Free cybersecurity training for veterans
Cybersecurity courses, certification prep, cyber ranges, scholarships and fellowships open to veterans and service members.
37 programs listed. 34 are free with no VA benefit needed, 3 are free or paid through a VA benefit (GI Bill, VR&E or VET TEC 2.0). 3 closed programs are listed last. Last checked Sep 30 to Oct 4, 2026.
Use the program finder to filter by who you are, your benefits, state and format. Questions about benefits? See the FAQ.
Check before you apply: details change often, so confirm on each program's official page. Verify details = some details not fully confirmed.
Programs (37)
- Microsoft Software & Systems Academy (MSSA)
Microsoft Military Affairs · Free
17-week full-time training in Cloud App Dev, Server & Cloud Admin, or Cybersecurity Ops + Microsoft cert path + interview with Microsoft/partners
- CyberSkills2Work (19 cyber and AI pathways)
CyberSkills2Work (NSA NCAE-C, DoW CIO funded) with Florida International University, Dakota State University, University of Arizona, University of West Florida, Columbus State University, University of South Florida - Cyber Florida, University of Texas at San Antonio, Metro State University · Free (may include exam voucher)
Training + cert vouchers + career coaching + employer network. Pathways: AI Adoption Specialist Pathway (Florida International University); AI Innovation Leader Pathway (Dakota…
- Fortinet Veterans Program
Fortinet · Free (may include exam voucher)
Free self-paced NSE/FCP training, labs, and free exam vouchers for Fortinet Certified Professional/Associate
- Offensive Security (OffSec) via VetSec
OffSec · Free
Periodic OSCP/learning subscription scholarships through VetSec
- CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS / CyberAI SFS)
NSF / OPM · Free
Full tuition + fees, stipend, professional allowance at participating schools (BS/MS/PhD in cyber; now includes AI (Artificial Intelligence) under CyberAICorps)
- DoW (DoD) Cyber Service Academy Scholarship
Department of War (formerly DoD) CIO · Free
Full tuition, fees, books, laptop + stipend at NCAE-C (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) schools; service obligation in DoD (Department of Defense)…
- NC A&T State University - SFS (M.S. Cybersecurity, online)
North Carolina A&T State University · Free
MS Cybersecurity (fully online option) with SFS (Scholarship for Service) scholarship opportunity
- NC State University - CyberCorps SFS
NC State University · Free
SFS (Scholarship for Service) scholarship at NC (North Carolina) State
- UNC Charlotte - CyberCorps SFS
UNC Charlotte College of Computing and Informatics · Free
SFS (Scholarship for Service) scholarship for cyber BS/MS students
- NPower Tech Fundamentals (Veterans)
NPower · Free
Free IT (Information Technology)/cloud/cyber training + CompTIA certs + internships
- Per Scholas (Veteran-friendly)
Per Scholas · Free
Free 12 to 15 week tech training (IT (Information Technology) support, cyber, cloud, AWS (Amazon Web Services), software eng) + CompTIA/AWS certs
- Apprenti (registered tech apprenticeships) Verify details
Apprenti / WTIA Workforce Institute · Free
Paid registered apprenticeships in software, cloud, cyber, data with partner employers
- VetsinTech Training Programs
VetsinTech · Free (may include exam voucher)
Free cohort training and vouchers (cyber, cloud, AI (Artificial Intelligence), data) with partners like Google, Microsoft
- ACT Now Education
ACT Now Education · Free
Free training + certs (Coursera access, Splunk, PMP (Project Management Professional), Security+, Google, IBM) via weekly orientation code
- TCM Security Free Training & VetSec Vouchers
TCM Security · Free (may include exam voucher)
Free courses; partner vouchers via VetSec for PJPT/PNPT
- Cisco Networking Academy (Military & Veterans)
Cisco · Free
Free courses (Intro to Cybersecurity, Networking, Python, CCNA prep); exam discounts for some learners
- Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Academy Verify details
Palo Alto Networks · Free (may include exam voucher)
Free courses; veteran exam voucher programs via partners
- Google Career Certificates for Veterans (via Coursera / partners) Verify details
Google / Coursera · Free
