Before applying to this apprenticeship, please check that you meet all entry requirements. 

FIT recruits candidates interested in joining the programme through an online application form, available at www.fit.ie. Applications are first screened to ensure they meet the basic eligibility criteria outlined below. All candidates must meet the specific entry requirements.

Successful applicants will also be registered with SOLAS    , the regulatory authority responsible for apprenticeship registration in Ireland.

Once the initial screening is complete, FIT arranges interviews between candidates and prospective host employers, who will provide the mentored work placement. It is the employer’s sole decision to select the applicant(s) they wish to offer a full-time position to for the duration of the programme. FIT does not influence or participate in this selection process.

FIT provides a range of supports for candidates with additional learning needs or disabilities. Applicants are encouraged to disclose any such requirements at the beginning of the application process. Support includes assistance with navigating the application process, as well as ongoing help throughout the programme, including advice on reasonable accommodations.

Minimum candidate entry requirements

A successful candidate:

  Must be 18 years or older.

  Will be required to complete an initial aptitude test.

  Must have achieved a passing grade (or O6/H7) in 5 or more subjects, including Mathematics and English (both at Ordinary Level or above), in the Irish Leaving Certificate.

  Must be eligible to participate in Further Education and Training programmes.

  Must be entitled to study and work in Ireland.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process may be used to assess equivalency for candidates who do not hold a suitable Leaving Certificate qualification.

Additionally, candidates who have completed a FIT-recognised Pre-Tech Apprenticeship programme can provide supporting evidence, along with a copy of their Junior Certificate transcript, as part of the application process.

Candidates who wish to apply for entry, and who do not satisfy any of the other requirements are advised; that an evidenced and justifiable rationale will have to be provided for consideration to be entered into the selection process. This will include the submission of a detailed synopsis of previous educational, life and/or work experiences. The FIT Registrar or delegate will review such cases with regard to the FIT Policy on Access, Transfer and Progression (FIT-ATP-001). The Registrar or delegate’s decision is final.

View more details on eligibility criteria at fit.ie      

Key candidate skills and attributes

A successful candidate must:

  Be numerate and literate.
  Have good learning skills.
  Be interested in technology and customer service.
  Have the ability to absorb product knowledge.
  Be motivated and analytical.
  Possess good communication skills, a pleasant personality, and be determined to succeed.
  Have excellent interpersonal skills.
  Be able to work as a team member.
  Be adaptable and flexible.

In advance of completing an application for the Cyber Security Apprenticeship it is important to understand the commitment you will need to provide to this programme.

Apprentices will spend the first 6 months in full-time training, the next 12 months working with their employer for 3 days per week with 2 days on college day-release and the final 6 months working with their employer 4 days per week with 1 day in college finalising their certification.

The college-based training component is primarily delivered in person. Apprentices are informed of the specific training arrangements once they are preparing to begin employment with their apprenticeship sponsor. In most cases, this training is conducted at an Education and Training Board (ETB) facility, located throughout the Republic of Ireland. These facilities are equipped to provide a high-quality learning experience.

Where possible, FIT aims to match the location of college-based training with the geographic area of the employer’s operations. However, this may not always be feasible, and apprentices must be prepared to travel to attend training at designated locations when required.

In certain intakes, and subject to accreditor approval, some college-based training may be delivered through a blended learning model. In these cases, apprentices may complete part of their training remotely—either from home or their workplace—via a virtual classroom. However, some in-person attendance will be necessary.

The table below outlines the typical schedule of on-the-job (workplace) and off-the-job (college-based) training for this two-year, full-time apprenticeship programme.

What will I study?

The Cybersecurity Apprenticeship programme is delivered across four semesters. The titles of these semesters correspond with specific milestones necessary for meaningful apprentice progress.

Semester 1: Laying the Foundation
Semester 2: Introducing the Workplace
Semester 3: Consolidation
Semester 4: Preparation for Autonomy

On successful completion, you will be awarded an NFQ Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Cybersecurity. 

View the Cybersecurity Associate Apprenticeship brochure for more details on each module    . 

 To apply for this apprenticeship please click here    .

View Fastrack into IT (FIT) apprenticeship locations & schedules    

The training is provided by the following institutions:
(Please check with your local ETB as this list may change.)

• Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB    
• Limerick and Clare ETB    
• Donegal ETB    
• Dublin & Dun Laoghaire ETB    
• Galway & Roscommon ETB    
• Waterford & Wexford ETB    
• Louth & Meath ETB    
• Cavan & Monaghan ETB    
• Laois & Offaly ETB    
• Tipperary ETB    
• Longford & Westmeath ETB    
• City of Dublin ETB    
• Kildare & Wicklow ETB    
• Kilkenny & Carlow ETB    
• Kerry ETB    
• Cork College of FET (Cetb)    
• Kerry College     

Further information is also available from the co-ordinating provider for this apprenticeship:

Fastrack into Information Technology
7A Bellevue Industrial Estate
Glasnevin
Dublin 11

Tel: + 353 (0)1 882 5570
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.fit.ie

Or apply online on the FIT (Fastrack to Information Technology) website    .

