Free online cyber and AI training paths
Purdue University Northwest CWCT · Catholic University VUB referral
At a glance
- Format: Online
- Who qualifies: Vets · Service members · Spouses
- Applications: Open
Full details
- Cost
- Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded.
- Who qualifies
- Served groups include transitioning military, veterans, active-duty spouses, eligible government employees, first responders and law enforcement. Service or employment documentation and career/IT assessments apply. Citizenship/permanent-resident evidence requirements differ by group; government contractors are excluded.
- Format
- Scheduled virtual lectures with recordings and assignment deadlines.
Check current terms: Individual eligibility, seats and coverage must be confirmed with the provider.
- Credential
- Certification pathwayCWCT preparation may include A+, Security+ or CHFI. Exact vendor credential depends on approved track and passing its separate exam.
- Exam coverage
- Conditionally funded / voucherOne test-fee voucher after course ≥60% and Ucertify post-assessment ≥90%; use before expiry. Prep-assessment retries allowed. Proctoring/other fees and funded retests excluded.
Before you decide
- What is free
- FAQ confirms classes, electronic materials and one exam voucher; application policy adds a 90% post-assessment threshold and excludes proctoring and retests.
- Who qualifies
- Served groups include transitioning military, veterans, active-duty spouses, eligible government employees, first responders and law enforcement. Service or employment documentation and career/IT assessments apply. Citizenship/permanent-resident evidence requirements differ by group; government contractors are excluded.
- What you get
- Explore five grant-funded non-credit cyber and AI pathways.
- Credential and key limits
- CWCT professional-certification preparation with optional vendor examination, plus named university training paths. Verified prep examples include CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+ and EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI); exact funded credential depends on the approved track/course.
- Format
- Scheduled virtual lectures with recordings and assignment deadlines.
- Duration
- Pathways contain four to six courses; one or two courses per session, potentially within one year.
- Location
- Online; eligibility restrictions still apply.
- Deadline
- Status evidence: September 15, 2026 application page says 2026 sessions are open; no specific next session or cutoff independently verified. Application window: 2026 applications stated open; session dates unverified. Application deadline: Not confirmed; check the provider’s current dates. Availability limits: Applications, course access and available seats are distinct. Confirm current access and program-specific conditions with the provider.
- Stipend / housing / travel
- A separate stipend, travel or housing allowance is not established unless specified in cost details.
- Notes
- Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded. Confirm the selected pathway and next session.
- Availability
- Open
- Details checked
- 2026-10-09
Pathways
- AI
Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded.
- AI Literacy
Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded.
- System Administration
Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded.
- CWCT-Entry
Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded.
- Digital Forensics
Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded.
Application and credential details
- How to apply
- Use Open Application on the official Steps to Apply page.
- Provide the documents for your applicant group, then follow the grant team instructions for MyIvy and assessments.
- Documents to prepare
- Group-specific service, spouse, employment or first-responder documentation; career and IT assessments.
- Additional requirements and limits
- Grant covers classes, electronic materials and one optional certification exam voucher. Passing the course and scoring at least 90% on the post-assessment are required for a voucher. Proctoring, other fees, retests and optional physical textbooks are excluded.
- Related official action
- Catholic University VUB referral
- Application link
- Open official application page
- Credential or outcome
- CWCT professional-certification preparation with optional vendor examination, plus named university training paths. Verified prep examples include CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+ and EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI); exact funded credential depends on the approved track/course.
- Application details checked
- 2026-10-09
- Application review status
- Public-source review; see source-specific evidence and remaining conditions
- Sources for these details
- https://www.pnw.edu/cybersecurity/cwct/steps-to-apply/ · checked 2026-10-09
- https://www.pnw.edu/cybersecurity/cwct/ · checked 2026-10-09
- https://www.pnw.edu/cybersecurity/cwct/faq/ · checked 2026-10-09
- https://vub.catholic.edu/free-online-cybersecurity-certification-training/ · checked 2026-10-09
- Availability checked
- 2026-10-09
- Current availability
- Open
- Status evidence
- September 15, 2026 application page says 2026 sessions are open; no specific next session or cutoff independently verified.
- Application window
- 2026 applications stated open; session dates unverified.
- Availability limits
- Applications, course access and available seats are distinct. Confirm current access and program-specific conditions with the provider.
- Timing sources
Credential and exam evidence: October 11
CWCT professional-certification preparation with optional vendor examination, plus named university training paths. Verified prep examples include CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+ and EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI); exact funded credential depends on the approved track/course.
Conditional first-attempt coverage: one certification exam voucher, test fee only. Learner pays proctoring/other fees; no funded retest. Request after passing corresponding course (60%/D or higher), then score 90%+ on Ucertify post-assessment; multiple prep-assessment attempts allowed. Voucher must be used before its expiration.
Sources
- https://www.pnw.edu/cybersecurity/cwct/faq/ · checked 2026-10-11
- https://www.pnw.edu/cybersecurity/cwct/steps-to-apply/ · checked 2026-10-11
- https://www.pnw.edu/cybersecurity/cwct/cwct-course-descriptions/ · checked 2026-10-11
- https://www.pnw.edu/cybersecurity/cwct/training-paths/ · checked 2026-10-11
- https://vub.catholic.edu/free-online-cybersecurity-certification-training/ · checked 2026-10-11