As an alternative to traditional higher education, coding bootcamps don’t usually play by the same rules as colleges and universities, which have to undergo an accreditation process to be authorized to award degrees. Accredited coding bootcamps are different. While they do not confer degrees, they do voluntarily submit their program curriculum for rigorous oversight.
Accreditation applies to specific courses and programs within these bootcamps, not just the bootcamp as a whole. Accreditation gives bootcamps a path outside of the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR) to prove the quality of their educational product. This article breaks down the bootcamps that are accredited, including online coding training programs.
Are Coding Bootcamps Accredited?
The vast majority of coding bootcamps are not accredited; however, the three bootcamps that are accredited under the United States higher education system have brought their program curriculum into closer alignment with more heavily regulated entities for postsecondary study, such as four-year universities.
The traditional purpose of accreditation is to ensure that all programs of the same type follow a trusted and standardized set of curriculum guidelines. While accredited coding bootcamps are rare, it is important to note that being unaccredited is not the same as being unregulated. To a large degree, bootcamps regulate themselves by publishing student success data, which is a valuable measure of quality in its own right.
When evaluating accredited coding bootcamps, prospective students should consider factors such as curriculum quality, job placement rates, and available support services. They should also look into available education benefits, such as those provided by the GI Bill, which can make tech training programs more accessible and affordable.
3 Accredited Coding Bootcamps: At a Glance
| Accredited Coding Bootcamps | Accreditation Source | Accreditation Notes |
| Operation Spark | Council on Occupational Education (COE) | Regionally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. |
| Washington Technical Institute | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA-CESS) | A regionally accredited school as a postsecondary institution. It is also licensed by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education as an institution of higher learning. |
| NYC Data Science Academy | Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) | First data science bootcamp to be federally accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. |
3 Accredited Bootcamps: A Closer Look
The coding bootcamps that have accredited curricula include Operation Spark, Washington Technical Institute, and NYC Data Science Academy. All of the following accredited bootcamps are geared toward students with little to no coding experience, providing them with the in-demand skills and technical requirements they need to pursue high-paying career opportunities.
Operation Spark | COE
- Headquarters: New Orleans, LA
- Program Location(s): New Orleans, Online
- Accredited Bootcamp Programs: Free Prep Course, Introduction to Programming, Junior and Senior Programming
New Orleans-based Operation Spark is a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization offering full time programs in software development that are focused on demographics that experience generational poverty as a roadblock to career success. The program is COE-certified, emphasizing project-based learning and hands-on experience that prepares graduates for entry-level software roles in as little as five months.
Washington Technical Institute | MSA-CESS
- Headquarters: Minnetonka, MN
- Program Location(s): Online
- Accredited Bootcamp Programs: Full Stack Development, Computer Science, Programming Languages, Cyber Security, Software Developer, Web Development, and more
Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Washington Technical Institute offers multiple bootcamps and certificate programs that cover various IT fields. All programs are self-paced and able to be completed online in less than a year, serving as a flexible and efficient way to get into the technology industry and land a career in tech.
NYC Data Science Academy | ACCET
- Headquarters: New York City, NY
- Program Location(s): New York City, Online
- Accredited Bootcamp Programs: Data Science, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
NYC Data Science Academy is an accredited coding bootcamp that specializes in data-science bootcamps and training programs. With lifetime career support, including interview prep, career advisors, resume review, and more, this ACCET-accredited academy is determined to help its bootcamp students land their dream career in tech upon graduation. Graduates have gone on to work for large tech companies like Google, Facebook, Spotify, Verizon, among many others.
Benefits of Accreditation for Bootcamps
- Institutional validation: Accredited coding bootcamps are able to claim legitimacy within the American higher education system in a way that non-accredited coding schools and coding bootcamps cannot. This can serve as a competitive advantage in an accredited bootcamp’s efforts to recruit students.
- Oversight and curricular review: An accredited coding bootcamp has to undergo a review process every few years to ensure it remains in adherence to accreditation standards. While this may seem like a hassle, it holds bootcamps accountable to a set of procedures designed to show that they’re serious about doing what’s best for students.
- Employer recognition: When entering the job market, students learn they need to be prepared for potential employers to have conservative ideas about where they received their education. A recruiter with a conventional mindset may give a longer look to a graduate from an accredited coding bootcamp than to one from a non-accredited school.
- Eligibility for financing options and federal financial aid: The question of how to pay for a coding bootcamp is less stressful when financing options and federal funds are in play. While accreditation doesn’t guarantee federal financial aid for coding bootcamps, it does increase a bootcamp’s chances of gaining access to financial aid options. In addition, education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, such as the GI Bill, can help eligible veterans cover the coding bootcamp cost. Other organizations may also provide education benefits to support students pursuing tech training.
Are Accredited Coding Bootcamps Better?
Accredited coding bootcamps are not necessarily better or worse than non-accredited bootcamps. There are plenty of trusted bootcamps, such as Coding Dojo and App Academy, that are able to offer high-quality programs through positive alumni reviews, solid career services, and a winning learning formula that launches bootcamp graduates into truly life-changing careers in tech.
Accreditation is an important signal, but it isn’t a secret ingredient. It’s just one of many factors a prospective student should consider when choosing a program. Whatever bootcamp does the work of teaching you the technical skills you wish to learn, while giving you the tools and career support you need to find a job, is the right one for you.
Accredited Coding Bootcamps FAQ
Accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) is good for specialized forms of higher education, including trade associations, intensive language programs, and non-degree-granting coding bootcamps. ACCET was founded in 1974 and has been accrediting schools under the banner of the U.S. Department of Education since 1978.
The easiest way to validate the accreditation for a bootcamp program is to look up the accreditation agency on the U.S. Department of Education website. From there, you can read about the agency’s history, its standards, and what other institutions have earned accreditation under its auspices.
Yes, many employers respect bootcamp graduates just as much as college graduates in terms of overall job readiness. A post-pandemic report by The Burning Glass Institute found that employers are ditching degree requirements in favor of skill-based assessments, which is exactly what bootcamps are geared toward.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
