[codingdave]

> I'd like to remain working in the public sector, so I can't really transition to a dev role internally without the credential.

I've been working for the public sector for a decade now. There are plenty of dev jobs in this sector, if you seek out those of us who sell SaaS software to government entities. Many of the jobs I'm aware of in this sector are remote jobs, almost none of them require a degree. The software needed by public entities is also different than private - we tend to deal with specialized needs and regulatory environments, so you can walk in the door with added value to your employer when you already understand the needs of this sector.