AP Career Kickstart
This new AP program in development is designed to accelerate high school students on their paths to in-demand careers.
What Is AP Career Kickstart?
AP Career Kickstart expands the successful AP model by offering high schools a new set of career-oriented courses and exams. We’re partnering with employers, college faculty, and high school educators to design courses that can lead to college credit and prepare students for high-demand, high-wage jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree.
Career-Oriented Courses
We’re currently building career and technical education (CTE) courses in cybersecurity and business/personal finance. We’re exploring additional courses in health sciences, information technology, and more.
“Along with the dynamic excitement and change in cybersecurity, there is a lot of career opportunity for young people, especially given the massive number of professional openings.”
“These [cybersecurity] courses offer me an opportunity to learn something that I can actually use in my future. I feel so much more prepared than my friends.”
Starting with Cybersecurity
In the 2024-25 school year, we’re piloting two AP Career Kickstart cybersecurity courses: AP Cyber: Networking and AP Cyber: Security. Students with qualifying scores will earn access to free CompTIA test prep and exams. There will be another pilot year in 2025-26.
