CompTIA and ConnectWise have launched a new effort to expand the nation’s cybersecurity and technology workforce through paid apprenticeships.

CompTIA and ConnectWise made their announcement in conjunction with Tuesday’s Cyber Workforce and Education Summit at the White House. Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh unveiled a Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint, challenging industry and labor partners to help expand registered apprenticeships in cybersecurity.

As a newly designated national program sponsor for apprenticeship, tech industry association CompTIA will use its education, training and certifications to equip apprentices with the skills and training needed for employment in technology occupations, including cybersecurity roles. IT professionals around the world hold more than 3.1 million CompTIA certifications.

ConnectWise, through its network of IT service providers, is the employer partner in the new apprenticeship initiative. These service providers deliver technology solutions and support to small, midsize and large customers in all industries and locales. This places them on the front line of cybersecurity and support for businesses. Dozens of service providers have already expressed interest in participating in the apprenticeship program.

High-Demand Tech Occupations

CompTIA and ConnectWise will offer training, certification and employment opportunities in five high-demand tech occupations. Those include tech support specialist, network support specialist, cybersecurity support technician, tech project coordinator and data analyst.

Training is based on national guideline standards created by CompTIA and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. These standards detail the competencies in technical and employability skills that apprentices need to join the IT workforce.

Todd Thibodeaux, CompTIA’s president and CEO, participated in the White House summit.

CompTIA’s Todd Thibodeaux

“We focus so much on top level cybersecurity experts that we forget the majority of this work is done by rank-and-file cyber professionals,” he said. “They work with end users, maintain and secure networks and defend against phishing and other threats to keep everyone and everything working securely. It is with these frontline positions where the most sizable staffing deficits exist, something we intend to address with this program.”

Unique Opportunity for Hiring

Jason Magee is ConnectWise‘s CEO

ConnectWise’s Jason Magee

“We have thousands of partners across the IT industry who regularly tell us about the challenges of finding qualified talent,” he said. “With the backing of the White House, and in partnership with CompTIA as an established educator of IT professionals, we have a unique opportunity to move hiring forward by matching trained workers with a robust group of potential employers.”

Additional details of the program will come out later this year.

The announcement expands CompTIA’s involvement with IT apprenticeships. Since 2020, CompTIA has partnered with the American Institutes for Research to grow the nation’s IT workforce through apprenticeships. It’s also creating career opportunities for diverse populations underrepresented in the tech workforce. That includes women, individuals with disabilities and people of color.