CIAT Launches CompTIA SecAI+ Bootcamps — The First Intensive Programme Merging AI and Cybersecurity Skills for Mid-Career Security Professionals
California Institute of Applied Technology (CIAT) (National City, California; a career-focused technical college dedicated to preparing students for success in today's evolving workforce; official CompTIA Academic Partner; 3,500+ graduates across certificate, associate, and bachelor-level programmes), in cooperation with CompTIA, has launched a new intensive education programme merging artificial intelligence and cybersecurity skills — the CompTIA SecAI+ Bootcamp. Designed for mid-career cybersecurity professionals seeking to master AI security specialisation, the bootcamp is built around the CompTIA SecAI+ (CY0-001) — CompTIA's first standalone certification focused specifically on the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, which officially launched on 17 February 2026. The inaugural bootcamp is scheduled for 26–30 May 2026, with future sessions 29 June–3 July and 27–31 July 2026.
"If you've built substantial cybersecurity expertise and recognise AI security as the next frontier in your professional evolution, our SecAI+ bootcamp delivers that strategic advantage."
— Brad Smith, IT Certification Programme Manager, CIATFive-Day Curriculum — Conceptual Mastery, Theory, and Applied Laboratory Work
The SecAI+ Bootcamp is delivered over a concentrated five-day curriculum through live virtual instruction — with daily sessions combining conceptual mastery, theoretical knowledge, and hands-on practical experience gained through applied laboratory work. Participants have access to live expert instruction from industry-certified professionals, virtual labs to apply theoretical knowledge through practical exercises, and career development support including AI-powered resume and mock interview tools alongside expert-led career building events. All CIAT bootcamp programmes include unlimited certification exam attempts — students may retake their SecAI+ exam as many times as necessary until they achieve a passing score, reducing test anxiety and providing confidence in the pathway to certification. Bootcamp credits are convertible to transfer credits applicable toward any CIAT certificate or degree pathway, enabling smooth progression from intensive bootcamp training to comprehensive academic programmes.
"The CompTIA SecAI+ certification represents a groundbreaking credential that validates specialised expertise where artificial intelligence meets cybersecurity. As enterprises accelerate AI adoption while confronting increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled threats, professionals who can both protect AI infrastructure and harness AI for defensive operations are in critically short supply."
— CIAT, CompTIA SecAI+ Bootcamp Programme DescriptionWho the Bootcamp Is For — Target Professionals and the AI Security Skills Gap
The SecAI+ Bootcamp targets two primary professional profiles. First, certified security professionals with existing CompTIA Security+, CySA+, or PenTest+ credentials who are aiming to distinguish themselves through advanced AI security competencies — the natural next step for mid-career cybersecurity practitioners looking to specialise in the fastest-growing frontier of the discipline. Second, risk managers and compliance specialists tasked with securing AI deployments and establishing AI governance frameworks within their enterprises — a role that has emerged rapidly as organisations accelerate AI adoption without corresponding security expertise. The SecAI+ certification validates two critical skill sets that organisations urgently need: the ability to secure AI systems from emerging threats, and the expertise to leverage AI technologies to enhance security operations. As AI-enabled threats grow in sophistication and AI systems become embedded in enterprise infrastructure, professionals who hold both skill sets simultaneously are among the most valuable and scarce in the cybersecurity labour market.
CIAT launches CompTIA SecAI+ Bootcamp. California Institute of Applied Technology (National City, California; career-focused technical college; official CompTIA Academic Partner; 3,500+ graduates). In cooperation with CompTIA. Announced 11 May 2026. Inaugural session: 26–30 May 2026. Future sessions: 29 June–3 July and 27–31 July 2026. CompTIA SecAI+ (CY0-001): CompTIA's first standalone AI security certification, officially launched 17 February 2026. Registration at ciat.edu.
Bootcamp format and included features. Five-day concentrated curriculum delivered via live virtual instruction. Daily sessions: conceptual mastery + theoretical knowledge + hands-on applied laboratory work. Includes: live expert instruction from industry-certified professionals; virtual labs for practical application; AI-powered resume and mock interview tools; expert-led career building events. Unlimited certification exam attempts — retake as many times as needed until passing score achieved. Credits convertible to transfer credits toward any CIAT certificate or degree programme. Flexible scheduling enables working professionals to upskill without leaving current roles.
Two target professional profiles. (1) Certified security professionals with CompTIA Security+, CySA+, or PenTest+ credentials seeking to distinguish themselves through advanced AI security competencies — the natural career progression for mid-career cybersecurity practitioners specialising in the fastest-growing frontier of the discipline. (2) Risk managers and compliance specialists tasked with securing AI deployments and establishing AI governance frameworks within enterprises — a newly critical role as organisations accelerate AI adoption without corresponding security expertise in place.
What CompTIA SecAI+ validates — two critical skill sets. (1) The ability to secure AI systems from emerging threats — protecting AI infrastructure (models, training data, inference pipelines, APIs) from adversarial attacks, data poisoning, model theft, and exploitation. (2) The expertise to leverage AI technologies to enhance security operations — using AI-powered tools for threat detection, behavioural analytics, automated response, and SOC efficiency. These two skill sets are simultaneously the most urgent cybersecurity capability gap in 2026 and the least widely credentialled — making SecAI+ holders among the most valuable and scarce security professionals in the labour market.
Strategic significance — AI security as the defining cybersecurity skills gap of 2026. The launch of CompTIA SecAI+ and CIAT's inaugural bootcamp arrives at the inflection point where enterprise AI adoption has outpaced enterprise AI security capability. Organisations are deploying AI systems at scale — in production, customer-facing, and mission-critical environments — while the professionals who know how to secure those systems are in critically short supply. The SecAI+ certification creates the first standardised, industry-recognised credential for this specialisation. For L&D leaders and workforce planners, the CIAT SecAI+ Bootcamp represents the fastest available pathway to upskilling existing security professionals into the AI security domain — a five-day intensive with unlimited exam attempts and credit portability, designed specifically for working professionals who cannot step away from their roles for months at a time.