FAQ.

Devhub is Canada’s first education & co-working space for developers of all levels, and home of Lighthouse Labs in both Toronto and Vancouver. Devhub is a platform where developers can grow together, whether they’ve been coding for two decades or 10 weeks.

The idea of Devhub came about through Lighthouse Labs, where we live and breathe code, education and community while being surrounded by a community of over 500 software developers. This amazing environment has taught us that developers learn best when they are surrounded by others who are passionate, driven and intellectually curious. They learn best doing and having the freedom to explore their interests and focus on their skill. They also learn best through community.

Devhub was founded to support developers throughout their careers, with the guiding belief that exceptional programmers are lifelong learners, the ones who are always on the lookout for ways to better their craft.

The bootcamp educational model is built very differently from the ones you experienced in high school and/or university. Lighthouse Labs practices a flipped, immersive model of education that puts the emphasis on the development of practical skills through building real-world applications using an incremental and cumulative collection of tools and best practices.

Lectures take up a maximum of two and a half hours in any given day, with another eight to ten hours being spent each day working in a lab setting. You can expect to introduce yourself to new concepts through readings and exercises, getting your knowledge bolstered and backfilled with lectures throughout the week. You can learn more about the bootcamp experience our blog post: So You Want To Take A Bootcamp

It is our core belief that 80% of the learning should be done on the job and we’ve tailored every part of our program around it. Our curriculum is constantly interrupted by a community of passionate developers based off feedback from employers, students, alumni and industry trends. We won’t teach you everything about software development (that takes years of practice), but we will give you the foundation so you can continue learning in your new career as a developer as quickly as possible.

For more details, read about our Education Philosophies or explore our Student Outcomes Report.

Yes! We're accredited with PCTIA, PCC and are EQA certified. You're here to learn, let us worry about the paperwork.

While our philosophy is based around mastery and not credentials, we do provide our Bootcamp graduates with diplomas upon graduation.

In Vancouver, we're at 600-401 West Georgia. In Toronto, you can find us in Devhub at 662 King Street West. We also offer our satellite bootcamp and intro course in communities across Canada, including Victoria, Calgary, London, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Halifax, and Montreal.

Think about it this way, the Intro to Web Development course covers the breadth of Web Development including both front-end and back-end, while the Intro to Front-End with JavaScript course deals solely in front-end development in greater depth. If you want to get a good understanding of how teams web technologies work and gain a better way to communicate with developers, then take the Intro to Web Development Course. However, if you want to learn more front-end skills like learning how to style websites and gain a more practical skillset, then the Intro to Front-End with JavaScript course should be your pick.

There is no right or wrong choice but they provide different outcomes based on what you are looking to gain out of the course.

Ask yourself: "Do I want to work as a professional developer?"

If the answer is 'yes', then there is no question that the full-time development bootcamp is the program you need.

The goal of our bootcamp is to transform you into a professional full-stack developer. You’ll come to understand coding logic, and learn how to think like a dev by building software from the ground up using industry-relevant technologies. Our program will provide you with mentorship, data-driven curriculum and a top notch learning environment that will launch you into your first junior developer role.

If the answer is 'not sure', taking our part-time course might be the best option.

Our Intro to Web Development and Front End Fundamentals with JavaScript courses are excellent for:

• People interested in learning how to code
• People interested in learning how to communicate with a development team
• People looking to gain career skills to help in a hybrid role
• People interested in learning if they enjoy development before taking our Bootcamp

You can read more on the subject in our blog post: Full-time vs. Part-time: Which Program Is For Me?

Absolutely! Many of our students come from technical backgrounds, including people with Computer Science and Engineering degrees, and even people who currently work as developers. Our curriculum is designed with stretch goals to challenge students of all levels. You will also be surrounded by lots of seasoned developers who will be pushing you out of your comfort zone, so trust us that there will plenty of challenge – our unofficial motto is “get comfortable being uncomfortable”.

