We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Practical Adult Insights

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Career

How Do I Become a COBOL Programmer?

By K. Reynolds
Updated Mar 03, 2024
Our promise to you
PracticalAdultInsights is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At PracticalAdultInsights, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Common Business Oriented Language (COBOL) is the second oldest programming language and has been around for over 60 years; therefore, large numbers of legacy programs and code are available to anyone looking to become a COBOL programmer. A person looking to become a COBOL programmer can choose to learn the language through independent study, but most aspiring programmers opt to learn the language through a formal education in computer science or other programming curriculum. Those looking to become a COBOL programmer for a technology company will need to have a bachelor's degree from a technical field in order to compete in the job market.

In order to become a COBOL programmer, one will need to understand data and control structures as they are the foundation of any programming language. This can be done fairly easily as there are numerous free online COBOL courses that will assist anyone who is looking to become a COBOL programmer. In addition to free online courses, many experienced COBOL programmers interact with one another in a variety of online forums. These forums can assist individuals looking to become a COBOL programmer in a variety of ways including reviewing code structure and syntax, or helping to debug a program.

Those who are serious about the opportunity to become a COBOL programmer can become certified in the language, which will demonstrate proficiency to potential clients and employers. The certification is administered by the Institute for Data Center Professionals and is widely respected throughout the industry. Individuals taking the certification exam are tested on the basics of COBOL programming, which include the use of structured programming techniques and the programmers’ proficiency in the designing, coding, and testing of COBOL programs. Advance COBOL programming concepts are also covered within the certification test, including array processing techniques and transaction processing.

After becoming proficient in the language, those looking to become a COBOL programmer will need to decide whether or not to offer their programming services as independent consultants, or acquire a COBOL programming position at a company. Independent consultants are able to work on a variety of projects from the comfort of their homes. Although this option offers an abundance of freedom and flexibility, the income and workload can vary dramatically. It is because of this that many individuals looking to become a COBOL programmer will begin their careers by obtaining a job as an on-staff COBOL programmer.

PracticalAdultInsights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By Markerrag — On Jan 29, 2014

I'd wager that becoming a COBOL programmer is just like becoming fluent in any computer language -- grab a good compiler, a handy book that teaches COBOL and dive right in.

Of course, there are COBOL classes given in computer science departments all over the place. But, you've got to start somewhere, right? Most of the best programmers I know started out as hobbyists who were fascinated with learning a programming language so they could make computers do what they told them.

PracticalAdultInsights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

PracticalAdultInsights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.