In recent years, the Community College of Baltimore County has received funding through the Maryland Department of Labor to provide training for employees currently working in the technology/cybersecurity field.
WHO/ WHAT: The Accelerated Credentials Program allows students to complete the following classes listed in four-week blocks of study, including Network+, Security+, Linux+ and PenTest+ certifications. While the classes are accelerated, the student still receives the college credits the same as if they completed the normal semester long class.
WHERE: Classes are typically held in remote instructor-led format two evenings a week with the remainder of the work expected to be completed by the student in the allowed timeframe designated by the instructor. The classes also prepare the student to take the associated industry certification. Two exam prep sessions are available at no-cost to prepare the student to take the associated industry certification.
WHY: This grant-funded program is provided to incumbent employees to assist them in obtaining industry certifications. It is hoped that by obtaining the certification it will provide the employee with the opportunity to obtain a pay raise or promotion.
Registration/Cost:
The Accelerated Stackable Credentials Series course is available courtesy of an EARN Grant administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. The grant serves to provide training for employees already in the technology/cybersecurity field. It is hoped those employees will be able to obtain promotions or pay raises after completing the training and obtaining the industry certification. The grant covers all costs for the training including tuition, fees, books, lab fees, and the CompTIA certification exam cost.
Eligibility requirements include:
–The firm must have an office in Baltimore County. Employees who telecommute must report to the Baltimore County office.
–If the employee lives outside Baltimore County, the employer must provide a letter confirming its Baltimore County location and that the employee works at a minimum
20 hours each week.
–Participant must currently be employed in the IT/Cybersecurity field.
–Participants are allowed to take one of the provided classes.
–Student interns are not eligible for the program.
CCBC Accelerated Stackable Credentials
| Class | Course Name | Description |
| DCOM 215 | Ethical Hacking and System Defense (PenTest+) | Covers planning, scoping and methodology using hands-on tools to perform passive and active reconnaissance. Students use various tools to exploit network-based and host-based system vulnerabilities for given scenarios after conducting a vulnerability analysis. Students complete post-exploit tasks then analyze and report penetration test results for given scenarios. Students develop mitigation strategies for vulnerabilities that are discovered based on best practices. This course prepares students for the CompTIA PenTest+ certification exam. |
| DCOM 224 | Advanced Linux Administration (Linux+) | Provides advanced knowledge of the Linux operating system, installation, configuration and troubleshooting. Students install the Linux operating system and configure the hardware, software and manage storage in a Linux environment. Students develop skills needed to automate and schedule jobs, apply security best practices, and configure firewalls and logging services. Students analyze, troubleshoot, and diagnose system properties and optimize system performance. This course is the culminating course for the CompTIA Linux+ certification. |
| DCOM 251 | Local Area Networks (Network+) | Exposes students to this important network component through lecture and laboratory experiences; covers planning, installation, maintenance, and management of Local Area Networks (LANs). Taught in a combination of lecture and hands-on format. Course offered fall, spring, and may be offered during additional sessions. This course is also intended to serve the needs of those seeking to pass the Computing Technology Industry Association’s (Comp TIA) Network+ certification. |
| DCOM 258 | Introduction to Information Security (Security+) | Serves the needs of students interested in understanding the field of information Security and how it relates to other areas of information technology (IT). The material covered in this class provides the broad-based knowledge and skills necessary to prepare students for further study in specialized security fields, or may be used by those interested in a general introduction in the field. This course is also intended to serve the needs of those seeking to pass the Computing Technology Industry Association’s (Comp TIA) Security+ certification. |
CCBC has added 2 additional EARN Grant classes over the next 2 quarters.
| Course Number (CRN) | Class/Certification Prep | Dates | Remote session days | Remote session times |
| 53224 | DCOM 251 – Network+ | 8/9/22 – 9/1/22 | Tuesday & Thursday | 5:45 PM – 9:30 PM |
| Pending | DCOM 224 – Linux+ | 9/6/22 – 9/29/22 | Tuesday & Thursday | 5:45 PM – 9:30 PM |
| 92399 | DCOM 258 – Security+ | 10/11/22 – 11/3/22 | Tuesday & Thursday | 5:45 PM – 9:30 PM |
| Pending (TBD) | DCOM 215 – Pentest+ | 11/8/22 – 12/8/22 | Tuesday & Thursday | 5:45 PM – 9:30 PM |
For additional information, please contact Ron Hinkel, Earn Grant Manager with the CCBC Cybersecurity Institute, via email at [email protected].