Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), in partnership with Citizens and Building Futures, announced on Apr. 8 the launch of Rhode Island’s first Registered Apprenticeship Program for Information Security Analysts. The program aims to support students pursuing careers in cybersecurity by providing full-time, paid apprenticeships at Citizens for eligible students who have transferred from CCRI to Rhode Island College.
The new apprenticeship is designed to address workforce needs in the fast-growing field of cybersecurity while giving local students hands-on experience and a pathway into high-demand jobs. The initiative is funded through a Governor’s Workforce Board grant, with oversight by the Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College.
As part of the program, apprentices will receive structured training aligned with employer needs, mentorship from senior cybersecurity professionals at Citizens, and wages starting at $28 per hour that increase over time. Andrew Cortés, President and CEO of Building Futures, said: “This program represents exciting momentum for degree-connected Registered Apprenticeship that will enable employers to develop the highly skilled workforce needed in cyber security and open the door to career opportunities for Rhode Islanders.”
Dr. Jack R. Warner, President of Rhode Island College, said: “By leveraging the in-demand skills and career-focused education of students who have progressed through the cybersecurity programs at both CCRI and RIC, we are providing local employers with the highly trained workforce they need, while giving Rhode Island students an unparalleled opportunity to earn while they learn.” Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan, President of CCRI—the college’s sixth president as well as its first alumna according to the official website—said: “By aligning our cybersecurity programs with this ‘earn-and-learn’ model, we are opening doors for students while ensuring Rhode Island employers have access to the skilled talent they need.”
CCRI offers more than 200 degree and certificate programs across campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport as well as education centers in Westerly and Woonsocket according to its official website. The college supports community development through initiatives like free tuition via the Rhode Island Promise program for recent high school graduates according to its official website, aiming to deliver accessible higher education statewide.
Former U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin praised the effort: “This new Registered Apprenticeship Program is exactly the kind of innovative, results-driven approach we need to train and equip the next generation of cybersecurity professionals that our nation will rely on…” Brendan Goode from Citizens added: “Today’s cyber threats demand a workforce that can continuously adapt as technology evolves… As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how organizations manage cyber risk… we’re investing in programs that develop adaptable talent.”
Governor Dan McKee described this initiative as another example of how “the Ocean State continues to lead” in artificial intelligence fields by creating hands-on pathways into competitive sectors like cybersecurity.
