The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity is pleased to launch four new CyberSkills2Work training pathways for 2025 and is now accepting applications for enrollment. The program provides FREE cybersecurity training and career development for eligible transitioning military personnel, first responders, and veterans to prepare them for rewarding cybersecurity jobs. Military spouses, women, underrepresented minorities, and federal, state, and local government employees are now also eligible to apply!
Four training pathways will be offered in 2025: Systems Administration, AI and Machine Learning, AI and Data Management, and Defensive Cybersecurity to prepare participants for related cyber work roles. Each pathway includes asynchronous online instructor-led courses, industry certification prep courses and vouchers, digital badges and credentials, and career development support. A cohort of up to 35 eligible participants will be selected for each pathway, with all costs covered by the program.
2025 CyberSkills2Work Training Pathways:
Systems Administration Training Pathway
Training Program Dates: January 21 – August 15, 2025
Application Deadline: November 22, 2024
This seven-month, five-course training pathway prepares participants for entry-level Systems Administration work roles as described in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. This pathway is a great opportunity for those with no or minimal IT or cybersecurity experience who want to launch a career in cybersecurity. The program includes two industry certification prep courses and vouchers for CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+, a course on EC Council’s Generative AI for Cybersecurity, and two UWF courses: Essential Cyber Defenses and Introduction to Linux.
AI and Machine Learning for Cybersecurity Training Pathway
Training Program Dates: January 21 – August 15, 2025
Application Deadline: November 22, 2024
This seven-month, five-course training pathway prepares participants for Defensive Cybersecurity work roles as described in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and AI/ML Specialist work roles as described in the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework. This pathway is a great opportunity for those with no or minimal IT or cybersecurity experience who want to launch a career in cybersecurity. The program includes three industry certification prep courses and vouchers for CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, and ISACA AI Fundamentals, a course on EC Council’s Generative AI for Cybersecurity, and one UWF course: Applied AI for Cybersecurity.
AI and Data Management for Cybersecurity Training Pathway
Training Program Dates: February 3 – July 11, 2025
Application Deadline: November 22, 2024
This four-month, five-course training pathway prepares participants for Defensive Cybersecurity work roles as described in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and AI/ML Specialist work roles as described in the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework. This pathway is a great opportunity for those with at least one year of IT or cybersecurity experience to expand their knowledge and skills, and advance their career in cybersecurity. The program includes two industry certification prep courses and vouchers for CompTIA Security+, and ISACA AI Fundamentals, a course on EC Council’s Generative AI for Cybersecurity, and two UWF courses: Applied AI for Cybersecurity and Data Management and Security.
Defensive Cybersecurity Training Pathway
Training Program Dates: February 3 – August 29, 2025
Application Deadline: November 22, 2024
This seven-month, five-course training pathway prepares participants for Defensive Cybersecurity work roles as described in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. This pathway is a great opportunity for those with at least one year of IT or cybersecurity experience to expand their knowledge and skills, and advance their career in cybersecurity. The program includes industry certification prep courses and vouchers for CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), a course on EC Council’s Generative AI for Cybersecurity, and two UWF courses: Critical Infrastructure Security and Penetration Testing.
Application and Additional Information
Download the program flyer for additional information or visit the UWF CyberSkills2Work Program web page (uwf.edu/CyberSkills2Work) for details and to apply.
For additional information or questions, contact us at CyberSkills2Work@uwf.edu.
This program is part of the National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work, and is funded by the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).