Cracking the code: are coding boot camps really the solution to the tech talent crunch?

• Author: Coon, John

Learning how to become proficient in web and software development basically requires learning a second language. Coding boot camps have sprung up in Utah and other places in recent years with the goal of training students how to master programming languages from Python to JavaScript.

More than 70 coding boot camps operate in the United States and Canada. Courses in a typical boot camp can last up to 12 weeks and cover coding languages ranging from iOS to Python depending on the camp. Full-time programs can require students to spend 60-70 hours per week learning a coding language. Part-time programs require approximately 20-30 hours per week.

Coding boot camps offer the promise of opening doors for graduates so they can nab entry-level positions at high-tech firms. Do these camps live up to such a promise? Are they an effective alternate route for getting into the industry?

Attending a coding boot camp either full-time or part-time isn't cheap--it requires a significant financial investment from students. DevMountain, a camp which offers 12-week courses in Provo and Salt Lake City, charges up to $9,500 in tuition for a full-time student and up to $4,500 for a part-time student. DevPoint Labs, a camp based in Salt Lake City, charges $8,500 for full-time students and $3,500 for part-time students enrolled in its 11-week coding courses. Acceptance rates for both boot camps range between 20 to 30 percent.

Financial assistance is available in some cases. DevPoint Labs, for example, offers a scholarship program for women for the purpose of encouraging more women to enter the software development field. This program reduces tuition for its coding boot camp by as much as 50 percent. In most cases, however, students must pay their own way through the camp.

One key thing that differentiates one coding boot camp from another, according to tech employers, is the selection process for getting accepted into a camp. Some camps are affiliated with tech companies and can train their students with the specific programming and development skills that company wants to see in a new employee. Other camps can offer a basic foundation for entry into the industry, but offer no guarantee you can find employment after graduation.

Vance Checketts, EMC vice president and general manager, says it's important to do your homework before enrolling in a coding boot camp to see what you can expect to get from it before spending your money. A good starting point is to...