While the program is geared towards people of all coding levels, it takes dedication, grit and perseverance to handle a program of this pace and intensity. Our goal is to push everyone to their maximum learning experience in an 10 week period, and advanced students who have come to Lighthouse Labs have grown exponentially in the small, intense time frame.

You can read more about some of our students who came to Lighthouse with strong technical backgrounds, like Andre Soesilo who came to Lighthouse with 3 years experience as a Software Developer + a degree in Computer Engineering, or Katie Peterson a former Engineer turned iOS Developer.

Yes, you can come to Lighthouse Labs as an international student! There is no additional tuition cost or restrictions for people applying from outside of Canada. We have had many students come to Canada for our Bootcamp on a visitors visa, however you are entirely responsible for making any legal arrangements for staying in the country.

Lighthouse Labs is not able to assist in securing working permits, and your eligibility to work in Canada will entirely depend on you securing the proper documents. If you are able to obtain a working permit, you'll be able to take full advantage of our Career Services opportunities!

For more information on coming to Lighthouse Labs as an international student, check out the Newcomer's Neighbourhood Guide.

The Satellite Program is crafted to deliver our Bootcamp and Intro courses to communities that otherwise wouldn't have access. The program retrofits advanced learning technology and mentorship that creates a personalized education experience to help students launch tech careers. This includes on-site mentorship from local developers, along with access to real-time online assistance from our Instructors in Vancouver and Toronto. The satellite program follows the same curriculum and structure, while lectures are delivered by Senior Developers via high quality live video stream.

Yes! Many organizations have sent their employees to us to upgrade their technical skills.

Our Intro to Web Development courses are fantastic for people looking to gain a technical knowledge of development that can help when communicating with a dev team, managing development projects, understanding technical limitations, or transitioning into a hybrid development role.

Our Web Development Bootcamps can train someone with zero coding experience, into an agile developer in 10 weeks. This is a great option if you love your company but are looking for a career change, if you are currently a developer but need to learn new technologies, or if you're a founder looking to have more control over your the development of your product.

We can also build custom curriculum for your organization. If you need niche technical or development training for your team, please get in touch via hello@lighthouselabs.ca.

No formal education is required to being admitted to Lighthouse Labs! While having some coding knowledge always helps, your background does not matter as much as a genuine interest in development and a raw determination to succeed in this challenging environment.

If you’re interested in our bootcamp but brand new to code, our Intro to Web Development courses are a perfect way to figure out if you're ready for a career as a developer.

The prep work is there to help you do the groundwork and prepare for success before Day One of on-site Bootcamp. Each student is required to complete a 70-hr prep module at least one week before starting Bootcamp. The program is really 14 weeks long, as we consider the prep modules to be two weeks of full-time work on top of the 12 weeks of on-site bootcamp. However, you can jump into the Prep Modules as soon as you are confirmed into the program, so we recommend that you use all the extra time to make sure you get through all the prep with plenty of time to spare.

You have the option to complete the Prep Modules remotely or on-site at our campus. The on-site option gives you a dedicated workspace surrounded by the buzz of developers and the opportunity to work through the Prep Modules without your cat settling in on your keyboard for its afternoon nap. Alternatively, you have the option to complete the Prep Modules from the comfort of your home, as your physical presence on campus is not required until Day 1 of the bootcamp portion of the program. Both programs are the same in content, credential and completion time.

Our Admissions Criteria is determined by the province where you attend Bootcamp:

Ontario * Minimum age 18+ years or proof of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent * completed an Ontario Superintendent approved qualifying test

Alberta * Standard Admission: * Proof of Alberta high school graduation (verified by transcript) or equivalent or * Successful completion of the General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) * Mature Admission: * Minimum age 18+ years and successful completion of Logic Test

Quebec * Minimum age 18+ years or proof of high school graduation or equivalent

British Columbia and all remaining provinces * Minimum age 19+ years or proof of high school graduation

There are many ways Lighthouse Labs is unique. Our niche is developers, and everything we do is geared towards finding the best ways to deliver coding education.

