development that will allow you to earn a living wage. Keep in mind that many professionals in this field have earned a four-year college degree and spend tens of thousands developing their skills. A web development training course that will prepare you to compete with those individuals is not going to be anywhere near free. You’ll have to devote time to learning web development skills inside and outside of class, and you’ll need to build a portfolio that represents who you are as a professional. 

Beyond the cost and time investments, you also should consider your goals for learning the trade. If you’re not interested in a career in web development, there are less expensive options for obtaining skills. On-demand classes, free tutorials and seminars, and short classes are some less expensive options to explore if you’re not yet clear on your goals. There are pros and cons to each of these alternatives alongside certain trade-offs. You’ll have to be aware of this and decide which option will best suit the outcome you’re looking for. 

Advantages of Web Development Classes

While there are many great self-taught web developers, the guidance and support you receive during a training program can be invaluable. Many programs offer 1-on-1 mentoring, tutoring, networking events, and internships. These bonuses can help you deepen your understanding, grow and strengthen professional relationships, and help you find your career path. You can leverage the resources available to you in web development courses to tap into various advantages like experiencing improved earning potential and career opportunities, learning relevant and in-demand skills, finding your niche, and building an impressive portfolio.

Improved Earning Potential

One of the most attractive advantages of taking a web development class is the prospect of boosting your earning potential. Having your qualifications backed by a reputable training facility goes a long way. Although this is a results-driven career, your education will be taken into consideration when your wages are decided. Employers want to know that you know what you’re doing and the logic behind your choices. Pairing your credentials with a robust portfolio is a great way to help solidify your ability to earn more money. 

Better Career Opportunities

Developing your professional skill set results in increased marketability and credibility, which translates into improved career opportunities. When you know what you’re doing and you give your clients or employer exactly what they require, in part due to your training, you’re simultaneously expanding your portfolio and strengthening professional relationships. Better career opportunities will come to you when you make the most of the career support you receive during a training course, including resume help, mock interviews, and LinkedIn profile management.

Learn Relevant Skills and Techniques

You’ll need to improve or develop technical skills if you’re going to succeed in this field. Taking a web development course allows you to create more efficient workflows, increase your productivity, and improve the quality of your work. If you’re new to web development, you’ll learn in-demand skills and techniques that are relevant to the type of web development you’re interested in. Many of the exercises will include real-world scenarios and techniques that are frequently used.

Access to Software and Programs

One of the barriers some learners experience is gaining access to commonly used software and programs that require paid subscriptions or purchases. If you’re deciding whether or not web development is the right choice for you, paying for these things isn’t desirable. Taking a class gives you access to these development tools while you learn, so you can decide if they’re an investment in your future that you need to make. You’ll also receive templates and files to practice with.. Having the right tools for the job makes a bigger difference than you may realize. 

Personalized Feedback

When you take an in-person or live online Full Stack Web Development Certificate program, you’ll get personalized feedback in real-time. This may not seem like a huge advantage, but it can do wonders for your self-confidence and your ability to persevere. Your instructor can guide you through development problems, let you know that you’re on the right track, give you constructive criticism on your work, and even offer you an encouraging word when you get stuck. Being able to interface with a knowledgeable web development professional about projects, job searches, challenging concepts, and web development in general. 

Choose a Specialization

There are many web development specialties to choose from, and taking a training course can expose you to some of them. As you move through the curriculum, you’ll find parts of your training resonate more strongly with you than others. If you follow your interests or areas you are strongest in, you’ll happen upon your niche. Choosing a specialty allows you to focus on becoming extremely skilled in that area and better appeal to clients and employers who require your particular skill set. 

Build a Portfolio

Many courses are engaging, hands-on, and project-based. When you take on project-based curriculums, you are building a portfolio of work that you can use to demonstrate your skills. Each project allows you to apply specific skills you’re learning in the course, so you learn by doing. Your portfolio shows your progress as a developer and helps others understand your web development capabilities. It’s your opportunity to provide high-quality projects that demonstrate the breadth of your experience, expertise, and achievements. 

Considerations When Choosing a Web Development Class

Web development isn’t for everyone, but if you’re serious about upskilling or starting a new career in web development, you’ll need to think holistically about what training offers and what you need to be successful. That means moving beyond earning potential, cost of education, and the time it takes to gain professional-level skills and into your learning style, previous experience, curriculum, support, and current obligations. Here are some critical things to consider when researching and choosing a training course.

General Considerations

When choosing a class, you’ll need to choose a learning format (in-person, live online, or on-demand/self-paced). To do that you’ll need to take into account your schedule, commuting needs or barriers, and learning style. If you have an inconsistent schedule or an extremely tight schedule, you may feel less stressed in an on-demand course that allows you to learn anytime and anywhere as your schedule allows. If you have your sights set on a particular training facility or instructor who is not in your proximity or doesn’t have the resources to commute to class, then a live online course may be best. For those who need a distraction-free learning space and thrive in traditional and social educational environments, an in-person class is the way to go.

