How to Apply to the Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy
How to Apply
The application process is the same whether applying to any Skilling Academy course. Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page before applying. Applying to the Skilling Academy is easy! All students must follow these steps:
- Complete the Supervisor and Applicant Approval Form.
- If you're applying to an FY25 course, use this form: Supervisor and Applicant Approval Form - FY25.
- If you're applying to an FY26 course, use this form: Supervisor and Applicant Approval Form - FY26.
- Email the completed and signed form from your federal government email address to the SkillingAcademy@mail.cisa.dhs.gov mailbox – with subject line: Skilling Academy Application – [Course Title – Session Number] - [Applicant’s Name] – [Program Start Date]. For example: Skilling Academy Application– Vulnerability Analysis Pathway Session 1 - Jane Doe – January 2025.
Additional Notes:
- The Supervisor and Applicant Approval Form must be completed and digitally signed by both the applicant and the appropriate supervisor.
- Supervisor signatures need to be completed using a PIV or CAC card. If you need assistance digitally signing the document, refer to the digital signing document, or please contact your agency’s IT Service Desk.
- For TSA applicants who work for individual airports, you will need approval from the supervisor who approves your schedule changes. In most cases, this will be your Federal Security Director (FSD) or Assistant Federal Security Director (AFSD). Please have this individual sign the Supervisor and Applicant Approval Form. It is your responsibility to notify any additional supervisors that you report to when applying to the program so that you can set supervisor expectations during the program.
- The Skilling Academy will not accept application packages sent from non-federal government email addresses. The Skilling Academy will only accept complete application packages sent directly by the applicant to SkillingAcademy@mail.cisa.dhs.gov.
- If the application email is missing any required sections within the signed Supervisor and Applicant Approval Form, the application will not be considered, and applicants will be required to apply again.
Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy Privacy Act Statement
Authority: 5 U.S.C. § 301, 44 U.S.C. § 3101, and 6 U.S.C. § 652(c)(11) authorize the collection of this information.
Purpose: The information collected will be used to establish the federal applicant's eligibility for the Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy. Should the applicant be accepted into the program, it will also be utilized to establish an account with Solutions3 and the Infosec Institute. Additionally, the data will be utilized to receive correspondence from the Federal Cyber Defense Skill Academy and to keep the applicant's home agency apprised of the applicant's enrollment and course completion status.
Routine Uses: Information collected may be disclosed as generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This includes using the information as necessary and authorized by the routine uses published in DHS/ALL-002 DHS Mailing and Other Lists System, November 25, 2008, 73 FR 71659, DHS/All-003 Department of Homeland Security General Training Records, November 25, 2008, 73 FR 71656, and DHS/ALL-004 General Information Technology Access Account Records System (GITAARS), November 27, 2012, 77 FR 70792. If accepted into the program, names and email addresses will be disclosed to Solutions3 and the Infosec Institute to allow access to the learning content.
Disclosure: Providing this information is voluntary. However, failure to provide this information may prevent CISA from deciding applicant eligibility, creating a Solutions3 and Infosec Institute account if selected to participate in the program, and prevent participants from receiving communications from the Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy.