Course Authorization for AP Cybersecurity
For course authorization in the 2026-27 school year, teachers will need to complete the AP Course Audit form and have it approved by their Course Audit administrator. Teachers won’t be required to submit a syllabus until March 2027.
AP Course Audit
Find resources below to help you complete the AP Course Audit. For more information on the authorization process, please see About AP Course Audit.
If you’re new to teaching an AP course, see Teaching AP for the First Time? for an overview of the AP resources that are available to you throughout the school year.
Getting to Know the AP Cybersecurity Course
AP Cybersecurity Course and Exam Description
The key document for each AP course is the course and exam description. Start by reviewing it to understand the objectives and expectations of the course and exam.
Download the AP Cybersecurity Course and Exam Description (.pdf).
Curricular and Resource Requirements
AP Cybersecurity curricular requirements:
- The course provides opportunities to develop student understanding of the required content outlined in the AP Cybersecurity Course and Exam Description (CED).
- The course provides opportunities for students to develop the technical skills and professional skills outlined in the course and exam description related to:
- Skill Category 1: Analyze Risk—Evaluate risk to organizational assets.
- Skill Category 2: Mitigate Risk—Implement protective and deterrent security controls.
- Skill Category 3: Detect Attacks—Implement detection methods, monitor systems, and analyze evidence.
- Skill Category 4: Collaborate—Work with others and AI to accomplish a task.
- The course allows students to develop an understanding of the legal and professional norms for the practice of cybersecurity.
- The course provides opportunities for students to apply knowledge, with and without the use of AI, through hands-on and career-relevant activities, including scenarios, case studies, or cybersecurity competitions to practice cybersecurity skills.
AP Cybersecurity resource requirements:
- The school ensures that each student has access to a college-level cybersecurity textbook or comparable curricular resources (in print or electronic format) for individual use inside and outside the classroom. The textbook is supplemented when necessary to meet the curricular requirements.
- The school ensures that the teacher has a copy of a college-level cybersecurity textbook or other appropriate materials to support instruction.
- The school ensures that participating teachers and students have computers with internet access for completion of course and assessment requirements, including access to cyber range websites.
- The school ensures that each student has access to adequate curricular resources to support their learning of the required content of this course.