If reading on a screen doesn’t connect with you, choose a course that offers printed course materials. If you thrive in structured environments where you can be held accountable, on-demand classes are going to be tough to get through. The pull to procrastinate, gloss over difficult concepts, and wait for feedback isn’t always easy to push through. Do you learn better by diving in and getting your hands dirty, or do you prefer to have a good lecture before getting started? Are you able to translate theory into practice? Do you do better in 1-on-1 environments? These are some questions you’ll need to answer when choosing a class to give yourself the best outcome possible.

Training Centers and Instructors

It’s also helpful to consider the reputation of the training facility. You should read reviews from both their website and non-affiliated sites from people who have attended their courses before. If the name of the instructor is listed, do an Internet search on them to gauge their capability as an instructor. Read around the facility’s website and course descriptions to learn more about what they offer students and what will be covered in the web development class you’re interested in. Here are some things to look into:

• Are there physical locations in your area?
• What student and career support are provided?
• Satisfaction guarantees.
• Do they provide students with the necessary software to participate in class?
• Are the instructors active in the field or have expertise in web development?
• Are financial assistance and payment plans available?
• Are there any additional fees?

Your Learning Goals

You need to be clear on what you want to get out of a web development course. Decide whether you want to set out for a career in web development or you want to be able to take on personal projects with confidence. You may have completely different learning objectives when you assess why you’re considering enrolling in a course. Once you’re clear on your learning goals, you’ll have an idea of how strong and deep of an investment you should make. An in-depth web development training will cost you thousands of dollars, while training that only scratches the surface and gives you basic skills will be far less intense and time-consuming.

If you’re only interested in hobby projects, you probably aren’t interested in learning about tech stacks. You want the fundamental coding techniques and practices that will enable you to build an amazing website for your blog, business, or friends. In this instance, you’ll only need a relatively short course that covers basic web development, web design, or visual design. If you’re looking to have a full-fledged career in web development, then you’ll need to learn all of the reasoning and logic behind the processes you’ll be implementing. Front end development or Python development may be what you need. Also, keep in mind what you already know. If you have some experience in coding or web development, you may be ready for more accelerated and intensive training, like a bootcamp. 

Is it Worth Enrolling in a Web Development Class?

As previously noted, how worthwhile enrolling in a web development class is will be different for every individual. Your goals and needs will play a big part in helping you decide if it’s worth investing in a web development class. 

Who will find it worthwhile?

Individuals who are serious about growing or starting their career in web development will find enrolling in a class to be invaluable. A class can help you gain the knowledge and experience necessary to start a lucrative career in web development. Whether you’re a complete novice or already have some experience, taking a class will expand your understanding of the field and give you the skills you need to be successful. 

Who might find it worthwhile?

Someone who has a strong interest in web development but isn’t completely sure that it’s for them might find a web development education worth it. Once you’ve gotten familiar with the field, it’s easier to be certain whether or not web development is the right tech-based career for you. Those interested in an adjacent field like visual, digital, or web design, software engineering, or JavaScript may also find learning web development useful in rounding out their education. 

Who probably won’t need a web development class?

Hobbyists can benefit from a class, but a class probably isn’t necessary. The time and money investment just isn’t worth completing a project here and there. Likewise, those looking to acquire specific skills in web development probably don’t need a web development class either. It would be more advantageous to take a class in a specific skill than a broad spectrum. 

Learn Web Development Skills with Noble Desktop

How much of an investment you decide to make in starting a future in web development is up to you, and Noble Desktop has a variety of classes that can help you meet your goal. If you’re looking for in-depth, professional training that will get you job-ready, consider enrolling in this 420-hour Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. It’s a beginner-friendly program with a project-based curriculum that teaches you how to code websites from scratch while helping you build a professional portfolio to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. This course covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, front end development, back end development, Bootstrap, and MongoDB. 

For a shorter program that can fast-track your career in web development, this Web Design Certificate program is instrumental. You’ll learn how to become a Web Designer, code with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, build with WordPress, and implement user interface (UI) principles and front end development tools. This 162-hour certificate course will take you from beginner to professional in a relatively short time, while also helping you build your professional portfolio. 

If you just want a quick peek into the world of web development, Web Development with HTML & CSS is a great entry point. It’s a three-day hands-on course designed to help students with no background in web development or coding start building websites from scratch. You’ll learn how to markup and style content, create professional-level, multi-page websites, and use browser development tools. This is a simple introduction that can get you started on a path in web development, but if your goal is to become a professional, advanced training from Noble Desktop is encouraged.