Building Washington's Cybersecurity Workforce for the Future
Whatcom Community College's Cybersecurity Center of Excellence has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to expand pathways, micro-credentials, and industry partnerships that prepare students for in-demand cybersecurity careers.
About the Grant
Accelerating Cybersecurity Workforce Development
This two-year NIST RAMPS project, “Accelerating Cybersecurity Workforce Development through Aligned Pathways and Micro-Credentials,” tackles Washington's shortage of over 13,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs by creating seamless education-to-career pathways.
Key goals include:
- Expanding Career Pathways - From K-12 to colleges to workforce.
- Piloting Micro-Credentials - Short, stackable, job-ready skills.
- Bridging Non-Credit & Credit - LInking workforce training to degrees.
- Strengthening Industry Partnerships - Aligning education with employer needs.
Partners & Collaboration
This Project is powered by collaboration between education and industry leaders:
- Career Connect NW hosted at Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD)
- Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech)
- Microsoft
- Washington's 34 Community & Technical Colleges
Why It Matters
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields, yet Washington businesses, municipalities, and schools struggle to fill critical roles.
- Students gain real-world, job-ready skills.
- Employers access a pipeline of trained talent.
- Communities benefit from stronger cyber resilience.
Looking Ahead
Over the next two years the CCoE will deliver:
- Pilot micro-credentials programs.
- Playbooks for integrating non-credit to credit pathways.
- Employer engagement models for internships and jobs.
- Replicable frameworks for rural and underserved communities.