Can You Do a Cybersecurity Bootcamp While Working Full-Time?

Yes. Evolve Security Academy’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp, CND + CEH Bootcamp, and CyberCore Bootcamp are built for people who work during the day while they train to switch careers to cybersecurity. The Cybersecurity Bootcamp and the CND + CEH Bootcamp run on weeknight evenings, and CyberCore is self-paced with optional live sessions. You don’t have to quit your job to learn cybersecurity. You can keep working, build new skills in the evenings, and transition into a cybersecurity career. Here’s how each program fits around a full-time schedule, and how to pick the right one for you.

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What is the schedule for Evolve Security Academy’s bootcamps?

Evolve Security Academy’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp is live online Monday through Friday from 7 pm to 9 pm US CT for 20 weeks. The CND + CEH Bootcamp is also live online, with classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7 pm to 9 pm US CT for 16 weeks. Plan on about 20 hours a week in total to account for homework and labs. You watch pre-recorded lectures outside of class, so the two hours of live class are dedicated to hands-on labs with your instructor. After a full workday, you spend your evening working through problems with people who can answer your questions on the spot.

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What happens if you miss a live class at Evolve Security Academy?

Every live class at Evolve Security Academy is recorded, so if you miss one, you can watch the session, work on the lab, and catch up on what you missed. Life happens, work happens, and you don’t have to miss birthdays and anniversaries while you study with us. We follow a very structured curriculum, and the instructor provides a detailed weekly plan, so you’ll know which labs are covered on any given day. If you have questions about a lab, you can message your instructor on Slack or stop by office hours. You can also schedule a one-on-one meeting with an instructor for additional help.

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What if I work in the evenings and cannot attend live classes?

If you work evenings or can’t attend live classes, the CyberCore Bootcamp is Evolve Security Academy’s self-paced option. It’s a 12-week program at $4,000, designed for working adults. Plan on about 18 hours a week, spread across whatever days and times work for you.

CyberCore has optional live sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6 pm to 7 pm US CT. These live support sessions are recorded and posted in CyberLab the next business day, so you never fall behind by missing one.

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Do I need a special computer to work on the labs?

No. Evolve Security Academy’s bootcamps run on CyberLab, our proprietary platform, which you access through a web browser from anywhere in the world. CyberLab is your one-stop hub for recorded lectures, labs, quizzes, and assessments. You can spin up virtual machines for your labs right in the browser, so there’s nothing to install or set up. You can log in from your laptop on a lunch break and pick up where you left off.

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How do you choose between the Cybersecurity Bootcamp and the CyberCore Bootcamp?

Choose Evolve Security Academy’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp if you can attend weeknight evening classes for 20 weeks, and choose CyberCore if your schedule changes week to week or you work evenings.

The Cybersecurity Bootcamp is the full program: live instruction, the Evolve Security Certified Professional (ESCP) exam, a CompTIA Security+ exam voucher, a two-week internship, and career support after the bootcamp. It also includes the Job Offer Commitment Program: if you meet all requirements and don’t receive a job offer within six months of completing the bootcamp, your tuition paid to Evolve is refunded.

CyberCore is self-paced and will help you build a solid cybersecurity foundation. The curriculum is aligned to CompTIA’s Security+ exam, but the exam voucher isn’t included.

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Does it matter if you don’t live in Chicago?

No. Evolve Security Academy’s live classes are taught online via Zoom, and students use CyberLab, our proprietary lab platform, to access their curriculum and complete their labs. As long as you can attend Cybersecurity Bootcamp or CND + CEH Bootcamp classes during class time (7 to 9 pm US CT), location doesn’t matter. In other time zones, that’s 8 to 10 pm Eastern, 6 to 8 pm Mountain, and 5 to 7 pm Pacific. If you’re on the West Coast and your workday runs beyond 5 pm, CyberCore’s self-paced format may be the better fit.

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Do working students still get career support?

Yes. At Evolve Security Academy, your schedule or employment status doesn’t change the career support you get. Cybersecurity Bootcamp, CND + CEH Bootcamp, and CyberCore Bootcamp students all have a career advisor during the program for career coaching, resume prep, and mock interviews alongside their training. Cybersecurity Bootcamp and CND + CEH Bootcamp students keep that support after graduation as long as they’re actively job hunting.

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What do graduates say about balancing it with work?

Evolve graduates who worked full-time during the program say the format fits around a job. Angela Marafino took the Cybersecurity Bootcamp while working full-time. In her review on Course Report, she said the format “worked perfectly around a full time work schedule.” She also landed her job by networking with people in her own cohort, which is a good reminder that the classmates you meet in those evening sessions are part of what you’re building.

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The bottom line

You don’t have to quit your job to start a career in cybersecurity. At Evolve Security Academy, if you can commit your weeknights for 20 weeks, the Cybersecurity Bootcamp gives you the full program. If three evenings a week fits better, the CND + CEH Bootcamp runs Tuesday through Thursday for 16 weeks. If you need more flexibility, CyberCore lets you set your own pace. Whichever you choose, you’ll keep your paycheck while you learn cybersecurity and transition into a new career.