At a glance
Cybersecurity jobs are in high demand, but employers are struggling to find qualified talent. With hundreds of thousands of open positions and too few trained professionals, now is the perfect time to launch your cybersecurity career.
To combat these challenges, the Cyber Workforce Accelerator (CWA) program is expanding Maryland’s cybersecurity talent pipeline by partnering with the state’s community colleges and providing jobseekers with direct access to hands-on training and meaningful employment opportunities.
Length
48 hours (plus exam)Program cost
No cost (up to maximum 1,100 students)Schedule
Rolling enrollment year-round and online trainingCertification earned
SOC operations Analyst I CertificationProgram Overview
- Part I – Asynchronous Training (40 hours): Build foundational expertise in cybersecurity governance, threat analysis, networking, Linux command line, and attacker behavior.
- Part II – Experiential Training (8 hours): Engage in instructor-led exercises on the BCR Cyber Series 3000 Cyber Range, where you detect, mitigate, and remediate simulated cyber attacks.
- Certification Exam: A rigorous 100-question, 90-minute test to measure your technical and operational proficiency.
What You’ll Learn
The Cyber Workforce Accelerator (CWA) is designed to get you job-ready fast. Delivered 100% online including training on a Cyber Range, this program makes it easy to gain the technical skills needed for entry-level SOC roles, including:
- Threat analysis
- Security operations
- Enterprise security
- Hands-on incident response
Licensure/Certification:
Upon completion, students earn the SOC Operations Analyst I Certification, a credential aligned with federal standards, leading industry frameworks and employer expectations. This means graduates walk into their first job fully equipped to contribute on day one – filling critical roles in Maryland cybersecurity workforce.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must enroll through a participating Maryland community college
- Must have or be seeking an Associate Degree in IT/cyber OR have two of the following certifications: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+
- Must be looking for employment in IT/cyber
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must be domiciled in Maryland
- Must have no criminal convictions
- Must be 18 years old or older or 17 turning 18 within six months of the program start Must enroll through a participating Maryland community college
- Must have or be seeking an Associate Degree in IT/cyber OR have two of the following certifications: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+
- Must be looking for employment in IT/cyber
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must be domiciled in Maryland
- Must have no criminal convictions
- Must be 18 years old or older or 17 turning 18 within six months of the program start
Cost for eligible participants.
Time to complete
Online
