The US government has announced a significant policy shift aimed at addressing the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals by removing unnecessary degree requirements in favor of skills-based hiring. The move is part of the aggressive ‘Serve for America’ initiative, designed to fill approximately half-a-million open cybersecurity positions.
The initiative, revealed by National Cyber Director Harry Coker, eliminates the need for a four-year degree in federal IT contracts. Instead, hiring will be based on experience, certifications, and aptitude tests.
“Our nation has a critical need for cyber talent. Today, there are approximately 500,000 – half a million! – open cyber jobs in the United States and that number is only going to grow as more services and products go online with the expansion of technologies like artificial intelligence,” Coker said in a statement.
The new policy is intended to help federal agencies compete with the private sector for cybersecurity talent by prioritizing candidates’ practical skills over traditional educational requirements.
Additionally, the initiative includes a $244 million investment to expand work-based learning opportunities through registered apprenticeships, specifically targeting growing industries such as cybersecurity.
Coker, who has held leadership roles in the US Navy, CIA, and NSA, emphasized that his agency is collaborating with local governments, academia, and private sector partners to address the nation’s cybersecurity workforce shortage.
