How to Get Into Tech Without a Degree: Step by Step

Your situation	Route	Proof of skill	Planning use
Tight budget, flexible time	Free self-paced coding practice such as FreeCodeCamp	Finished projects and a public GitHub profile	Start here if you need to test your interest before spending anything.
Want a recognised credential	Industry certificates such as Google IT Support or AWS	Certificate listed on the CV	Pick one that matches the job titles you are applying for.
Want structured group learning	Coding bootcamp	Team and capstone projects in a portfolio	Compare each provider’s price, schedule and published outcomes before you commit.
Want to learn on the job	Internship, apprenticeship or entry-level IT help desk role	Real workplace experience	Best when you need income or a reference from an employer.
Design or data focus	Portfolio on Behance or GitHub	Case studies, dashboards and code samples	Choose the platform that matches the role you want.

The routes and proof types above are drawn from Women in Tech’s guide to landing a tech job without a degree.

Learning how to get into tech without a degree comes down to choosing one route that fits your budget and schedule, then building visible proof of skill: projects, a certificate or workplace experience that an employer can check.

This guide groups the routes by reader situation. For wider context, see our career advice for tech professionals, and once you have proof to show, how to find a tech job covers the search itself.

Can a degree-free route work? What employers say

Yes, a degree is not the only way in. Women in Tech reports that companies increasingly prioritise skills over formal education, and that Google, Apple and IBM have dropped degree requirements for many of their roles.

That is a trend, not a guarantee. Individual job adverts still differ, so read each posting and apply where the listed requirements are skills you can demonstrate. A shift towards skills-based hiring means your evidence matters more, which is why every route below ends in something you can show.

Written notes alongside a laptop suit self-study, where you set the pace and keep track of what each project taught you.

Roles most often open to non-graduates

The same guide names developers, UX/UI designers and data analysts as examples of people who can move into tech by showing skills rather than a diploma. Entry-level IT support is the other common doorway, covered below. If you are aiming for self-taught developer jobs, expect hiring managers to judge your code, not your transcript.

Group work around a shared table illustrates the peer learning that structured courses can offer; the photo is generic and does not show a specific bootcamp.

Starting with little money

If budget is the main limit, begin with free, self-paced material and treat the first stretch as a test. You learn whether you enjoy the work before paying for anything.

Free self-paced coding practice

FreeCodeCamp offers free, self-paced coding challenges and projects, according to Women in Tech. It suits people with a day job or caring duties who need to study in short, irregular sessions. The limit is structure: nobody sets deadlines or reviews your work, so you need your own routine and a way to show what you built.

Open-source contributions

What it is: contributing to open-source projects on GitHub, which Women in Tech describes as a way to demonstrate collaboration and practical coding experience.
Who it suits: learners who can already write working code and want to show they can work with other people’s work.
Limit: it is a poor starting point for absolute beginners, so finish your first projects before contributing.

Wanting structure and a credential

If self-study feels shapeless, a certificate or a bootcamp adds a syllabus and an outside signal. Neither replaces projects, but both give a clear path.

A generic office scene: workplace roles give learners colleagues, feedback and visible progress that self-study cannot.

Industry certifications

Women in Tech notes that certificates can validate your skills and make a CV more attractive to employers. Two examples stand out:

Google IT Support Professional Certificate: aimed at people who want an entry-level IT support role, so it fits those starting from scratch.
AWS Solutions Architect and Developer certificates: described as among the most recognised in the tech industry, which makes them a better fit for cloud-leaning or development paths than for a first support job.

Check the current price and study time on the provider’s own page before enrolling, and choose the certificate named in the job adverts you want to answer.

Bootcamps

A bootcamp suits learners who work better in a cohort with deadlines and feedback. Compare price, schedule and any published graduate outcomes across providers, and treat the projects you build there as portfolio material rather than the credential itself. The limit is that a bootcamp certificate alone is rarely the proof; the work you can show is.

Wanting paid experience while you learn

When you need income or a workplace reference, look for roles where the employer teaches you. These routes trade study freedom for real tasks and colleagues.

Internships and apprenticeships

Many tech companies run internship programmes designed to provide real-world experience, as Women in Tech points out. Apprenticeships, where an employer offers them, suit the same reader: someone who would rather learn inside a team than in a classroom. Check each programme’s entry requirements, since they vary by employer, and apply with a portfolio in hand.

IT help desk and support roles

An IT help desk job is the most common stepping stone into wider IT. The Google IT Support Professional Certificate is aimed at exactly this entry point, and support work builds troubleshooting and communication habits that carry into software, networking and security roles.

Suits: people who want a first paid tech job without a long build-up of portfolio projects.
Limit: the work is service-oriented, so moving into development usually still needs side projects alongside the day job.

Proving your skills without a diploma

Proof replaces the diploma, so build it deliberately. A reviewer should be able to open one link and see what you can do.

A portfolio on GitHub or Behance

Women in Tech advises hosting your portfolio on GitHub for developers or Behance for designers, and notes that employers often look at GitHub to evaluate coding style and collaboration skills. Keep the strongest projects at the top, add a short description of what each does, and tidy the code before you apply.

Planning on paper before building helps decide which projects to feature; the notes in the photo are not legible and are illustrative only.

Which proof to lead with

Applying for development roles: lead with GitHub projects and any open-source work.
Applying for design roles: lead with a Behance portfolio.
Applying for support roles: lead with a relevant certificate and any customer-facing experience.
Changing from another career: pair your proof with past experience, as explained in how to transition into a tech career.

Frequently asked questions

Question	Answer
Can you really get a tech job without a degree?	Yes. Major employers including Google, Apple and IBM have dropped degree requirements for many roles, so skills you can show carry real weight.
Are bootcamps and certifications worth it?	They are worth it when they match a role you are targeting. Certificates can validate skills on a CV, but projects still need to back them up.
What is the best first role for someone with no experience?	Entry-level IT support is a common start, and the Google IT Support Professional Certificate is aimed at it. Developer, design and data analyst roles usually ask for stronger portfolios.
Where should I host my work?	GitHub suits developers and Behance suits designers. Employers often review GitHub for coding style and collaboration.