The Software Development Diploma Program is a 52-week course designed to prepare students with the necessary knowledge and innovative training to have a successful career post-graduation.
In this Software Development Program, students will learn industry standards and procedures, web development, and network and design fundamentals, as well as scripting languages.
The graduates of this program will be eligible to work in the IT departments, software development firms, data analysis companies, and many other related industries.
Are you looking to launch a high-growth career in the technology sector? Our comprehensive Software Development Course is also offered online.
This program is designed to deliver a cutting-edge education right to your home, making it accessible to aspiring developers across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
There’s no need to relocate; you can gain the skills to become a professional software developer. You don’t have to change your schedule, and you will also have the liberty to choose your own pace.
Software developers play a critical role in managing and refining company processes, making decisions that influence how users engage with goods, interfaces, and apps. The graduates of this software development program are prepared for a variety of career and professional development options.
Upon completion of these software development classes, the successful students will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Software development is one of the most in-demand, highest-paying, and most future-proof career fields in the Canadian economy. Every organization that builds digital products — from startups and game studios to financial institutions and government agencies — depends on skilled developers and programmers who can write, test, and maintain the code that powers their systems and applications.
In British Columbia, WorkBC has designated computer systems developers and programmers as a High Opportunity Occupation — one of the strongest signals the province applies to careers with exceptional long-term demand. Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230) in B.C. can expect approximately 2,550 job openings between 2025 and 2035, with average annual earnings of $84,998. WorkBC
Demand for computer systems developers and programmers is strong and continues to grow — with demand especially high for workers skilled in complex programming languages. WorkBC This diploma’s multi-language curriculum — covering Java, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, and C# alongside web development and cloud platforms — directly addresses the breadth of technical skills that B.C. and Canadian employers are seeking.
B.C. is home to one of Canada’s most active technology sectors. Vancouver and Victoria are recognized hubs for software companies, game developers, SaaS firms, and technology-driven enterprises across finance, healthcare, and the public sector. In B.C., bigger cities like Vancouver and Victoria offer more full-time jobs and opportunities to work on larger and more complicated projects WorkBC — making Edison College’s Victoria campus particularly well-placed for graduates entering the local tech labour market.
Nationally, software developers across Canada typically earn between $30.00 and $76.92 per hour Job Bank, with B.C., Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador among the leading provinces for software developer compensation.
This diploma is designed to provide the foundational programming skills and practical project experience that position graduates for entry-level roles as junior developers, computer programmers, and web technicians — with a clear path to advancement as skills and experience accumulate. This field is always advancing, and workers must continue learning and upgrading their skills to keep up with technology — often with employers paying for this ongoing training. WorkBC
Edison College offers this program both in-class at our Victoria campus and fully online — meaning aspiring developers across Canada can build career-ready coding skills without relocating.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 21230 | Government of Canada Job Bank
Graduates of the Software Development diploma are prepared for a range of entry-level and junior technical roles in programming, web development, and software support — across virtually every industry that builds or depends on digital technology. Career opportunities include:
Programming & Development:
Systems & Technical Roles:
Quality Assurance & Support:
Advancement Pathways (with experience):
Computer systems developers and programmers are employed in computer software development firms, information technology consulting firms, and in information technology units throughout the public and private sectors. WorkBC Software developers and programmers also work for software, computer and video game development companies — as well as in consulting firms and in IT departments of larger organizations across multiple industries. WorkBC
The multi-language curriculum in this diploma — spanning Java, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, C#, SQL, and cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure and AWS — gives graduates versatility across different employer types and technical environments, increasing their range of viable entry points into the field.
Software developers and programmers work in some of the most dynamic, innovative, and well-compensated professional environments in the Canadian economy — with strong and growing options for remote and hybrid work:
Software Development & Technology Companies: The core employer category for graduates — software companies, SaaS firms, and technology startups in B.C. and across Canada hire junior developers and programmers at all stages of a product’s lifecycle. Vancouver’s technology cluster includes hundreds of software firms, from early-stage startups to global enterprises with B.C. headquarters.
