A degree isn't a pre-requisite. If you ask freelancers on the web, I reckon more than half of them will say that it is actually better to get straight into the business without mucking around with a degree. As technology changes so quickly it might be easier to keep up to date with things without being stuck to a syllabus. I freelance (although not full time) and I am (hopefully) getting a degree this summer - but in Biochemistry NOT anything IT related. I even hope to get a PhD in biochem - does that make me any less applicable for an IT job? No.

Confidence wise that is very much a personal thing which is hard to "teach". But I think that if your husband was to either do a degree or just jump right in he would gain confidence. It would be gradual – which is to be expected, but it he will get there if he really tries.