At the intersection of technology and creativity lies the world of web development, a rapidly growing and evolving field that shapes the digital landscape.
What is a web developer? From the underlying code powering webpages to the easy to use interfaces we interact with online, web developers are architects of the virtual or digital world. These professionals design, maintain and build websites, applications and other virtual platforms, making sure they are functional and engaging.
Web developers must stay current with the latest skills and technologies—and that’s where web developer certifications and certificates come in. Typically offered as certificates, these professional credentials can formalize training, develop in-demand skills and demonstrate commitment to professional development.
Certificates for web developers span beginner-level to advanced programs, including both vendor-specific and general certificates. So whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting a web development career, a certificate can be a valuable asset.
This article overviews seven web developer certificates worth considering.
Why Pursue a Web Developer Certificate?
A web developer certificate can offer several benefits depending on your educational background, experience and career goals. As a web developer, earning a certificate can demonstrate skill proficiency, help with career advancement and keep you up to date with the field’s latest developments and trends.
If you are interested in a web development career or are already in the field and want to improve your skills and knowledge, a web development certificate might help you reach your goals.
Web developer training and educational requirements vary by company and role. Some positions ask for a web developer associate degree. Others might just require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in web development in web development or any related field. Many employers may not require their employee to hold a web developers degree at all.
Still, all web development jobs call for a specific skill set. Demonstrating expertise through previous projects, professional experience and reputable professional certificates can help you land a web developer job. To learn more, check out our guide on how to become a web developer.
7 Web Developer Certificate Programs to Consider
When deciding on a web developer certificate program, consider the provider’s reputation, the skills and technologies covered in the program, and whether the certification aligns with your career goals and the skills you’re looking to develop.
Many web developer certificate programs exist, making it tricky to decide which one is right for you. Here are seven web developer certificate programs to consider.
Full-Stack Web Development Program
Provider: CareerFoundry
Cost: Around INR 7,07,422
Course Overview: CareerFoundry’s full-stack web development certificate involves a comprehensive, immersive program that helps students learn or advance web development skills and industry knowledge. This fully online program takes five months to complete for full-time students and 10 months for part-time learners. The skills-focused curriculum covers front-end development, full-stack immersion and full-stack specialization.
CareerFoundry’s certificate program provides opportunities to build a professional portfolio with hands-on projects. Students work one-on-one with expert mentors and tutors. Each course provides interactive tools, reading materials, supporting videos and other resources to help learners develop the industry’s latest practices and the most in-demand skills.
At the end of the program, students receive a signed CareerFoundry certificate, making it easy to share the qualification with potential employers and clients.
IBM Full-Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate
Provider: IBM via Coursera
Cost: Around INR 3,245/month
Course Overview: IBM’s full-stack software developer professional certificate program is a beginner-level, 12-course series that equips individuals with the skills and technical knowledge to kickstart a full-stack developer career. The courses cover various topics, including deploying and scaling applications using cloud native methodologies, front-end and back-end development languages and programming applications.
In this certificate program, you’ll learn how to build cloud-based applications and how to develop, deploy, test, run and manage full-stack cloud native applications. You’ll develop a portfolio of hands-on projects, including a capstone project published through your GitHub repository, which allows you to share your work with potential employers easily.
In addition to a career certificate, you can earn degree credits from IBM’s Full-Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate program. This program has a credit recommendation from the American Council on Education, the industry standard that translates workplace learning into college credits.
Professional Certificate in Coding: Full-Stack Development With MERN
Provider: MIT x PRO
Cost: Around INR 6,20,034
Course Overview: MIT x PRO’s professional certificate program equips you with full-stack development skills and technical proficiencies using the MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node) stack. This program comprises three primary modules––web development, front-end development and react, and back-end development––and takes place over eight months.
This program provides access to video lectures, coding demos, class discussions and weekly live sessions with program leaders and industry experts. Through assignments and hands-on projects, test and deploy web apps, APIs, front-end web applications and students build. Learners use React and establish Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines to deploy a React application.
This full-stack development program culminates in a GitHub portfolio and a professional digital certificate you can easily share with potential employers.
Professional Certificate in Front-End Web Developer
Provider: edX
Cost: Around INR 82,810
Course Overview: This self-paced professional front-end developer certificate program, provided by edX and designed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), comprises five skill-building courses that take seven months to complete.
As a student in this program, you’ll explore foundational coding languages and responsive design. You’ll also complete hands-on projects to develop practical skills for building responsive and interactive user interfaces.
Web Design and Development Cornell Certificate Program
Provider: eCornell
Cost: Around INR 3,12,098
Course Overview: This fully online, three-month web design and development certificate program offered by eCornell equips learners to design, develop and maintain functional, accessible and visually appealing websites. This program comprises six courses covering front-end development, content structuring and styling, responsive design and UX design.
In this program, students learn how to meet user needs by using target personas to inform design and development decisions. Upon completion, learners earn a certificate from Cornell University.
Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development and Coding Specialization
Provider: University of Michigan
Cost: Around INR 4,078/month
Course Overview: This self-paced web development and coding specialization program consists of five courses and typically takes learners seven months to complete. Candidates work with various technologies to develop websites that function constantly on computers, mobile and tablet devices. They learn to design elements that are accessible to a large audience, including those with audial, cognitive, visual and physical disabilities.
The program’s capstone project is a professional-grade web portfolio demonstrating students’ web design skills. At the end of the program, learners earn a career certificate from the University of Michigan.
Web Development Course
Provider: Le Wagon
Cost: Around INR 7,49,035 (prices vary by location and session)
Course Overview: Le Wagon’s online web development course equips learners with fundamental web development skills through six modules. Learners choose between two enrollment options: flex part-time and full-time.
Part-time learners participate in live sessions at their convenience and contribute 16 hours weekly to their studies, ultimately graduating within six months. Full-time students attend set live sessions each weekday morning and dedicate 40 hours weekly to their studies, graduating in just two months.
Course topics include databases, software, web design, front-end development, deploying applications and development workflow.
Salary and Job Outlook for Web Developers
Web development is a lucrative, in-demand career with strong growth potential. Salary and job outlook for web developers vary depending on several factors, including experience, educational background and training, location and industry.
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for web developers in India is INR 32,111 per month.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What certifications should I get to be a web developer?
The right web development credentials for you depend on your background, skill set, experience and career goals. Many online and in-person web development certificates exist for beginners and professionals at varying stages of their careers. Research your options to understand how each might benefit your career and fit into your schedule.
Is a web developer certificate worth it?
Earning a web developer certificate can be worth it, but a certificate alone may not be enough to land you a job or guarantee success in the field. Web developer certificate programs can help you learn in-demand skills, demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in particular web development skills, and build a professional portfolio.
Can I become a web developer in one year?
Yes, it’s possible to become a web developer in one year, but several factors influence how much time it takes to land a job in this field, including your educational background, experience and portfolio. If you’re starting your career and have little to no experience in web development or programming, you may need longer than a year to gain proficiency in the industry-specific knowledge, technologies and skills required to be a web developer.