• We have a rigorous admissions process, and will only admit potential students who we believe are able to thrive in an intensive learning environment like our bootcamp.
• Our curriculum is built by developers to teach industry relevant technologies, and is constantly iterated to stay on top of development trends. We <3 data-driven education.
• You'll spend 2 hours in lecture a day, and then spend the remainder of your 12+ hour day with hands on keyboard, practicing the skills and concepts you'll need to land a job as a dev.
• We are strong believers in the power of mentorship. At Lighthouse, you'll be supported by a community of over 80 developers. We keep a 1:8 student to teacher ratio, and our mentors are full-time developers who are available in-person throughout the day and on weekends to support your progress in bootcamp.
• We also do regular testing, and collect daily feedback from our students to constantly improve our student experience. Our developer community consists of over 500 alumni, mentors, and community partners that help our students stay on the pulse of innovation in the tech community.
• We share our space with amazing organizations like Launch Academy and Devhub.
• We have an experienced Career Services team that are entirely dedicated to connecting with employers and finding our alumni careers, which is how we've been able to achieve over an 93% employment rate for our job-seeking graduates.

To learn more about our graduate employment rates and how our career services sets us apart, check out our Student Outcomes Report.

For our Bootcamps, we recommend you apply 6-10 weeks before your desired start date as our cohorts start on a rolling basis. The more time you have to complete your Prep Modules and stretch goals, the better! For our Intro to Web Development course, we recommend you register and pay your deposit as early as possible to secure your spot - classes are often full a few weeks before the start date.

There is a 70-hour prep work module you are required to complete before attending bootcamp, and we always recommend you go above and beyond the prep work to prepare yourself as much as possible! The more coding practice you have before attending the program, the happier you will be.

Aside from practicing your coding, there are two things you can do which will set you up for success in the program. The first is to make sure you are comfortable with getting yourself into a productive, focused mindset. The ability to do this is a differentiating factor when it comes to success in the program. Students who are able to put themselves into a mindset that is productive and focused have an easier time adapting to the schedule and also are better at absorbing new material. Some people work best with headphones, some need quiet, some can just throw a mental switch. Find what works for you and get in the routine of doing it.

You can also work on learning how to logically break down tech problems. When you are using the web or your smartphone on a day to day basis, look at the apps and services you are using. Ask yourself the question, “What is the logic behind this? What would I have to do to solve this problem manually?”. This analysis gets you into the habit of looking at problems logically. You don’t need programming experience to talk through the steps you would have to do to play sudoku or solitaire. Just ask yourself how would you explain the steps to someone who doesn’t know the game.

As we are an accredited instituition, we follow provincial regulations with respect to admissions entrance requirements to our Bootcamp.

In Ontario:

• Minimum age 18+ years or proof of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or completed an Ontario Superintendent approved qualifying test

In Alberta:

• Standard Admission:
  • Proof of Alberta high school graduation (verified by transcript) or equivalent or successful completion of the General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.)
• Mature Admission:
  • Minimum age 18+ years and successful completion of Logic Test

In Quebec:

• Minimum age 18+ years or proof of high school graduation or equivalent

In British Columbia and all areas outside of Ontario, Alberta and Quebec:

• Minimum age 19+ years or proof of high school graduation

At Lighthouse Labs we are looking for a rare breed: someone who is seeking an opportunity for extraordinary growth, is ready to thrive in an intense learning environment, and LOVES code.

Our students come from all backgrounds and walks of life. They’re weird, they’re quirky, and they stick out in a crowd. Neuroscientists, accountants, teachers, and musicians have all come through our doors. Above all, we look for: passion, aptitude for coding, grit and culture fit.

You can learn more on our admissions page.

If you are waitlisted for one of our programs, the admissions team will contact you ASAP when a new spot becomes available. If no spots open up, and the class is still full on the course start date, we will be in touch to either transfer you to our next available cohort or refund your deposit (whichever you prefer!).

Our bootcamps run year round, on a rolling basis. In Vancouver and Toronto they starts every 4 weeks. Our part-time courses run every 6-12 weeks.

You can see all upcoming start dates when submitting your application!