Video Game Studios: B.C. is home to one of Canada’s most active video game development industries, with major studios and independent developers based in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Interactive media continues to increase in popularity, covering a wide range of products from customizable multimedia to web-accessible databases — and workers who specialize in this area and have information-design skills are expected to be in high demand. WorkBC
IT Consulting Firms: Technology consulting and managed services firms hire junior programmers and developers to build and maintain client-facing systems, internal tools, and custom software solutions. These roles offer exposure to a broad range of projects and accelerate technical skill development.
Financial Services & Fintech: Banks, insurance companies, and financial technology firms employ developers to build and maintain trading systems, customer-facing applications, compliance tools, and internal platforms — roles that leverage the Python, Java, and database skills developed in this program.
Government & Public Sector: Federal and provincial government agencies, including those concentrated in Victoria, employ software developers and programmers to build and maintain public-facing applications, internal systems, and digital service platforms. Victoria’s role as B.C.’s provincial capital creates consistent local demand for technical talent.
Healthcare & Life Sciences: Hospitals, health technology companies, and life sciences organizations employ developers to build electronic health record systems, patient-facing apps, laboratory software, and data platforms — an area of growing technical employment across B.C. and Canada.
Remote Work: Some computer systems developers and programmers are able to work remotely or from home WorkBC — and remote software development roles are among the most widely available in the Canadian technology sector. The cloud computing skills developed in this program (Microsoft Azure, AWS) are directly relevant to remote-native development workflows, giving graduates meaningful flexibility in where they choose to work.
Software development offers some of the most competitive compensation available to diploma graduates in Canada — with strong starting wages and a clear trajectory toward high earnings as experience, specialization, and project portfolio grow.
In British Columbia, computer programmers (NOC 21230) typically earn between $28.57 and $69.23 per hour Job Bank — a wide range that reflects the significant premium placed on experienced developers with strong multi-language skills and proven project delivery.
WorkBC reports average annual earnings for computer systems developers and programmers in B.C. of approximately $84,998 WorkBC — one of the highest average annual incomes of any program in Edison College’s technology portfolio, and a strong signal of the long-term earning potential available to graduates who build their skills and experience over time.
For those who advance into software developer roles, B.C. wages climb further. Software developers in British Columbia typically earn between $31.25 and $84.13 per hour Job Bank, with senior developers and software engineers commanding compensation well above the provincial average for technology professionals.
Nationally, software developers across Canada typically earn between $30.00 and $76.92 per hour Job Bank, with B.C. consistently ranking among the top provinces for software development compensation — reflecting the strength and concentration of B.C.’s technology sector.
Graduates who continue building their skills after graduation — through additional certifications, cloud platform credentials (AWS, Azure), or open-source portfolio work — can accelerate their progression into mid-level and senior roles, where compensation increases substantially.
Studying from another province? Software development roles exist across every major city and sector in Canada, with strong employment markets in B.C., Ontario, Alberta, and Atlantic Canada. Graduates are encouraged to consult the Government of Canada Job Bank for current wage data specific to their home province.
Sources: WorkBC — NOC 21230 | Government of Canada Job Bank — Computer Programmer BC | Government of Canada Job Bank — Software Developer BC
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"Graduating from this program as a Mental Health and Addiction Community Support Worker has been a truly impactful experience. The education I received provided me with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges in a meaningful and compassionate way.
The instructors were supportive, knowledgeable, and brought real-world experience into the classroom, which made the learning feel relevant and applicable. I especially valued the focus on trauma-informed care, cultural awareness, and building genuine connections with clients.
This program helped me grow not only professionally but personally. I left feeling confident, prepared, and motivated to make a difference in my community. I’m grateful for the foundation it gave me and would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a career in mental health and addiction support
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"I had a great experience completing my Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant program at Edison College. The course was practical, easy to follow, and really helped me feel prepared to work in the field. I would definitely recommend it to others."
"My experience at Edison College Canada has been very rewarding. The Community Support Worker program, especially the Mental Health and Addiction specialization, has helped me build confidence and real-world skills to support vulnerable individuals in my community. I feel more prepared for my future career."
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