Career-Long Education for Software Professionals: A US View of the Educational Challenges in a Rapidly Changing Technology

Software’s increasingly critical role and the rapid rate of change of associated technologies present serious challenges for maintaining the professional skills of software developers. Current professionals must rely on existing opportunities for mid-career education. Longer-term solutions include improvements in existing opportunities and changes to university education that enhance students’ ability to learn new material. A variety of certifications will provide evidence of a professional’s current proficiency. I will report on the way these issues are being addressed in the United States.