Cybersecurity Experiential Learning

More hands-on cybersecurity learning for Florida students

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law requires the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to develop and run a hands-on cybersecurity learning program. These duties depend on funding approved by the Legislature; the law sets no funding amount. The program serves qualifying students at participating state universities, Florida College System schools, and private colleges. The center sets minimum student qualifications, selects participating schools, and estimates how many students each school serves per fiscal year. It must identify internships and learning opportunities that the National Institute of Standards and Technology finds most helpful for high-demand cybersecurity jobs. It also consults Florida employers with current or expected cybersecurity or security-clearance job openings. It reviews practices from schools recognized by the National Security Agency for cybersecurity education, inside and outside Florida. By July 1, 2028, and each July 1 afterward, the center must publish a report on its website. For each school, reports must show participation, completion, certification exam pass rates, job placement rates, and improvement recommendations, including possible links to other state workforce programs.