How to Apply to the Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy

How to Apply  

Please review the FAQ's on the main webpage before applying.

Step 1 of 2: Complete the Application Package 

The application package is made up of three separate documents. All documents must follow the required format, have all required fields be completed, electronically signed wherever a signature is required, and remain separate, independent files. 

1. Federal Resume
   • Do NOT include personal identifiable information such as Social Security number, date of birth, or photos.
   • Please do not exceed 5 pages.
   • For your convenience, you may use this Federal Resume Sample as a template. 
2. Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy Statement of Interest 
   • Applicants must use the hyperlinked document above.
   • This is an opportunity for applicants to explain why they should be accepted into the program.
   • The applicant must digitally sign the document. If you need assistance digitally signing the document, please refer to the digital signing document or contact your agency’s IT Service Desk. Contact SkillingAcademy@cisa.dhs.gov if there are circumstances that require you to provide a handwritten signature instead.
3. Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy Supervisor and Applicant Agreement and Approval Form
   • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This form must be completed and digitally signed by both the applicant and the appropriate supervisor.
     • Supervisor signatures need to be completed using a PIV 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 Agreement and 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@cisa.dhs.gov. 

If the email is missing any of the three required items or the documents are incomplete, the application package will not be considered. If incomplete application packages are received, they will be rejected, and applicants can apply again. 

Note: application package must include a total of three separate documents. Each document must be submitted as its own independent file. The Skilling Academy will not accept your application if it is submitted as one .pdf document that contains the multiple, separate files described above. 

Step 2 of 2: Submit the Completed Application Package 

The All forms must be completed and digitally signed. A completed application contains the following documents: 

• Résumé (Sample Résumé)
• Statement of Interest
• Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy Supervisor and Applicant Agreement and Approval Form

Email the completed and signed documents from your federal government email address to the SkillingAcademy@cisa.dhs.gov mailbox – with subject line: Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy – [insert applicant’s name] – [program start date]. For example: Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy – Jane Doe – January 2024. 

Note: Application package must include a total of three separate documents. Each document must be submitted as its own independent file within the email. 

Additional Notes: 

• The Skilling Academy will not accept your application if it is submitted as one .pdf document that contains the multiple, separate files described above.  

• Do not submit photo shots of applications. When submitting a multipage document, all pages of the document must be sent as one PDF file.  

• 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@cisa.dhs.gov.   

• If the application package is missing any of the three required items or the documents are incomplete, the package will not be considered. If incomplete application packages are received, they will be rejected, and applicants can apply again.    

• If you need assistance digitally signing the documents, please 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.