Key candidate skills and attributes 

A successful candidate must:

• Be numerate and literate.
• Have good learning skills.
• Be interested in technology and customer service.
• Have the ability to absorb product knowledge.
• Be motivated and analytical.
• Possess good communication skills, a pleasant personality, and be determined to succeed.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills.
• Be able to work as a team member.
• Be adaptable and flexible 

On successful completion of this apprenticeship, the Software Development Associate will be able to:

Knowledge

• Understand why cybersecurity matters — the importance to business and society.
• Understand basic data security theory — concepts such as security, identity, confidentiality, integrity, availability, threat, vulnerability, risk, and hazard, and how these relate to each other and lead to risk and harm.
• Understand security assurance concepts — can explain what “assurance” means in security terms, the difference between ‘trustworthy’ and ‘trusted’, and how assurance may be achieved in practice (e.g. penetration testing and extrinsic assurance methods).
• Understand how to build a security case — deriving security objectives with reasoned justification in a representative business scenario.
• Understand cybersecurity concepts applied to ICT infrastructure — can describe the fundamental building blocks and typical architectures, and identify common vulnerabilities in networks and systems.
• Understand attack techniques and sources of threat — can describe the main types of common attack techniques and the role of human behaviour, and explain how attack techniques combine with motive and opportunity to become a threat.
• Understand cyber defence — describes ways to defend against attack techniques.
• Understand relevant laws and ethics — describes security standards, regulations, and their consequences across at least two sectors; the role of criminal and other law; and key relevant features of Irish and international law.
• Understand the existing threat landscape — can describe and knows how to apply relevant techniques for horizon scanning, including the use of recognised sources of threat intelligence.
• Understand threat trends — can describe the significance of identified trends in cybersecurity and understands the value and risks associated with this analysis.  

Skills 

• Discover vulnerabilities in a system through a mix of research and practical exploration.
• Analyse and evaluate security threats and hazards to a system, service, or process. Is aware of, and demonstrates the use of, relevant external sources of threat intelligence or advice, and combines different sources to create an enriched view.
• Research and investigate common attack techniques and recommend how to defend against them. Is aware of, and demonstrates the use of, relevant external sources of vulnerabilities (e.g. OWASP).
• Undertake a security risk assessment for a system without direct supervision and propose remediation advice in the context of the employer.
• Source and analyse a security case (e.g. a Common Criteria Protection Profile for a security component), describe what threats, vulnerabilities, or risks are mitigated, and identify any residual areas of concern.
• Develop a security case without supervision. A security case should describe the security objectives and threats, and for every identified attack technique, identify mitigations or security controls that could include technical, implementation, policy, or process measures.
• Identify and follow organisational policies and standards for information and cybersecurity.
  Operate according to service level agreements or employer-defined performance targets.
• Investigate different views of the future (using more than one external source) and trends in a relevant technology area, and describe what this might mean for the business, with supporting reasoning. 

View Occupational Profile from Apprenticeship.ie     for a more details on knowledge, skills, and competencies. 

IT Security is fast becoming one of the most important roles in the tech sector, as cybercriminals and hackers grow increasingly sophisticated.

Any computer connected to the internet is vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Cybersecurity refers to the techniques and practices used to protect computers, networks, and systems from such intrusions and criminal activities.

The cybersecurity worker’s job involves applying an understanding of cyber threats, hazards, risks, controls, measures and mitigations to protect organisations, systems and people.

The Work:

• Implements security protocols during the development stages of software systems, networks, and data centres
• Identifies vulnerabilities and risks in hardware and software
• Determines the most effective ways to secure an organisation’s IT infrastructure
• Builds firewalls into network infrastructures
• Continuously monitors systems for attacks and intrusions
• Responds to potential threats or attempted breaches by closing off security vulnerabilities
• Identifies perpetrators and liaises with the police when necessary

On successful completion of this programme, apprentices will be able to:

• Explain why cybersecurity is important for businesses, as well as wider society more broadly.
• Describe concepts such as security, identity, confidentiality, integrity, availability, threat, vulnerability, risk, and hazard and the relationship between these concepts in the context of risk and harm.
• Explain what assurance means, what methods are used to achieve assurance, and the distinction between “trustworthy” and “trusted.”
• Discuss the considerations for building a security case, establishing security objectives with reasoned justification in representative business scenarios.
• Identify the fundamental building blocks and typical architectures of ICT infrastructures and list some common vulnerabilities in computer networks and systems.
• Give examples of the main attack techniques and threat sources to ICT systems, explaining how these techniques become threats with the presence of motive and opportunity.
• Describe ways to defend against attack techniques.
• Discuss technical and ethical standards, as well as the key features of applicable laws and regulations (from national and international sources), pertaining to data security.
• Describe how to apply relevant techniques for horizon scanning, including use of recognised sources of threat intelligence.
• Analyse the significance of identified trends in cybersecurity, along with the value and risks associated with this analysis.
• Discover system vulnerabilities through research and practical exploration.
• Using generative artificial intelligence/machine learning solutions, analyse and evaluate security threats and hazards to systems, processes, and services.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform relevant research, using external sources of threat intelligence and best practices (e.g. OWASP), to establish a detailed picture of cybersecurity threats.
• Undertake a security risk assessment for a system, without direct supervision, and propose remediation advice in an organisational context.
• Source and analyse a security case (e.g. a Common Criteria Protection Profile for a security component) and describe the threats, vulnerabilities, or risks mitigated and identify any residual areas for concern.
• Develop, without supervision, a security case which comprises documented security objectives, threats, attack techniques, and possible mitigations or security controls (under common headings such as technical, implementation, policy, or process).
• Implement organisational policies and standards for information and cybersecurity within their scope of influence and responsibility.
• Operate in accordance with service level agreements or employer-defined performance targets.
• Define the organisational implications of anticipated future trends in cybersecurity. 

