SANS Institute | MD Cyber Academy

3 Steps to Launch Your Cyber Career

For questions about the SANS Cyber Immersion Academies, applications, or process please contact academies@sans.org.

Qualify

Submit your application, then complete a SANS aptitude assessment measuring your foundational skills and aptitude for cybersecurity. If you perform well on the assessment, you will be invited to submit supporting documents and participate in an admission interview.

Train and Certify

Once accepted, develop practical, hands-on skills by attending world-class SANS online training courses along with technical mentorship. Up to three courses will be available to you along with corresponding GIAC certification exams.

Launch Career

During the program, our Career Services team works diligently to connect you with a variety of leading employers who are searching for the high-demand skills you are developing with training and validating with certifications.

Reskilling Pathway

Apply. Train. Succeed.

For Maryland Residents not currently working in cybersecurity, who want to change their career to get into the field. This pathway focuses on cybersecurity aptitude rather than previous experience or formal education and helps to grow the supply of skilled labor in the Maryland cybersecurity market.

Apply and qualify to secure 100% scholarship-based training funded in part by SANS and the State of Maryland.

Course Offerings

Reskilling Courses
Training modules:
- SEC275 Foundations & GFACT Certification
- SEC401 Security Essentials & GSEC Certification
- SEC504 Hacker Techniques & Incident Handling & GCIH Certification

Change Your Life Forever

Start your application today. Come back to finish it later.

90%

of our graduates gained employment in cybersecurity within 6 months

500k+

job openings in cybersecurity are unfilled (Source: cyberseek.org)

$90k

average starting salary of our graduates

The Immersion Academy Advantage

Free

Every student of our Immersion Academy program receives a full scholarship that covers the cost of all training, training material, mentorship, and exam attempts.

GIAC

Earn up to three professional cybersecurity certifications that employers recognize and respect.

Faculty

Learn the latest skills and techniques from the world's top cybersecurity practitioners. We'll also guide your career search and connect you to our global cybersecurity network.

Time

Training is 100% online, and is designed to fit into a busy work and life schedule and still be completed in six months.

Step by Step Information on the Application Process

Learn more about the application process and how the academy helps launch your new cybersecurity career in less than a year.

View Application Guide

SANS Cyber Immersion Academy was the best way to accelerate my cyber career and get my foot in the door. The resources provided and personnel exceed my expectation. They were very professional and easy to work with.

Irving Rangel

- COLSA

SANS Academy allowed me to gain knowledge in a new career area I couldn't have afforded myself. Also, its (SANS Cyber Academy) receptions with employers landed me my first job in cyber security.

Amy Riley

- Iron Vine Security

The Cyber Workforce MD program gave me added clout of having sought-after certifications that are highly respected in the industry. Also, they fulfill DoD benchmarks for highly desirable positions.

James Schultz

- CACI

I can say with absolute confidence that I couldn’t have made the career switch if I hadn’t taken SANS courses. Taking the courses provided me the knowledge necessary to land a job in cybersecurity.

Hanan Saleh

- Rapid7

Earn Top Ranked Cybersecurity Certifications

Cybersecurity professionals ranked GIAC certifications as the most valued certifications when selecting job candidates for interviews. (Source: cio.org)

Students in our scholarship immersion programs can earn multiple GIAC certifications, including GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) and GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), which were named among the Top Ten Cybersecurity Certifications by Datamation.