COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Language is a programming language used primarily in financial and business applications. It is one of the first popular coding languages to enter the market. There are no formal education requirements to become a remote COBOL programmer, though many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in computer science, management information systems, information technology, or a related field. Other remote COBOL programmers started out by learning the system on their own with online courses or through programs at vocational schools or community colleges. Acquire an internship or part-time job with a company that uses COBOL and other programming languages. Since COBOL programming is most common within administrative and business organizations, consider taking some administrative courses to gain perspective about potential clients.