On completion of the programme and having attained the FIT ICTAP Award, it is envisaged that candidates will take up full-time positions with the sponsoring company.

You may specialise in the technical side of cyber security, working in areas such as security design and architecture; security testing; investigations; and response, or the risk analysis side, concentrating on areas such as operations; risk; governance and compliance.

Typical job roles in Cybersecurity include: Cloud Security Specialist, Penetration Tester, Junior IT Security Engineer, Risk Analyst, Security Sales Engineer, Cybersecurity Specialist, Information Security Assurance and Threat Analyst, Digital Forensics, and Incident Response Analyst.

Depending on your skills, knowledge, and experience, some of the opportunities below may be appropriate to help develop your Career pathway.

FIT collaborates with Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo to create a clear progression route for apprentices completing FIT’s Level 6 ICT Apprenticeships (in Software Development and Network Engineering). ATU Sligo is developing a specific Level 8 Honours Degree in Computer Science aimed at becoming a direct progression pathway for these apprentices.

ATU Sligo's structure supports advanced entry into Year 2, 3, or even Year 4 of the Level 8 programme for learners holding a cognate QQI/FET Level 6 Major award—with the possibility to reduce the total years of study required.

ATU Sligo is also developing an MSc to provide progression route for those who complete the Level 8 programme and wish to achieve a Level 9 degree. This activity will be expanded to cover the proposed Apprenticeship Programme, ICT Associate Professional in Cybersecurity.

FIT is working towards creating links with providers of further and higher education to facilitate entry/advanced entry to additional programmes.

These include:

• TU Dublin (TU)
• National College of Ireland (NCI)
• Dublin City University (DCU)
• Griffith College
• CCT College Dublin (CCT)

Other pathway options include Springboard and conversion courses or post graduate pathways. 

• Springboard & conversion courses      
• Post Graduate options    

Industries served by this apprenticeship include:

• Telecoms/technology
• Government
• Finance
• Business support
• Manufacturing
• Education
• Utilities
• Health & pharma
• Information and communication (ICT)
• Financial and insurance activities
• Manufacturing
• Human health & welfare
• Public administration and defence
• Wholesale and retail trade
• Education
• Professional, scientific and technical activities
• Accommodation and food service activities
• Arts, entertainment and recreation
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Utilities
• Construction
• Transportation and storage
• Administrative and support

To become an apprentice in Ireland you must be hired by an employer.

Apprenticeship employers are formally approved by SOLAS     in advance of employing apprentices. The employer must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment.

Apprentices get a formal contract of employment as part of their apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies and a list of currently approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal    . You can search for vacancies by location and employer in each apprenticeship. 

Search a list of Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship type here    .

Opportunities for this apprenticeship arise on an ongoing basis throughout the year. In order to secure an apprenticeship contract of employment, you should target companies you would like to do your apprenticeship with by applying directly to them. 

Choosing the Tech Apprenticeship Route | Interview with FIT on Corks 96FM, May 21, 2025

Application procedure 

FIT ICT Associate Professional participants are matched with a sponsor company within the ICT Industry who values their talent.

Companies such as Accenture, AOL, AQMetrics, Cork Internet Exchange, Fujitsu, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, Stanley Security and Version 1, have embraced this initiative, viewing it as a practical pathway to acquiring in–demand tech skills.

To find out more: e-mail [email protected] or by phone on 01 8825570.

Further Information

Phone FIT at: 01 8825570             
Website: www.fit.ie      
Email: [email protected]

Finding an Employer

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship and secure an apprenticeship work contract you can search apprenticeship vacancies on the Apprenticeship Jobs Portal . You can search for vacancies by location and by apprenticeship type.

Your local Education and Training Board may also hold details of employers seeking to employ an apprentice.

You should also directly connect with local employers who might be interested in taking on an apprentice. It is a great idea to get a part time job with a local employer who might be more inclined to take you on as an apprentice following a successful work experience placement or a part time job contract.

Further information about this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations on this website:

Online Job Sites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

Apprentices are not required to pay a student contribution for this apprenticeship.