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nATIONAL cYBERSECURITY sTUDENT aSSOCIATION


Cyber Ready Professionals 

Get Introduced to Employers
Get a Personal Coach
Get the Skills you need to Succeed

Program
Overview

The Cyber Ready Professional Program, which includes both the Cyber Ready Academy and Cyber Ready Clinic, offers full scholarships to higher education students. Designed to prepare participants for careers in IT and cybersecurity, the program emphasizes readiness to learn , achieve industry-recognized certifications, and perform effectively in real-world settings. With support from sponsors such as Accenture, students gain access to professional-grade training and resources.

At the core of the program is a diagnostic approach that replaces traditional testing with assessments focused removing obstacles to understanding. This approach helps participants overcome misconceptions and build toward proficiency, competency, and mastery. Instruction is tailored to each student's readiness level and reinforced through varied, practical applications.

A critical component of the program is professional coaching, delivered by internationally certified coaches. These coaches provide guidance in career planning, time management, and soft skills development, including crafting a compelling elevator pitch and practicing professional communication in cohort settings. This preparation helps students develop the confidence and competence needed for client interactions and future roles.

The coaching experience emphasizes resume building over resume writing, encouraging participants to focus on developing and showcasing capabilities. Students are given opportunities to present at conferences, engage in talent fairs, and connect with potential employers—gaining both experience and exposure to launch successful careers in cybersecurity and IT.

   

Applicant Phase

The Applicant Phase begins when you submit an the Cyber Ready Professionals program application. During this stage, your application will be reviewed. The program team typically reviews the submitted information to ensure eligibility requirements are met. This phase may also include follow-up communications and document verification. It is the initial step in the cohort onboarding process. 

Submit Your Application

Attend an Information Session


Assessment Phase

The Assessment Phase

marks the beginning of your journey through initial assessments and learning modules. This stage helps you develop the skills and confidence needed to make informed career decisions and thrive in the workplace.

The training is interactive, features relatable characters and focuses on teaching people how to do things for themselves, building skills and confidence, and empowering them to take ownership for their career development and job search. Innovative simulations provide a safe environment where jobseekers can practice for real life situations, such as a job interview, instantly seeing the consequences of their decisions.


Coaching Phase

The Coaching Phase connects you with an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate or Professional Certified Coach who offers personalized support and guidance throughout your individualized career development journey.


Credentialing Phase

The Credentialing Phase at Cyber Ready Academy uses adaptive instruction to ensure you achieve mastery. You’ll earn stackable capability badges and certifications that validate skills ranging from risk assessment to AI-driven cloud and infrastructure security.

The Credentialing Phase Cyber Ready Academy uses adaptive instruction to ensure mastery achievement. Stack capability badges and certifications. Validate skills from risk assessment to AI-guided cloud and infrastructure security.


Internship Phase

The Internship Phase offers a paid Resident Intern position where you gain hands-on experience performing risk assessments and implementing remediation efforts to enhance cybersecurity capability and maturity.


Incubation Phase

The Incubation Phase allows you to develop your own cybersecurity practice or secure probationary employment with organizations that provide cyber services.

This program is ONLY for students who are in North America.

NCSA Premium 1-yr memberships will receive 1st dibs!


Check out the video below by Barbara Belon, certified ICF coach. 

This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant Number DUE-1204533DUE-1601150, and DUE-2054753Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of NSF.

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