Our goal is to get you job ready and employed as quickly as possible. As a Developer, the best thing you can do is build, build, build - so by accelerating your learning into 12 weeks, you can start your new career ASAP. We strongly believe that your first year after bootcamp will be where you do the most learning - so while we could cram more coding knowledge into your brain, we don't want you to twiddle your thumbs when you could be tapping on keys, making $$ and gaining real experience as a Developer.

12 weeks has proven to be the ideal balance to absorb the material, practice your skills and get employed, all while being able to maintain the pace, intensity and immersive nature of bootcamp.

During Bootcamp, you can expect to dedicate 100% of your time and energy to code. Lecture is from 9am-11am, and the rest of your day will be spent with hands on keyboard, completing the daily assignments, projects and reaching for those stretch goals. Students are often in the classroom well after 9pm and on weekends too (you'll have 24/7 access to our campus). You can see a complete breakdown of the day in the life on our Student Experience page.

Our Intro programs run twice a week from 6-9pm. The first hour is dedicated to lecture, and the remainder of your time will be spent completing tutorials and working on projects. There's no homework assigned, but you'll be given a ton of additional resources to practice on your own.

We <3 our alumni! Lighthouse grads are always welcome (and highly encouraged) to come back to work in our space, attend workshops + Demo Days, mentor current students, or just say hello (some even come back to bake us cookies ^_^).

Alumni have the entire Lighthouse Labs community at their disposal, including dedicated Slack channels, first dibs on event tickets, ongoing career support and mentorship with no expiry date.

You can learn more in our blog post: The One Year (and Beyond) Bootcamp.

Not directly, but we can connect you with housing options and offer advice. Check out our Newcomer's Neighbourhood Guide for some suggestions!

Congrats! There is a 70-hour prep work module you are required to complete before attending bootcamp, and we always recommend you go above and beyond the prep work to prepare yourself as much as possible. The more coding practice you have before attending the program, the happier you will be.

Our Head Instructor Don Burks goes into detail about how best to prepare for Bootcamp in our blog post: So You've Been Accepted to Lighthouse Labs. Now What?

Checkout the Newcomer's Neighbourhood Guide for some awesome suggestions for places to live, eat and explore while attending our Vancouver or Toronto campus.

Click here to read the Lighthouse Labs Code of Conduct. Click here to read our Sexual Violence Policy.

At Lighthouse Labs our guiding belief is that over 80% of training will be learned on the job, and the first year of working as a software developer can be seen as paid high-intensity training. Our dedicated Career Services team is here to guide our students into their new roles. They work with all students to identify their career goals, and help them jump from classroom into the real world ASAP to continue honing their skills.

You can learn more by reading our blog post: Getting Hired After Bootcamp.

Your employability in Canada is completely dependent on you being able to independently obtain a work visa or find an employer who is willing to sponsor you. Unfortunately, we are legally unable to help you obtain a work visa and in our experience, it can be very challenging for employers to successfully sponsor students right out of bootcamp. Obtaining a work visa independently is completely dependent on your unique situation, including your educational or professional background, the type of job you want, as well as the country you are coming from.

We encourage you to become an expert in your own immigration by contacting Canadian Citizenship and Immigration or an immigration lawyer as early as possible.

Our Career Services team will speak to you about your individual situation and come up with a plan on how we can best support your job hunt, be it in Canada or elsewhere. If you are unable to work in Canada, we are not able to directly connect you with employers, but we are still happy to support you through resume workshops, technical interviewing coaching, and networking tips.

For more info on coming to Canada for bootcamp, check out this handy Newcomer's Neighbourhood Guide that we've put together!

Absolutely! Our Career Services team will work with you to find the perfect fit your organization's needs. Our grads are sought-after, challenge hungry developers. A combination of our rigorous admissions process, tests and mentorship, guarantees our graduates are setup for success and are eager to contribute to your team from day one.

100% of our focus is on producing high quality Junior Devs who teach themselves new skills and think like software developers. Visit our Employers Page or get in touch for more information!

Over 160 organizations have hired our grads! You can learn more about our hiring partners on our employers page.

