If you're looking to begin a programming career, you may be wondering how to get into a coding bootcamp. Before you start applying to coding bootcamps, there are a number of things you can do to increase your likelihood of admission. If you don't have any experience with programming, you should consider taking free or low-cost online coding classes before applying to a more intensive bootcamp. Udemy, Udacity, edX, and Codecademy are also popular platforms for taking short, introductory coding courses. You may have the opportunity to begin building a programming portfolio if the course includes a significant student coding project. Courses sometimes offer some kind of certificate of completion, which you can also add to your portfolio. Programmers typically house their portfolio on a personal website, a GitHub profile page, or the professional networking site LinkedIn. You could also consider taking a bootcamp prep course, which some bootcamp providers offer to prepare prospective students for the demands of their intensive programs. Flatiron School, a leading coding bootcamp, hosts a free prep course that features on-demand support, more than 75 hours of programming lessons, and an interview prep curriculum. Completing a prep course can significantly enhance your programming portfolio and is one of the most effective ways to get into competitive coding bootcamps.