If you’d like to work for a top website development company in the USA or abroad, you’ve probably thought of getting web developer certification.
There’s no denying the fact that the web development industry has exploded in the past decade.
While there are certainly pros and cons to getting certified, the truth is that there’s a lot of misinformation out there about web developer certification, so we’ve put together this post to help you find out whether or not getting certified really is a good idea for you.
In this article, we’ll explain what it is and how you can benefit from it.
Difference Between a Certificate and Certification
This table showcases the difference between these two similar-sounding terms:
| Certificate | Certification |
|---|---|
| Accentuates the fact that you’ve completed a course | Confirms that you’ve passed a test or exam |
| Proves to your potential employer that you acquired the skills that were taught during the course | Proves that you have the right skills and competencies, regardless of where and how you acquired them |
| It can be issued by any organization that provides educational services | Can be issued only by a certification body |
| It might be costly or affordable | Usually requires higher expenses than getting a certificate. |
A certification course might be focused on the following:
- Guidance to passing a particular test
- Set of skills and competencies that you’ll need for your career
- One specific skill or technology
It might take you from one month to one year to complete the course.
How to Pick the Right Certification Course
Start by asking yourself these questions:
- Do you prefer to learn solo or with a group?
- What for do you need the certification?
- Which is the most efficient approach to learning for you: hands-on tasks, text instructions or videos?
The best courses allow students to communicate with each other and their teachers through Slack, Discord, or other channels.
How Can Certification Boost Your Career
The best eCommerce development companies and other types of employers from the web development sphere might be more likely to hire a professional who has completed a certification. Besides, this achievement might grant you a higher salary.
If you publish your CV online when looking for a job, the line that mentions your certification will be perfect for the document’s SEO. It will make your resume more visible in search engines.
For Whom Certification Is Vital
A developer should consider completing a certification if they tick at least one of the following boxes:
- Are self-taught
- Start a career in this industry from scratch
- Have limited experience
- Switch to a new development niche
- Have a gap in their resume
- Lack of some standard qualifications
Google and Amazon certifications can impress any employer on a global level.
Certification is essential for developers who lack confidence. By passing it, you’ll prove to yourself that you’re a worthy specialist who can survive in a highly competitive market.
Employers’ Opinion About Certification
Many employers are dissatisfied with a college education. It takes too much time and tends to be costly — yet graduates often lack the necessary knowledge and struggle to adapt to the market requirements.
Instead, coding boot camps and web development certifications attract headhunters who’re looking for talent. Unlike higher education programs, certification courses are centered around innovative technologies and skills that can be applied immediately to deliver high-quality digital products.
A Bit of Criticism
The fact of obtaining a certification can’t guarantee a brilliant career. It can only strengthen your professionalism and provide you with formal proof of it. In addition to the document that confirms that you’ve successfully passed the certification, it’s important to have the following:
- Extensive portfolio
- Robust Github account
- List of well-executed coding challenges
Companies launch certification programs not only with the noble goal of spreading knowledge among talents. They do so to generate a profit. Tech giants educate people to make them used to software that such companies build — which again turns into profit for them.
In spite of criticism, it would be unfair to say that certification is useless. It can give a considerable boost to your career.
Why Certification Fails to Impress Some Employers
Some companies don’t appreciate it when candidates mention certification in their CVs. They value, most of all, hands-on skills, flexibility, and readiness to keep continuously learning new things on the go. Their way of thinking is: if a person accentuates the fact of having passed a certification, formal achievements might be more important for them than real.
Typically, such employers like self-taught specialists who know how to organize the educational process without third-party assistance and can back up their expertise with a solid portfolio of completed projects. The more innovative and non-standard projects the portfolio features, the better.
This logic is not too common. Many organizations value certifications. Experienced career consultants can tell you which companies love them and which don’t.
To Sum It Up
Certification proves that a web developer has passed an exam to confirm that they have specific skills and knowledge. You can build an impressive career without this step because in IT, hands-on experience and readiness to keep continuously learning matter much more than theoretical knowledge. However, certification expands your employment opportunities and boosts your odds of getting a high salary.
