CISA Learning (Formerly FedVTE): Free Government Cybersecurity Training Guide (2026)

Introduction

If you have been searching for free government cybersecurity training, you have likely come across recommendations for FedVTE ( the Federal Virtual Training Environment). However, if you try to visit the old FedVTE website today, you will find that it no longer exists.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency officially retired FedVTE and launched its modernized replacement: CISA Learning.

As part of the wider ecosystem of US government free online courses with certificates

, CISA Learning offers over 800 hours of self-paced cybersecurity, network defense, and IT compliance training at zero cost. Whether you are a complete beginner exploring tech careers or an IT professional preparing for paid exams like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP, this guide explains how to access the platform, who qualifies for full versus public access, and which certificates carry the most weight on your resume.

What Happened to FedVTE? Inside the Move to CISA Learning

For over a decade, FedVTE served as the primary online cybersecurity training portal for government personnel and military veterans. To modernize the user experience, update hands-on virtual labs, and align courses with current threat frameworks, the Department of Homeland Security migrated the entire catalog to CISA Learning.

Key improvements on the new platform include:

• On-Demand Virtual Labs: Hands-on sandbox environments where you can practice vulnerability scanning, incident response, and log analysis safely in your browser.
• Role-Based Learning Paths: Courses are mapped directly to the NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) Workforce Framework, making it easy to follow a structured track for roles like SOC Analyst, Threat Hunter, or Cyber Defense Auditor.
• Verifiable Completion Certificates: Every completed module generates an official PDF certificate bearing CISA backing and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) hours.

Who Can Enroll? Public Access vs. Full Account Eligibility

Unlike our guide to the best FEMA Independent Study courses for your resume, where the entire catalog is open to everyone globally, CISA Learning splits its training library into two access tiers: Public Access and Full Registered Access.

1. Public Access Courses (Open to Everyone Worldwide)

You do not need a U.S. government affiliation, military background, or U.S. citizenship to take CISA’s public-access cybersecurity courses. Anyone with an internet connection can study these foundational and intermediate modules at no cost.

• Best For: International learners, students, career switchers, and private-sector employees looking to build foundational cyber hygiene and network defense skills.

2. Full Catalog Access (800+ Hours & Exam Prep Tracks)

To unlock the complete library, including advanced ethical hacking labs and full certification prep bootcamps, you must verify that you belong to one of the following eligible groups:

• Federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial (SLTT) government employees
• U.S. military service members, reservists, and veterans
• Federal contractors with a valid government sponsor or work email

Best Free CISA Courses for Beginners and Career Switchers

If you are accessing the public catalog to build your CV or prepare for an entry-level IT support or security role, start with these foundational modules:

Course Title	Level	Duration	Core Skills Covered
101 Coding for Cybersecurity	Beginner	5 Hours	Scripting basics, reading code for vulnerabilities, and automation fundamentals.
101 Critical Infrastructure Protection	Beginner	2 Hours	Physical and cyber risk management for utilities, healthcare, and corporate networks.
101 Cryptography	Beginner	3 Hours	Encryption standards, hashing, public key infrastructure (PKI), and data protection.
Cyber Essentials Toolkit Modules	Beginner	4 Hours	Phishing defense, access control, patch management, and organizational incident readiness.
Fundamentals of Cyber Risk Management	Intermediate	6 Hours	Threat modeling, vulnerability assessments, and applying NIST compliance frameworks.
Introduction to Network Analysis	Intermediate	8 Hours	Packet inspection, TCP/IP traffic monitoring, and spotting anomalous network behavior.

How to Use CISA Learning to Pass Paid Certifications (CompTIA & ISC2)

One of the smartest ways to use CISA Learning is as a free study bootcamp for expensive private-sector certification exams. While a CISA course completion certificate is not a substitute for an official CompTIA or ISC2 license, the training material covers the exact same exam objectives.

If you qualify for full CISA Learning access (or combine public CISA modules with free vendor study guides), you can prepare for major industry exams without paying thousands of dollars for commercial training courses:

• CompTIA Network+ & Security+: CISA offers dedicated 20-to-40-hour prep tracks covering network architecture, zero-trust security, identity management, and cryptography.
• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker): Intermediate and advanced tracks cover penetration testing methodologies, reconnaissance, and system hardening.
• CISSP & CISM: Advanced governance tracks cover security architecture, risk management frameworks (RMF), and enterprise security auditing.

Pro Tip for Continuing Education (CEUs): If you already hold a CompTIA, ISC2, or ISACA certification, completing CISA Learning courses is one of the easiest ways to earn free Continuing Professional Education (CPE / CEU) credits to renew your existing licenses without paying maintenance course fees.

How to Format CISA Certificates on Your Resume

Because “CISA” is also the acronym for ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor credential, you must write out the full federal agency name on your CV so recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) do not get confused.

Never write:

• CISA Certified (2026) — This implies you hold the ISACA auditing license, which can backfire during background checks.

Always write:

• [Exact Course Title] | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (2026)
• Example: Fundamentals of Cyber Risk Management | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (2026)

In your resume’s skills section, pair your certificate with high-value ATS keywords learned in the course, such as NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF), Vulnerability Assessment, Incident Response, Packet Analysis, and Zero Trust Architecture.

Where to Go Next

• Building a strong tech CV does not require expensive bootcamps. By combining CISA’s public cybersecurity modules with FEMA Independent Study incident management training, you can demonstrate both technical awareness and operational readiness to employers. If you are looking to branch into project management or healthcare compliance next, check out our guides on SBA & FAI Government Business Courses and Free CDC & NIH Public Health Certificates, or visit our complete hub of US government free online courses with certificates and start your next module today.

Key Takeaways: CISA Learning Cybersecurity Certificates

• Platform Update: The U.S. government officially retired FedVTE and replaced it with CISA Learning, managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
• Cost: All courses, virtual labs, and downloadable PDF completion certificates on CISA Learning are 100% free.
• Access Tiers: CISA offers a Public Access catalog open to learners worldwide with no citizenship requirement, while the full 800+ hour library is reserved for U.S. veterans, military personnel, government employees, and federal contractors.
• Best Starting Courses: Beginners should start with 101 Cryptography, 101 Coding for Cybersecurity, Fundamentals of Cyber Risk Management, and Introduction to Network Analysis.
• Exam Prep & CEUs: Courses align with the NICE Workforce Framework and provide free study preparation and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for CompTIA Security+, Network+, CySA+, and CISSP.
• Resume Rule: Always spell out Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on your CV and LinkedIn profile to distinguish your federal training from ISACA’s CISA auditing exam.

References

• https://niccs.cisa.gov/training/cisa-learning
• https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-launches-new-learning-platform-enhance-training-and-education-us-veterans-and-other