None. Nada. We're proud to introduce our grads to our hiring partners and provide employers with a pool of top talent. If you are looking for a Developer to join your team, check out our employers page.

Bootcamp

Once you are accepted into a cohort, your place in the program will only be reserved once we have received your deposit. Deposits can be paid by credit card, and we are able to accept cheques, wire transfers, or bank drafts for the remainder of your tuition. Your tuition is due 2 weeks before the start of the bootcamp.

Part-Time Classes

Deposits can be paid by credit card, and we are able to accept cheques, wire transfers, or bank drafts for the remainder of your tuition. You can also E-transfer the fund to bookkeeper@lighthouselabs.ca and your tuition is due 1 week before the start of the class.

You are required to pay your deposit to secure your spot in the program, and your tuition is due 2 weeks before the start of your on-site, in-class bootcamp.

The Lighthouse Labs Scholarship Program exists to improve access to education and promote diversity and inclusion in Canada's tech community. Visit our Scholarships page to see what options are available.

For all our bootcamp programs in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario you can withdraw RESPs and RRSPs to pay for your tuition. FYI, if you plan to withdraw RESP or RRSP funds you will need a confirmation of enrolment document from Lighthouse Labs first - so please keep that in mind. If you have other questions about withdrawing your RESPS or RRSPs, please get in touch.

Windmill Microlending is a national charity that offers low-interest loans of up to $15,000 to skilled newcomers to help pay for the credentials, licensing, retraining or professional development needed to achieve career success in Canada. For more information, please visit https://windmillmicrolending.org/lighthouselabs/

Yes! We'll issue a T2202A for you to claim your tuition for any full-time program or part-time program on your tax return.

Lighthouse Labs is a privately registered educational institution in four Canadian provinces. To comply with the unique regulations of each province, we have four distinct refund policies:

Bootcamp Refund Policy - Alberta
Bootcamp Refund Policy - British Columbia
Bootcamp Refund Policy - Ontario
Bootcamp Refund Policy - Quebec
Part-time Programs Refund Policy

Yes! Our Web Development Bootcamp is approved for Student Aid in Vancouver and Calgary. If you’re a resident of British Columbia or Alberta, you may be eligible for financial assistance. For more information or to apply online, you can visit the StudentAid website for British Columbia or Alberta.

The deadline for scholarship is one month prior to the start date of your Bootcamp.We recommend that you apply at least 2-3 weeks before this deadline to ensure you have time to complete the necessary steps to qualify.

In order to qualify, students must also have completed the criteria below before the one month deadline:

• Completed the admissions process and confirmed your attendance to the program (Can take up to 2-3 weeks)
• Paid your deposit*
• Submitted your scholarship essay responses

Qualified scholarship submissions will be reviewed by the scholarship committee.Applicants will be notified of whether they were scholarship recipients or 3 weeks prior to the start date of their Bootcamp.

*If you are unable to afford bootcamp after learning the results of the scholarship, we are happy to extend a full refund of your deposit and waive the normal administrative fee. We know these are difficult times for many, and realize that your ability to join the program may have been dependent on the scholarship.

Scholarships will be available as long as we still have great candidates and unallocated money from our $500,000 commitment.

These scholarships are open for both full time bootcamp and part time courses, with up to $5,000 being offered for full time, and up to $750 being offered for part time.

For this scholarship, we require one essay between 500 and 750 words.

• Tell us about how your experience with COVID affects your life?

• How do you think the skills you'll learn in this program will better prepare you for the job market ahead?

Lighthouse still believes in the strength of diversity, and will always have a commitment to making sure we do our best to strive towards a more diverse world. However given the current situation, we felt that the need for all to be able to apply for support would give a greater good to anyone who has been hit by the COVID-19 crisis.

