Cyber Pre-Apprenticeship Program
What is the Cyber Pre-Apprenticeship Program?
The Cyber Pre-Apprenticeship program is supported by the state of Virginia's Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) and is designed to help Virginia community college students with an interest in technology and cybersecurity gain valuable on-the-job experience. Applications are due on or before October 1, 2023; however, we will select participants in two rounds, with the first round in early September and the second round in early October, shortly after the 1st. The start date for the program is November 27th. Selected students will be paid $3500 and will have a virtual placement with a Virginia-based technical company, Peregrine Technical Solutions, in one of four areas: IT cybersecurity, IoT cybersecurity, operations, and technical writing.
IT Cybersecurity
Learn about and apply risk management frameworks
IoT Cybersecurity
Learn how to harden cybersecurity control systems
Operations
Learn about program management for cybersecurity projects
Technical Writing
Learn to write cybersecurity reports and develop competitive contracts
Who can participate in the Cyber Pre-Apprenticeship Program?
If you are a currently enrolled Virginia community college student who is considering a career change to the cybersecurity field or who is already pursuing cyber-related studies, then this program may be for you. See the application for additional details regarding participation in this program.
What are the requirements for the program?
Students will work with Peregrine Technical Solutions 10 hours per week in a virtual placement beginning November 27, 2023 and ending April 5, 2024 (with two weeks off in December) for a total of 16 weeks. Students will receive $3500 (tax deductible) paid over the course of the program.
During the first three months, students will learn from a subject matter expert (SME) in one of the four focus areas, and during the next three months, students will apply what they've learned while working alongside the SME on real-world projects. Additional program requirements are listed on the application.
How can I apply for the program?
Applications are due by October 1, 2023. The application is availalble here. As a part of the application, students should be prepared to upload a résumé or CV and discuss why they would make an excellent candidate for this program. Those materials, along with the other components of the application, will be used in the evaluation/selection process. If you have questions about the program or application, you can contact Dr. Blackmon, the lead PI for the program.