Education · 1 of 5

The path

No license, no exam and no required degree. What replaces all of that is a set of things you have built that a stranger can open.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Start now. HTML and CSS in a weekend, then JavaScript. You need a laptop and nothing else.

2. 2

   Build real things

   6 to 18 months

   Not tutorials. Something with a purpose that you put on the internet where people can use it and break it.

3. 3

   Decide on a degree

   0 to 4 years

   About 46% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree, 17% an associate degree and 17% a certificate. A degree opens doors at big employers and is optional everywhere else.

4. 4

   Get the first job

   3 to 12 months of applying

   Junior developer, agency, internship or a registered tech apprenticeship. Expect a technical interview where you write code in front of someone.

5. 5

   Specialize

   Year 2 onward

   Front end, back end, full stack, performance, accessibility or security. Depth is what moves your pay after year three.