AP Cybersecurity Credential

As an AP Career Kickstart™ course, AP Cybersecurity offers students the opportunity to earn an employer-endorsed credential in the cybersecurity field.

The credential validates an emerging cyber defender’s skills to determine, evaluate, and recommend a comprehensive set of security mitigations on computer networks, individual devices, physical spaces, and data/applications. Credential holders demonstrate mastery through their ability to apply these skills in scenarios and performance tasks reflecting real-world challenges, emerging cybersecurity trends, and existing and novel technologies. 

High school students earn the credential after taking a yearlong AP Cybersecurity course and then achieving a qualifying score on the AP Cybersecurity Exam.

Technical Skills  

The AP Cybersecurity Credential validates the recognized professional skills outlined in the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework.

Assessing risk to organizational assets: 

• Identifying vulnerabilities and potential exploits in policies and infrastructure  
• Evaluating the likelihood and impact of a potential attack on an asset  

Mitigating risk by configuring and implementing security controls: 

• Assessing the effectiveness of mitigations in preventing or deterring an attack  
• Planning and implementing a layered defense strategy to protect assets  

Detecting attacks: 

• Evaluating a variety of detection methods  
• Determining the type and placement of detective security controls     
• Analyzing data to identify IoCs (indicators of compromise) or IoAs (indicators of attack)     

About the Course 

AP Cybersecurity trains students in the field and aligns closely with standard first-year collegiate cybersecurity courses. Students explore defense-in-depth strategies and learn to address specific vulnerabilities, attacks, mitigations, and detection measures across a variety of domains including physical spaces, computer networks, devices, applications, and data. 

Throughout the course, students consider the impact of cybersecurity on individuals, organizations, governments, and societies. Students also investigate emerging trends in cybersecurity including the rising role of AI, virtualization, hardware and IoT (internet of things), and how trends like BYOD (bring your own device) and WFH (work from home) are expanding the attack surface. 

About the Exam  

The AP Cybersecurity Exam is a digital exam covering essential technical skills in the cybersecurity field. This exam puts students in the position of an analyst, leveraging career-connected scenarios to test their skills and ability to make evidence-based, contextually aware decisions.  

The digital exam is divided into two sections:  

• Multiple Choice: These questions connect to real-world job scenarios and test both knowledge and application. 
• Free Response: These questions use real cybersecurity artifacts and evidence for students to analyze and provide responses. 

Students with qualifying scores will earn the AP Cybersecurity Credential. 

How the Credential Can Be Applied 

The AP Cybersecurity Credential supports student progression into multiple postgraduation career and education options. 

Join the Workforce 

Early Career Development: The AP Cybersecurity Credential is aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, preparing students to succeed in their careers. Course knowledge and skills also align with the internships and apprenticeships visible through the NICE Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program Finder. 

Career Connections: The AP Cybersecurity Credential prepares students with qualifying skills for high-demand, high-growth jobs, such as: 

• Information Security Analyst 
• Computer User Support Specialist 
• Network and Computer Systems Administrator 
• Junior Information Security Engineer 
• Digital Forensic Analyst 
• Security Manager 
• Loss Prevention Manager 
• Compliance Manager 

Visit BigFuture to explore more information technology careers.

Pursue a Degree or Certificate 

Students with a qualifying score on the AP Cybersecurity Exam could earn up to 3 credits to apply to a relevant community college degree, four-year degree, or certificate program. 

Stack Employer-Endorsed Credentials 

Students can earn “stackable” credentials throughout their education and professional development, apply them to entry-level jobs and to college, and leverage them to earn positions that provide good salaries in high-growth industries. The AP Cybersecurity Credential is aligned with common industry certifications including CompTIA Security+ and Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST): Cybersecurity. 

AP Cybersecurity Advisory Committees 

The AP Cybersecurity course and Credential are developed with faculty and industry experts. 

Meet Our Higher Education Advisory Committee: 

• Dane Brown, U.S. Cyber Team Coach, Annapolis, Md.   
• Jun Dai, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass.   
• Melissa Dark, DARK Enterprises, Inc., Lafayette, Ind.  
• Chance Folmar, Front Range Community College, Westminster, Colo.   
• Charles Gardner, Cyber Innovation Center, Bossier City, La.  
• Tommy Gober, Infosec Institute, Mason, Ohio  
• Angel Hueca, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa.   
• Terri Johnson Akse, University of Colorado–Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.  
• Kyle Jones, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio   
• Bekah Michael, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio   
• Michael Qaissaunee, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, N.J.   
• Diego Tibaquirá, Miami Dade College, Miami, Fla.  
• Anthony Tsetse, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Ky.  

Meet Our Industry Advisory Committee: 

• Charles Banks, U.S. Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio 
• Carol Kim, IBM, New York, N.Y.   
• Dr. Cynthia Sutherland, Amazon Web Services, Seattle, Wash.