program overview
The National Cybersecurity Center’s Cyber Force Initiative prepares students for a career in cybersecurity by offering training courses that lead to industry-level CompTIA Certifications. The courses offered are: IT Fundamentals and Security+. All courses are instructor led and can be completed through in-person instruction or online streaming.
sign up
The Cyber Force Initiative is available to all students who submit an application for financial aid through their local workforce center. If funding is not granted through the workforce center, additional funding will be made available through the National Cybersecurity Center, however, you must show documentation that you went through the workforce grant process first.
1) To get started, please complete the workforce application by completing this form.
2) Once you receive your funding decision from the Workforce Center, please complete this form.
3) You can start the training immediately!
SUMMER 2022
COURSE SCHEDULE
IMPORTANT: Use code provided at registration to sign up for courses.
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
(Security+) ****THIS CLASS HAS PASSED
ONLINE: March 29-June 16, 2022
(TUES/THURS 5:30-8PM MST)
IN PERSON: March 28-June 17, 2022
(MON/WED 5:30-8pm MST)
FALL 2022
IT FUNDAMENTALS (101) & SECURITY + (201)
LIVE STREAMING
Instructor: Bill Blatchley
M+W // 5:30- 8pm MST
Starts immediately after payment is received
SELF-PACED
Starts immediately after payment is received
IT FUNDAMENTALS (101)
& SECURITY + (201)
IN PERSON AND LIVE STREAMING
Instructors: Art Thompson & Bill Blatchley
SEPTEMBER 2023 – MAY 2024 // M+W // 5:30 - 8pm MST
IN PERSON Location: Family Success Center - Pikes Peak United Way, 1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910
CyberDEFENSE PRO (301)
IN PERSON AND LIVE STREAMING
Instructor: Bill Blatchley
May 8 - Sept 6, 2023 // M+W // TIME TBD
SPRING 2023
IT FUNDAMENTALS (101)
ONLINE
Instructor: Art Thompson
Jan 9 - Mar 1, 2023 // M+W // 5:30 - 8pm MST
SECURITY PRO (201)
IN PERSON AND LIVE STREAMING
Instructor: Bill Blatchley
Jan 30 - May 3, 2023 // M+W // 5:30 - 8pm MST
IT FUNDAMENTALS (101) REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
ONLINE
Instructor: Art Thompson
Sept 5 - Dec 7, 2022 // M+W // 5:30 - 8pm MST
Security Pro (201)
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
IN PERSON and LIVE STREAMING
Instructor: Bill Blatchley
Aug 29, 2022 - Jan 11, 2023 // M+W // 5:30 - 8pm MST
COURSE descriptions
IT FUNDAMENTALS PRO is designed to provide students with a solid foundation of IT Skills and Knowledge. Through engaging lessons and hands-on learning students will be able to learn hundreds of essential concepts in computer software, hardware, programming, databases, cybersecurity, networking, information systems, and much more. You can learn more about the course specifics here. This course prepares you for the TestOut IT Fundamentals Pro Certification and the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (FCO-U61) exam.
SECURITY PRO is designed to prepare students to perform tasks commonly performed by IT security professionals such as network and systems administrators and IT security specialists. In this course you will learn how to implement layered security through group policy objects, access control lists, wireless and wired local area network security measures, and workstation and mobile device security measures. You can learn more about the course specifics here This course prepares you for the TestOut Security Pro Certification and the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) exam.
Interested in finding out more about pathways to a career in IT? Check out CompTIA’s IT Certification Roadmap
Unsure which position is right for you? Learn more about cybersecurity careers here.
Capture the Flag
The National Cybersecurity Center’s in-person Capture the Flag (CTF) competition welcomes hackers ages 16 to 103 to show off their cybersecurity skills for a chance to win money. This is free competition, and slots are VERY limited. Stay tuned for an announcement on the next CTF! Click HERE to stay in touch with us.
FAQ
The cost of the program is $5000, however we are working with the Pikes Peak Workforce Center (and other workforce centers across the state) to ensure that students who are interested in applying for aid will have access to the program for no cost. If you are denied a workforce grant, the NCC will offer a grant of up to $4,000.
NCC works hard to provide low-cost cybersecurity training. Workforce centers often have resources available which supplement the financial aid/scholarships the NCC is able to provide. We ask students go through their workforce center before applying for NCC financial aid, so we can continue to offer low-cost training to as many students as possible.
All students will have the opportunity to sit for four TestOut certifications (IT Fundamentals, Security Pro, Network Pro, and CyberDefense Pro) as well as three CompTIA certifications (Security+, Network+, and CySA+). Which exams students choose to sit for are at their discretion. All exam vouchers are included in the cost of the program.
Once students enroll in the program, they will have access to all NCC courses. This includes IT Fundamentals, Security Pro, Network Pro, and CyberDefense Pro. Additionally, students will receive vouchers for each corresponding CompTIA exam.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to addressing our nation’s critical gap in skilled cybersecurity talent, NCC receives grants and funding that allow us to offer these programs at a reduced cost.
We use the TestOut Corporation’s curriculum, one of the leading providers of cybersecurity training. The courses are internet based and include lessons, videos, labs, tests and quizzes.
None! Whether you are an adult who wants to change your career path, a single parent, unemployed, a military veteran, or someone that wants to learn new skills, we are excited help you through the process of starting a career in cybersecurity.
IN PERSON Location: Family Success Center – Pikes Peak United Way, 1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910
We suggest that all out of town students take courses online via Zoom (which are also instructor led). In the event a Zoom class is not offered, students will be given access to the live-stream of each in-person course.
The courses we offer present an extensive overview of different industry pathways. We are also always happy to schedule a time to discuss your options. You might also want to explore the CompTIA IT Career Roadmap.
"Many companies out there charge exorbitant fees for their training, and they fall far short of the promises they profess. After training is over, there is more concern about paying for training than entering the job market. The National Cybersecurity Center's Cyber Force Initiative provides cybersecurity leadership and free or low-cost resources and education for underrepresented groups in the cybersecurity industry, such as women and people of color, as well as those interested in changing careers."
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