CyberSkills2Work
The National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program

Free cybersecurity training and professional development to prepare and help place our nation’s heroes into cybersecurity jobs.

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Learn More About CyberSkills2Work

Funded by the National Security Agency, the CyberSkills2Work Program is a national cybersecurity workforce development program that focuses on recruiting, preparing, and placing transitioning military, transitioning first responders, and veterans into cybersecurity work roles in our nation’s Critical Infrastructure Sectors, focusing on financial services, defense industrial bases, and energy sectors.

CyberSkills2Work provides flexible pathways that accommodate learners’ diverse aptitudes, education, and experience. Courses are offered by colleges and universities across the country, both in-person and online, making the program accessible and convenient for transitioning professionals. Upon successfully completing a course or program, participants are awarded certifications, digital badges, and credentials to document skills and competencies. Learners receive career development resources and are connected with job opportunities via the National Cybersecurity Employers Network. The CyberSkills2Work Program is provided at no cost to eligible participants.

Please click here to learn more about the various workforce programs and what they offer. Please complete the interest form if you are interested in learning more or participating in upcoming workforce programs.

If you are an employer interested in program graduates, please join our National Cybersecurity Employers Network. Preference is for Critical Infrastructure Sector organizations, including financial services, defense industrial bases, and energy sectors. Membership in the network doesn’t cost anything except a bit of your time and your ideas. We ask Network members to (1) tell us what skills and knowledge you’re looking for in new hires as we develop and test our program; (2) help us market the program to prospective learner, with a focus on transitioning military,first responders, and veterans; and finally (3) consider sharing your cybersecurity job vacancies and hiring some of the program’s graduates for your cybersecurity team once they’ve completed the training.

Benefits of being a National Cybersecurity Employers Network Member

  • A convenient, web-based portal for sharing information, soliciting your feedback, posting your positions and connecting with graduates.
  • Access to regional and national career fairs administered by our consortium colleges and universities.
  • Diagnostic aptitude testing that aligns learners to the roles best suited to their educational background, work experience, skills, and interests.

Interested in joining? Please click here and complete the form.

If you are a college or university designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) that offers or is developing a cybersecurity workforce program, and you are interested in joining the CyberSkills2Work program, please complete the Interest Form. We are exploring ways to expand the program in 2022 and beyond.

If you or your organization are interested in supporting the CyberSkills2Work Program, please complete the Interest Form. We welcome individuals and organizations interested in providing support to expand the program for underrepresented and underserved populations, including transitioning military and first responders, veterans, women, and minorities. We also welcome those interested in promoting and marketing the program.

Interest Form

Cybersecurity Workforce Pathways
University of West Florida
UWF CyberSkills2Work Program
University of South Florida - Cyber Florida
New Skills for a New Fight
Augusta University
Cyber Workforce Transition Program
Dakota State University
Digital Forensics and Open Source Intelligence Training Program
Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso
Computer and Network Security Certificate & CAE Cybersecurity Workforce Development
Florida International University
Veterans and First Responders Training Initiative
Metropolitan State University
Cyber4Heroes Program
San Antonio College
SAC Cyber Workforce Development Project
University of Texas at San Antonio
Cyber Workforce Development Program

About the CyberSkills2Work Program

Cybersecurity has become one of the fastest-growing fields and most critical career paths in an increasingly digital world; however, the existing number of cybersecurity professionals has failed to keep pace with the demand.

The CyberSkills2Work Program was created in response to this national cybersecurity workforce shortage by a coalition of 10 institutions designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)*. The NCAE-C designation ensures that each institution meets rigorous standards. Led by the University of West Florida, the coalition will establish a nationally scalable and sustainable cybersecurity workforce program to rapidly expand the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals. Each institution offers free cybersecurity workforce pathways that prepare participants for specific cybersecurity work roles aligned with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Participation in the program will prepare the learner with nationally recognized credentials and job placement assistance to get the learner quickly into the workforce.

CyberSkills2Work is an alternate pathway to a cybersecurity career. Because of the shortage of work ready applicants, the cybersecurity industry has recognized the need for a rapid-cycle training program in addition to the traditional 4-year bachelor degree route. There are both in-person and online pathway options available to learners. To recognize the contribution of our nation’s heroes we are focusing our recruitment efforts on veterans, and those in either military or first responders’ jobs who are transitioning to civilian life. Each of the 10 coalition institutions has developed training pathways in direct response to employers’ needs and works with employers to hire the pathway graduates. Employment opportunities will target nationally designated critical infrastructure sectors including finance, defense, and energy.

* The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program is managed by the National Cryptologic School at the National Security Agency. Federal Partners include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer (DoD-CIO), and US Cyber Command (CYBERCOM).

More information on the workforce pathways, program requirements, employment opportunities and application process will be available in September 2021.

Our NCAE-C Coalition Team

University of West Florida (Lead Institution)

Augusta University

Dakota State University

Eastern New Mexico University - Ruidoso

Florida International University

Metropolitan State University

San Antonio College

University of Houston

University of South Florida - Cyber Florida

University of Texas at San Antonio

This program is funded by the National Security Agency under the NCAE-C-003-2020 - NCAE-C Cyber Curriculum and Research 2020 Program.

Helpful Resources

Cyber Career Pathways Tool - This tool will help you identify, build, and navigate a potential cyber career pathway by increasing your understanding of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to begin, transition, or advance your cyber career.  It is an interactive way to explore work roles within the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework). It depicts the Cyber Workforce according to five distinct, yet complementary, skill communities. It encompasses the skills required to build, secure, operate, defend and protect technology, data, and  resources; conduct related intelligence activities; enable future operations; and project power in or through cyberspace. It also highlights core attributes among each of the 52 work roles and offers actionable insights for employers, professionals, and those considering a career in Cyber.

NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework - a nationally focused and interactive framework that categorizes and describes cybersecurity work and workers regardless of location or employer. National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) provides a set of building blocks for describing the tasks, knowledge, and skills that are needed to do the cybersecurity work performed by individuals and teams. It also describes the competencies, work roles and work teams to meet industry needs. The NICE Framework is intended to be applied in the public, private, and academic sectors. The NICE Framework evolves to meet new demands and technology.

CyberSeek - to learn more about the cybersecurity workforce and current job trends visit this link. This site provides detailed, actionable data around supply and demand in the cybersecurity job market. One of the developing partners is CompTIA – a technology credentialing organization.

NCAE-C Community - provides relevant information, ideas, and events by CAE Institutions for CAE Institutions through weekly newsletters, web conferencing platforms, and by hosting the annual symposium for existing CAEs and applicants. The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program is managed by the National Cryptologic School at the National Security Agency. Federal Partners include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer (DoD-CIO), and US Cyber Command (CYBERCOM).

Critical Infrastructure Sectors - Provides guidance and information intended to support State, Local, and industry partners in identifying the critical infrastructure sectors and the essential workers needed to maintain the services and functions for our nation. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is the nation’s risk advisor working with partners to defend against today’s threats and collaborating to build more secure and resilient infrastructures. CISA builds the national capacity to defend against cyber-attacks and works with the federal government to provide cybersecurity tools, incident response services, and assessment capabilities to safeguard the ‘.gov’ networks that support the essential operations of partner departments and agencies. There are 16 critical infrastructure sectors whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof. Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21): Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience advances a national policy to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure.

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