I went back to school when I decided to switch careers (I was a banquet manager at the time) and my experience was that a relevant degree will make it easier to

I went back to school when I decided to switch careers (I was a banquet manager at the time) and my experience was that a relevant degree will make it easier to land interviews, but doesn't matter much beyond that. Interviewers were far more interested in things like side projects I did for fun or how well I whiteboarded than my education. So your real hurdle (assuming you're at the skill level of an entry-level/junior developer) is landing interviews. If you're not interested in going back to school I'd suggest reaching out to recruiters. Work with several, try not to be too picky, and most importantly, be patient. With an unconventional background getting your first offer will not be easy - but after that you're set. [Or at least, that was my experience, your mileage may vary]. Lastly, you mentioned you picked up PHP & SQL for a personal project - make sure that's on your resume and make sure to bring it up in every interview you have. It shows a genuine interest both in writing software and in learning as well as demonstrate you're capable of learning outside of a classroom.