THE UK Cyber Security Council has launched a new title, the Associate Cyber Security Professional, designed to help people at the start of their careers in the industry. The Associate title is open to applications from 13 April 2026 to 17 May 2026 and sits alongside Practitioner, Principal and Chartered Cyber Security Professional on the UK’s Cyber Security Professional Register.
Certification at this level signals that the holder has the requisite knowledge, skills and ethics and is committed to 75 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) over three years. Applicants must demonstrate competence in five key areas, with scope to fast-track if they already hold qualifications or certifications aligned to these areas.
According to UK Cyber Security Council, the initiative aims to provide a government-backed, credible route for early-career professionals to evidence their cybersecurity knowledge and pave the way for their first cyber role. The scheme, praised as a step towards closing the cyber-skills gap, is emphasised by the council’s CEO, Giles Grant.