Blockchain Developers

High School

In high school, take as many computer science classes as possible—especially those that focus on software programming and development. Accounting, finance, and business classes will be useful because many blockchain technology platforms are created for banks, other financial firms, and corporations. Other recommended classes include mathematics, English, and speech.

Postsecondary Education

Many blockchain developers have degrees in computer science, software development, information security, web development, computer engineering, database management, and related fields. It’s a good idea to also take classes in the areas in which you plan to specialize. For example, aspiring developers who want to work in finance or financial services should take accounting and finance classes so they can understand the lingo and needs of financial firms. Some people enter this career after earning degrees in business, accounting, finance, business intelligence, and other majors, and then augment their training by taking classes and/or earning certificates in software development, cryptography, and blockchain development.

No colleges or universities offer degrees in blockchain technology, but experts believe that they will eventually. Some of the nation’s leading universities—such as the University of California at Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and Stanford University—have introduced courses in blockchain technology. Topics covered include object-oriented programming, cryptography, data structures (such as binary search trees, graphs, hash maps, and linked lists), networking, and distributed systems.

Training programs are also offered by blockchain industry groups and vendors such as the Blockchain Training Alliance, Web3 University, Consensys, Ethereum Foundation, and Hyperledger.

Certification

A growing number of colleges and universities offer certificate programs in blockchain technology. For example, Portland State University offers a Business Blockchain Graduate Certificate. Classes include:

• Blockchain Fundamentals
• Blockchain Fundamentals Lab
• Blockchain in Business
• Blockchain in Business Lab
• Blockchain Uses and Applications
• Emerging Topics in Blockchain

The University of California-Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, and Cornell University also offer blockchain certificate programs.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants offers a Blockchain Fundamentals for Accounting and Finance Professionals Certificate. Visit https://www.aicpa-cima.com/cpe-learning/course/blockchain-fundamentals-for-accounting-and-finance-professionals-certificate to learn more.

Other Education or Training

Blockchain technology is a cutting-edge field, so it’s extremely important to keep your skills and knowledge up to date in order to be effective on the job. Some IT associations offer continuing education classes and webinars. For example, the Government Blockchain Association offers classes and monthly training sessions, such as the Blockchain & Infrastructure Monthly Webinar. The Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE Computer Society, and other general IT associations offer training in programming, networking, web development, database development, and computer security.