College Board Launches 2 Brand New AP Courses: Is Your School Eligible?

For the first time in years, the AP program is getting two brand new courses.

With the launch of AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity, the AP Program now has 42 courses starting this fall — 42 opportunities for students to explore college-level work and dig into content connected to real-world careers.

Here is everything students, parents, and educators need to know before the 2026-27 school year begins.

Why College Board Added These Courses Now

The AP program has existed for nearly 70 years. Its courses have always focused on academic preparation for college.

That is changing.

College Board CEO David Coleman said students have been disengaged from classes they feel do not prepare them adequately for their future. The new courses are a direct response to that problem.

AP Career Kickstart courses are designed to bring the nationally recognized college credit of AP to the applied learning of career and technical education. They offer high school students the opportunity to earn credentials that validate professional career skills and meet industry needs.

In short — these courses give students college credit and a career credential at the same time.

Meet the Two New Courses

AP Business with Personal Finance

Launching in the 2026-27 school year, AP Business with Personal Finance is a project-based course that introduces students to foundational business concepts alongside personal finance literacy.

Students will learn how businesses operate, how market economies work, how to budget, how to invest, and how to manage credit.

Instead of traditional lectures, students take on hands-on projects and case studies based on real companies, making business and finance feel practical and relevant.

The course is built in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and aligns with the National Standards for Personal Financial Education.

Whether offered as a standalone elective, satisfying graduation requirements, or providing an opportunity to gain college credit, AP Business with Personal Finance can fit into a variety of study programs.

Students who score well on the AP exam earn college credit — and a credential tied to business and financial literacy standards.

AP Cybersecurity

AP Cybersecurity covers the basics of computer networking, including how computers communicate, network hardware, and cybersecurity practices.

The course is built for students interested in technology who want early exposure to one of the fastest-growing career fields in the country.

The U.S. job market for cybersecurity roles is expected to grow by more than 30 percent over the next decade.

AP Cybersecurity aligns with the NICE Framework — the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework — developed by NIST.

Students who earn a qualifying score on the AP Cybersecurity exam receive a free voucher to take an industry-recognized CompTIA certification exam.

That is a significant bonus. CompTIA certifications are employer-recognized credentials that typically cost over $300 to sit for independently.

Also Read: How to Appeal AP Exam Scores 2026

What Is AP Career Kickstart

These two courses are the first offerings from a new College Board initiative called AP Career Kickstart.

AP Career Kickstart courses offer high school students the opportunity to earn credentials that validate professional career skills and meet industry needs. They are designed to bring the nationally recognized college credit of AP to the applied learning of career and technical education.

This is the first time in AP’s history that courses have been explicitly built to combine academic rigor with career-ready credentials.

College Board is already working on expanding this to include tracks in health science and information technology. AP Business and AP Cybersecurity are just the beginning.

Is Your School Eligible to Offer These Courses

Not every school can offer AP courses. There is an authorization process through College Board.

To offer any AP course, a school must:

• Have an AP Course Audit completed and approved through AP Central
• Have a qualified teacher who completes College Board’s subject-specific professional development
• Submit a course syllabus that meets College Board’s curriculum requirements

For AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity specifically, schools can begin the process by completing the interest form on College Board’s AP Career Kickstart page.

For schools looking to connect students to high-demand careers, AP Cybersecurity introduces both technical and durable skills in a rapidly growing field.

Schools that already offer CTE programs in business or technology are well-positioned to add these courses, since they align with existing CTE frameworks and can satisfy CTE graduation requirements in many states.

The Pilot Program — Some Schools Already Started

Students at select schools are not waiting until fall 2026.

College Board is piloting AP Cybersecurity and AP Networking in classrooms across the U.S. in the 2025-26 school year.

Students participating in the pilot phase of AP Cybersecurity will have access to training materials, test preparation resources, and exclusive benefits, including vouchers for CompTIA certification exams.

The full national launch to all eligible schools begins in the 2026-27 school year — this coming fall.

Also Read: AP Calculus AB Passing Score 2026 — What Score Do You Need?

How These Courses Affect College Admissions

AP courses have always helped college applications by demonstrating academic rigor.

These new courses add another dimension.

Representatives from selective college admissions offices note that career-oriented AP courses demonstrate not only students’ academic potential but also their ability to plan careers effectively.

For students applying to business programs, AP Business with Personal Finance signals relevant preparation. For STEM and computer science applicants, AP Cybersecurity demonstrates both interest and industry-level readiness — especially when paired with a CompTIA certification.

About 85 percent of selective colleges say AP experience helps applicants stand out. These new courses add to that advantage while also building practical skills beyond what a traditional AP course offers.

Who Should Consider Taking These Courses

AP Business with Personal Finance is a strong fit for students interested in business, finance, economics, accounting, entrepreneurship, or anyone who simply wants to understand how to manage money — a skill useful regardless of career path.

AP Cybersecurity is built for students drawn to computers, technology, information security, or networking. No prior coding experience is required — the course builds foundational knowledge from the ground up.

Both courses are also valuable for students who are not yet sure what they want to study. The practical, real-world content gives them exposure to high-growth fields before they have to make any decisions about college majors or careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the new AP Business and AP Cybersecurity courses launch?

AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity will launch nationally in the 2026-27 school year. Some schools have already participated in pilot programs during 2025-26.

What is AP Career Kickstart?

AP Career Kickstart is a new College Board initiative that brings the nationally recognized college credit of AP to career and technical education. It offers students the opportunity to earn credentials that validate professional career skills alongside college credit.

Do students earn college credit from these new AP courses?

Yes. Both courses offer students the opportunity to earn college credit. AP Business with Personal Finance also leads to a credential aligned with national personal finance standards. AP Cybersecurity offers a voucher for a CompTIA certification exam.

What CompTIA certification does AP Cybersecurity connect to?

Students who earn a qualifying score on the AP Cybersecurity exam receive a free voucher to take an industry-recognized CompTIA certification exam. CompTIA certifications are widely recognized by employers in the technology sector.

Does a student need coding experience to take AP Cybersecurity?

No formal prerequisites are required for AP Cybersecurity. The course builds foundational knowledge in networking and security from the ground up. A genuine interest in technology will help students succeed, but prior coding experience is not required.

How can my school start offering these courses?

Schools interested in offering AP Career Kickstart courses can complete the interest form at apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-career-kickstart. Teachers must complete College Board’s professional development and have a syllabus approved through the AP Course Audit process.

How many AP courses are there now?

With the launch of AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity, the AP Program now has 42 courses starting in the 2026-27 school year.

Bottom Line

AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity are launching this fall — and they represent a genuine shift in what the AP program is designed to do.

For the first time, students can earn AP college credit and a career credential from the same course. For students interested in business or technology, these are worth taking seriously.

If your school does not yet offer these courses, the process starts at AP Central. Teachers need to complete professional development and submit a syllabus before the fall semester begins.

Official Resources:

• AP Career Kickstart: apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-career-kickstart
• AP Business with Personal Finance: apcentral.collegeboard.org — AP Business
• AP Cybersecurity: apcentral.collegeboard.org — AP Cybersecurity

Last Updated: June 24, 2026.