Advance your career in cybersecurity for free!
The Cyber Workforce Accelerator (CWA) is an online, no-cost training program designed to prepare you for in-demand cybersecurity jobs. Through hands-on training and real-world scenarios, you'll quickly gain the skills employers are looking for.
Program Overview
Cost: $0
Program: 48 hours of training plus a 90-minute exam
Enrollment deadline: Rolling enrollment; availability is limited and only for those who meet eligibility requirements.
Outcome: You'll complete BCR Cyber’s Security Operations Center Operations Analyst 1 (SOCOA 1) training and certification, an industry-recognized credential (IRC) designed to fast-track you into a cybersecurity job. Your training will cover:
- Threat analysis
- Security operations
- Enterprise security
- Incident detection and response
Upon completion of the program, you'll have the skills needed to get hired quickly! Through close collaboration with industry partners, BCR Cyber helps graduates of their programs transition directly into full-time IT and cybersecurity careers, having placed over 1,000 individuals in the field.
Program Format
- Part 1 — Asynchronous Training, 40 hours (online): You'll receive online training in foundational cybersecurity instruction focused on enterprise governance, threat analysis, networking, Linux command line and attacker behavior.
- Part 2 — Experiential Range Training, eight hours (online synchronous): You and your classmates will participate in instructor-led exercises on AACC's BCR Cyber Series 3000 Cyber Range. You will detect, mitigate and remediate simulated attacks.
- Certification Exam: Complete a 100-question, 90-minute exam to test your technical and operational proficiency.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be enrolled at Anne Arundel Community College
- Must have or be seeking an associate degree in IT/cybersecurity (minimum of 30 credits completed, including the course Network Security Fundamentals CTS-140) OR have two of the following certifications: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+
- Must be looking for employment in IT/cybersecurity to begin working full time within the next six months
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must live in Maryland
- Must have no criminal convictions
- Must be 18 or older, or 17 turning 18 within six months of the program start
How to Apply
- Register online for the Prequalification for Security Operations Center (SOC) Operations Analyst 1 (SOCOA 1) and complete the required form in the checkout process.
- After you complete the form, you will receive an email that contains a link to BCR Cyber’s application.
- Complete BCR’s application to be considered for the program.
For more information, visit the BCR Cyber website.