Google Career Certificates (Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, IT (Information Technology) Support, AI (Artificial Intelligence) Essentials, Project Mgmt) free via partner scholarships
- IBM SkillsBuild for Veterans
IBM · Free
Free courses and IBM digital credentials in AI (Artificial Intelligence), cyber, data, cloud
- VetsinTech Vets in AI
VetsinTech · Free
Free AI (Artificial Intelligence) curriculum, 1-day AI skills bootcamps, AI for national security workshops
- Forage virtual job simulations (11 free employer simulations)
Forage (with employers: Bloomberg, British Airways, Citi, Deloitte Australia, Electronic Arts, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Mastercard, Red Bull, Siemens Mobility, Walmart USA) · Free
Free, self-paced virtual job simulations built with real employers; each takes about 1-6 hours and ends with a certificate of completion. Simulations: Bloomberg Client Service…
- Developing Secure Software (LFD121, OpenSSF)
The Linux Foundation / OpenSSF · Free
Free secure-software-development course with a final exam and a digital badge
- Free reverse-engineering courses (7 self-paced courses and labs)
OpenSecurityTraining2, Malware Unicorn (Amanda Rousseau), pwn.college (Arizona State University), Hackaday U (instructor wrongbaud), Reverse Engineering For Everyone (Kevin Thomas, 0xinfection), Nightmare (guyinatuxedo), RPISEC (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) · Free
Free self-paced courses and labs that teach assembly, disassemblers and debuggers (Ghidra, GDB), malware analysis and binary exploitation. Courses: OpenSecurityTraining2…
- Hire Heroes USA Training & Cert Partnerships
Hire Heroes USA · Free
Free career coaching, resume, and access to free cert/training offers (Google, Fortinet, etc.)
- VetSec Training & Voucher Programs
Veteran Security Alliance (VetSec) · Free (may include exam voucher)
Community Slack with free/discounted training, cert voucher drawings, OffSec/Fortinet/TCM/INE partner offers, mentoring
- IBM SkillsBuild via VA: Independent eLearning (1,000+ courses) Verify details
VA + IBM SkillsBuild · Free
Self-paced courses in AI (Artificial Intelligence), data, cyber, cloud with digital credentials
- Veterans Upward Bound - Catholic University Verify details
Catholic University of America (TRIO) · Free
Free academic prep and certification training referrals
- CISA Learning (replaced FedVTE) Verify details
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency · Free
850+ hours free cybersecurity courses (incl. Security+ prep content)
- Cybrary for Veterans Verify details
Cybrary · Free
Free/discounted Cybrary Insider Pro access via veteran partners
- SVA Cybersecurity Certificate (Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate) Verify details
Student Veterans of America · Free
Free Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate via SVA (Student Veterans of America) Professional Development Series
- Center for Cyber Safety and Education (ISC2) Graduate Scholarships Verify details
Center for Cyber Safety and Education · Free
Graduate cyber scholarships (amounts vary)
- CompTIA certification via VA programs (Military / Veteran) Verify details
CompTIA · Free with benefit (Discounted; free through O2O, VET TEC, VR&E)
Military discounts and vouchers; CompTIA exams reimbursable via VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) licensing/certification benefit
- Western Governors University (via VR&E)
Western Governors University · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$4,500 to $5,500 per 6-month term; $0 if VR&E approves)
Online competency-based BS/MS (Cyber, Data Analytics, CS, AI (Artificial Intelligence)/ML MS) at flat-rate tuition
- Intellectual Point (VET TEC provider) Verify details
Intellectual Point · Free with benefit (Free via VET TEC)
Cyber/cloud/AI training under VET TEC (Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses)
- SANS Cyber Academy (formerly VetSuccess) Closed
SANS Institute · Free
Fully funded SANS courses + GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) certifications (3 typical) + career support
- U.S. Digital Corps Closed
GSA · Free
2-year paid early-career tech fellowship (software, data, cyber)
- ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) - One Million Certified Closed
ISC2 · Free
Free official online self-paced CC (Certified in Cybersecurity) training + free CC exam