Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge

Endorsement Deadline: December 8, 2025

Thank you for your student endorsement!

The Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge offers college-level students an opportunity to gain real-world experience in cybersecurity. This 12-week program runs from February 2 to April 24, 2026. 

Participants will collaborate in teams of five, dedicating 160 or more hours to complete a cybersecurity project. Students could use this as a capstone project. They will receive a certificate of completion, which can be shared with prospective employers as an example of their demonstrated experience on a real-world business problem-solving project.

Students selected for this program should be organized, committed, and capable of working effectively in a team environment. Because the experience reflects real-world conditions, they should be prepared to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity as part of the learning process.

To participate, students must secure an instructor endorsement by December 8, 2025. Your endorsement confirms that the student is ready academically and professionally to take on the challenge. When a student requests your endorsement, please complete it promptly to help them qualify.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

• Completion of one year of college coursework

• Completion of introductory courses in networking and cybersecurity

• Attendance at a Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge information session

• Instructor endorsement

• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident residing in the U.S. or a U.S. territory

Notification of Acceptance: Approximately December 15, 2025

For more information, go to Virtual Cybersecurity Career Challenge | NCyTE Center.

NCyTE Center is funded by the National Science Foundation, by Grant #2054724.