How to Apply to the Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy

How to Apply  

Please review the FAQs webpage before applying.

Step 1 of 2: Complete the Application Package

The application package is made up of three separate documents. Please ensure the application package has all required fields completed, adheres to formatting requirements, contains electronic signatures where required, and remains as separate files. 

 1. Federal Resume

• Do NOT include Sensitive Personal Identifiable Information (SPII) such as Social Security number, date of birth, or photos.
• Do not exceed five pages.
• For additional assistance, visit USAJOBS Help Center | What should I include in my federal resume?

2. Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy Statement of Interest

• Applicants must use the hyperlinked document above.
• The Statement of Interest form is an opportunity for applicants to describe their interest to participate in the Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy.
• The applicant must digitally sign the document. For assistance refer to the digital signing document or contact your agency’s IT Service Desk. 

3. Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy Supervisor and Applicant Agreement and Approval Form

• Applicants must use the hyperlinked document above.
• The Supervisors and Applicant Agreement and Approval Form must be completed and digitally signed by the applicant and the appropriate supervisor.
  • Supervisor signatures must be completed using a digital certificate (i.e., PIV or CAC). For assistance, refer to the digital signing document or contact your agency’s IT Service Desk. 
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify any additional supervisors that they report to when applying to the program.
• Please note, for Transportation Security Administration applicants who work for individual airports, applicants will need approval from the supervisor who approves their schedule changes. In most cases, this will be their Federal Security Director or Assistant Federal Security Director. 

Note: If an application package is missing any of the three required items or the documents are incomplete, the application package will not be considered and applicants will need to reapply. 

Step 2 of 2: Submit the Completed Application Package

A completed application contains the following documents:

• Resume (see USAJOBS Help Center | What should I include in my federal resume?
• Statement of Interest  
• Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy Supervisor and Applicant Agreement and Approval Form

To submit an application package, email all completed and signed documents from your federal government email address to the SkillingAcademy@cisa.dhs.gov mailbox with the subject line: [Pathway Title] – Session [Number] – [ Applicant Name].  For Example: Cyber Defense Forensics Analyst Pathway – Session 1 – John Doe.

The Skilling Academy will not accept application packages sent from non-federal government email addresses and will only accept complete application packages sent directly by the applicant to SkillingAcademy@cisa.dhs.gov.

Additional Notes:

• The Skilling Academy will not accept applications submitted as one PDF that contains the three required documents described above or if any forms are submitted as a screenshot.
• The Skilling Academy will not accept application packages sent from non-federal government email addresses and will only accept complete application packages sent directly by the applicant to SkillingAcademy@cisa.dhs.gov.
• If an application package is missing any of the three required items or the documents are incomplete, the application package will not be considered and applicants will need to reapply.
• For assistance digitally signing the documents, refer to the digital signing document or contact your agency's IT Service Desk for further information.
• Contact SkillingAcademy@cisa.dhs.gov if there are circumstances that require you or your supervisor to provide a handwritten signature instead of a digitally signed one.