Software Developer Certifications and Professional Associations

At DeVry, we are with you every step of your educational journey. That includes helping prepare you to pursue industry certifications that can demonstrate to employers your specific skills and depth of knowledge. In earning a software development degree from DeVry, there are several software developer certifications that you can prepare to pursue as well. Below is information about one of those certifications:

Comp TIA ITF+

This certification from technology association CompTIA evaluates fundamental IT skills, including IT infrastructure, software development and database use. It is designed for students who are exploring a career in IT, as well as those who work in roles that require a broad understanding of technology. No prior IT experience is required.¹

At DeVry, qualified students³ can apply for up to a $300 reimbursement for the cost of taking one exam.

Once you graduate, it is wise to stay connected with others in your field for networking and professional development opportunities. Software developer professional associations and organizations are a great place to start and can be a resource to lean on throughout your career. These associations bring together professionals working in the same or similar fields for the sharing of knowledge, ongoing professional development, networking and career development.

The following are 5 software developer professional associations to consider:⁵

The IEEE Computer Society is an organization for computing specialists within IEEE, the world’s leading association of engineering and technology professionals. The Computer Society supports the theory, practice and application of information-processing science and technology, and the professional standing of its members, by offering more than 200 conferences, a digital library with 800,000 articles, magazines and journals, online education and more.

ACM has more than 100,000 members worldwide, including computing educators, researchers and practitioners who share ideas and resources to meet the field’s challenges. Members can join any of 37 different Special Interest Groups (SIGs) on topics like computer graphics, programming languages, software engineering and security. ACM also supports a network of 860 local professional and student chapters for connecting with colleagues nearby.

The ASP is an international professional association made up of hundreds of software developers and vendors. It offers discussion groups for members that are open 24/7, as well as discounts on developer tools and Windows utilities.

The AWC was one of the first professional organizations to promote the advancement of women in the computing field. AWC members include programmers, systems analysts, web developers, trainers and consultants. AWC promotes opportunities for its members through networking and technical and career-oriented presentations.

The PSF maintains and supports Python, one of the most widely used programming languages. PSF runs a major conference for Python developers and supports other Python conferences, meetups, user groups and development projects around the world.