What is this program all about?

This is a free cybersecurity training program specially designed for high school students, college students, and working-class adults residing in the Tampa Bay area, with a mission to increase the number of trained and educated cybersecurity workforce in Florida. During the course, we will teach, train and prepare you to sit for a globally-recognized industry-standard cybersecurity certification exam at the time when you complete the program. Then you will have the option to register for the certification exam, and if you do so, we will also cover the exam fees. With this certification, you can jump-start your cybersecurity career with an average starting salary of more than 90k.

Who Qualifies for this program?

This program is specially designed for high school and college students interested in learning cybersecurity and obtaining a world-recognized cybersecurity certification to explore new opportunities.

What kind of cybersecurity certification will I get?

By successfully completing this customized program, participants will be fully trained and qualified to register and earn an industry-standard cybersecurity certification, enabling them to explore more career opportunities. As such, one of our key objectives in this program is to prepare you to sit for Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) certification offered by (ISC)², one of the world’s largest IT security and cybersecurity membership organizations.

Why SSCP certification?

Since this program mainly focuses on preparing high-school students and employees, particularly those with non-IT backgrounds, the SSCP certification is chosen as the baseline, which is an entry-level certification, yet one of the most recognizable certifications for the entry-level roles that can help launch your cybersecurity career. In addition, SSCP is globally trusted and approved by the U.S. DoD to meet directive 8570.1 requirements.

Is the Certification Exam online?

Yes. We will do the online registration on your behalf after completing this program. You can then take the exam at your convenience at the closest Pearson VUE test center (global administrator of all (ISC)² exams).

Who is conducting the program?

This program will be conducted by the University of South Florida, with our state-of-the-art facilities on campuses in Tampa and St. Petersburg. You will be in good hands with a team of industry-leading cybersecurity experts from the university, and they will teach and assist you every step of the way.

How much it costs to me?

This is a totally free cybersecurity training program, so it does not cost you. We at the University of South Florida will take care of your tuition expenses, exam fees, and everything, including course materials.

What is the start date?

Our program will commence its first batch in early November 2022 and will continue through next year. This course is designed to cater to different learning groups' needs and learning styles. Hence, we will be having two main sessions (regular and fast-track), and feel free to pick a session that suits best for you.

It does not matter whether you are doing it at a slow or a fast track pace; feel free to pick a session that suits best for you. Register now to reserve your spot, and we will keep in touch with you with more details and the timetable.

Do we have any hands-on components?

Yes, absolutely. This program is designed to cover you with the foundational knowledge of cybersecurity concepts, not just through classroom instructions but also with hands-on lab components where you will learn from the basics to handle advanced systems.

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