Web Development Bootcamp
JavaScript, Express.js, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, SQL, Sqlite, Postgres, Node.JS, HTML, CSS, Git, Front-end, Back-end, MongoDB, Sinatra, jQuery, AJAX, Product Management, UX, UI, Websockets, OOP, RSpec, TDD, BDD, APIs, REST, MVC, ES2015, Responsive Web Apps, Heroku

Intro to Web Development
Ruby, HTML, CSS, Sinatra, UX, UI, Front End, Back End, Database Access

At Lighthouse, we believe that programming is a craft and therefore we focus on those who endeavour to be a master of their field. As our analogy-loving Head Instructor Don Burks like to say, a lot of people love to cook but not all are cut out to be chefs.

Our other guiding belief is that 80% of your training will be learned on the job, and your first year working as software developer can be seen as paid high-intensity training. With that in mind, we believe that training developers is about providing the right skills so you jump into your new career as a developer. Our program isn’t designed to teach everything you need to know to become an expert — that takes years of practice. It’s designed to teach you just enough to successfully start a profession and continue learning throughout your career.

Learn more about this in our Education Philosophies blog post.

At this time, students will not have access to campus buildings. All the student support will be provided online using a large combination of technology to ensure a high quality experience and smooth transition to a remote learning environment.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at hello@lighthouselabs.ca

We will continue to process applications with staff working remotely and continue to respond to emails and live chat messages. For more information please contact hello@lighthouselabs.ca or our Admissions Coordinator.

In general, the admission process takes these 3 steps:

1. Apply online: Complete our online application, where you'll introduce yourself and give us an overview of your background. This includes your education, coding experience, plus your superpower (you know, the important details that will help us get to know you).

2. Interview: Once we receive your application, we’ll look over your experience, education, and work background. Our team will get in touch (quickly!) and will invite you for an online tech interview.

3. Prep Modules: The 70 hours you’ll spend on the Prep Modules will introduce the basic technologies you’ll use throughout bootcamp. You’re required to complete the Prep Modules in the weeks leading up to your first day of the program.

Although we suspended any in-person campus visits, we encourage you to reach out to us at hello@lighthouselabs.ca in order to receive a virtual tour of our space.

You can explore our financing options here: https://www.lighthouselabs.ca/blog/financing-your-bootcamp-journey

It is important to mention that you can also apply for a scholarship even if you receive financing through other means like grants and/or loans. Submit an online application to our program, and you'll receive an email to fill out the necessary information for our scholarship program.

The fee for the bootcamp can be paid in two parts, both of which are due before the program begins. To reserve a spot in the program, a deposit is required. This step occurs once you go through the admissions process 6-10 weeks ahead of the start of the listed date of bootcamp, and pending approval into the program. Then, two weeks before the bootcamp begins, the remaining balance of the tuition is due.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is recommending that travellers avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada. To limit the spread of COVID-19, many countries have put in place travel or border restrictions and other measures such as movement restrictions and quarantines. Additionally, Canada has temporarily closed its borders to non-citizens because of the coronavirus pandemic. Please visit Government of Canada - Travel Advice and Advisories for more information.

If you are still considering travelling or are already outside of Canada:

• Check your destination’s Safety and security, Entry/exit requirements and Health sections.
• Get the Government of Canada’s latest updates on COVID-19.
• Check the Pandemic COVID-19 travel health notice.
• Find out what commercial options are still available to return to Canada. Consider returning to Canada earlier than planned if these options are becoming more limited.
• Ensure that you have sufficient finances and necessities, including medication, in case your travels are disrupted.
• Check with your travel insurance provider to know more about their policies related to COVID-19. Find out if you are covered for medical treatment if you become infected with COVID-19 as well as for extended stays outside of Canada.

Upon return to Canada:

• Self-isolate for 14 days after your return from travel outside of Canada. Some provinces and territories may have specific recommendations for certain groups such as health care workers.
• Monitor your health for fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
• Wash your hands often for 20 seconds and cover your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing or sneezing.

If you develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing within 14 days:

• Continue to isolate yourself from others
• Immediately call a health care professional or public health authority and:
  • describe your symptoms and travel history
  • follow their instructions carefully

As of March 16th, 2020 all events, including Demo Days and Info Sessions, will be taking place online. Follow our Events page for the latest information.