Information Security Leadership Academy

The GenAI Boot Camp is an exciting new 6-week program that has been designed to provide cutting edge training focused specifically on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). In accordance with Governor Newsom’s directive to develop a highly skilled, diverse workforce that can drive California’s AI-powered economy, the GenAI Boot Camp will provide students with the knowledge and tools to responsibly use GenAI for public service, innovation, and operational excellence by meeting four key goals:

1. Create Awareness – Understand what GenAI is, its potential, and its limitations.
2. Incorporate Practical Skills – Learn hands-on applications for daily government tasks.
3. Ensure Responsible Use – Confirm employees use GenAI ethically, effectively, securely, and in compliance with regulations.
4. Support Innovative Thinking – Encourage creative problem-solving and efficiency in public service delivery.

This program requires that interested candidates apply for program selection through a formal process which includes the submission of an application and the approval of their department’s Chief Information Officer (CIO). (Access to these materials are provided within the “How to Apply” dropdown.)

If selected, participants will develop and enhance their skills through formal training sessions and opportunities to interface with the state’s leaders who are at the forefront of GenAI. Students will receive training on how to address state-specific requirements, protocols, and challenges related to GenAI through practical workshops, discussion, and exercises as well as complete a collaborative Team Capstone Project, which will serve as the culminating experience for the program.

Additionally, all students will be provided with a license to Poppy, the state’s digital assistant, and receive training and opportunities to use and engage this exciting new technology. If selected, candidates must confirm they have their department’s administrative approval to actively engage Poppy during class sessions prior to formally accepting their spot; otherwise, they will not be able to participate in this year’s program. Additionally, students must bring a laptop to class sessions as needed.

Finally, to ensure their experience with the boot camp is valuable, the program will also include two Program Coaches who are highly experienced and knowledgeable in this space and will provide guidance and support to the cohort.

Due to continued student interest in completing our training programs using both remote and in-person course offerings, the GenAI Boot Camp will offer a mix of platform delivery methods. Remote sessions will be conducted via Zoom, and in-person sessions will take place at the Department of Technology’s (CDT) Training and Education Center (TEC), located in Rancho Cordova, CA. Classes scheduled to be delivered in-person are listed below within the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and are subject to change, if needed.

It is important to note that while CDT encourages non-local (outside the Sacramento area) students to apply for this program, the expectation is that all students should make arrangements to attend in-person classes regardless of location. In-person sessions are not offered via hybrid, there are no make-up sessions for missed classes, and sessions are not recorded, regardless of delivery format.

To assist with planning, the GenAI Boot Camp Program Schedule and Calendar will be provided to all students accepted into this year’s program for careful review before formally committing and will identify which sessions will be conducted online versus in-person only so appropriate arrangements can be made.

The GenAI Boot Camp welcomes applications from public sector personnel (e.g., state, county, and city agencies) who have a strong interest, curiosity, and direct or indirect job applicability to GenAI concepts and their implementation in state government either currently or in the near future.

Ideal candidates should possess a foundational understanding of basic GenAI concepts either via formal or informal training and/or experience. While serving in a technical classification is helpful (e.g., IT Associate, IT Specialist), those serving in analyst classes who are tech-savvy and possess a strong interest in GenAI are also encouraged to apply (e.g., Analyst I, II, III or Supervisor/Manager I).

While there are no required pre-requisite courses for this program, if selected, it is strongly recommended that candidates who do not possess any knowledge or background in this technology complete a foundational course in basic GenAI concepts prior to attending this program due to the rigor associated with the curriculum.

The total program cost is $5,000 per participant and includes all course fees and materials, including a subscription to the state’s digital assistant, Poppy.

This cost does not include a 22% cost distribution fee charged by the Department of Technology (CDT) which is our standard practice and will be included in the direct billing. For more information, please see CDT’s Service Rates webpage.

The GenAI Boot Camp application period is now open and closes at 5:00 p.m. on August 10. The following documents must be submitted for your application to be considered complete for scoring:

• Formal application (in MS Forms)
• A signed Chief Information Officer (CIO) Authorization form (in PDF). This form must be submitted separately to the GenAI inbox at GenAIOPD@state.ca.gov. In order for your application to be considered for acceptance, this form must be received, and alternates to the CIO’s signature will not be accepted without an explanation as to the unavailability of the CIO to sign. This form must also be signed by the applicant.

Important Note: To ensure your application package is verified as being complete by the Office of Professional Development (OPD), applicants should submit their application responses and their CIO Authorization Form on the same date. Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, candidates who submit these documents on different dates risk their package not being fully accounted for and included for scoring and selection.

In addition, it is the candidate’s responsibility to secure and submit his/her CIO Authorization Form from their department’s CIO. Forms must include the electronic signature of the CIO to be verified as complete and must be submitted on or before application deadline (August 10). As a result, candidates are strongly encouraged to work proactively with their management chain to ensure their CIO Authorization Form is secured timely.

Finally, candidates should keep in mind that acceptance is based on the quality of application responses. Therefore, responses to the application prompts should thoroughly address each question, should be carefully reviewed before final submission, and should represent their unique thoughts. Responses that use content generated by AI will be noted as such and will adversely impact the candidate’s application scores.

For further information and/or to address questions, please contact the Office of Professional Development (OPD) at GenAIOPD@state.ca.gov.

What is the cost for GenAI Boot Camp?

The cost for the 2026 GenAI Boot Camp is $5,000 per participant and is paid for by the student’s department/agency.

This cost does not include a 22% cost distribution fee charged by the Department of Technology (CDT) which is our standard practice and will be included in the direct billing. For more information, please see CDT's Service Rates webpage.

When does the GenAI Boot Camp start and end?

The GenAI Boot Camp formally takes place from October 13 – November 20, 2026. This does not include a pre-program, virtual Administrative Review session developed to prepare students for the boot camp and to address questions.

What are the core hours for the training?

Core hours for the GenAI Boot Camp are 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., whether remotely or in-person. To verify connectivity, remote class sessions will be open at 8:30 a.m. Students are encouraged to log in to sessions early to network and chat with one another.

What is the time commitment required for this boot camp?

While the training schedule varies depending on the week, participants can generally expect to be engaged in training an average of 3-4 days per week. This does not include time needed outside of class to complete the Team Capstone Project, which is intended to serve as the culminating experience for the program and is discussed in more detail below. Before applying, candidates should ensure they are able to commit to the rigors associated with this program.

How will class sessions be conducted, and what are the technical requirements for attending?

Due to continued student interest in completing our training programs using a combination of remote and in-person delivery models, the GenAI Boot Camp will include a thoughtful mixture of sessions using both formats. Dates for all class sessions will be provided if accepted into the program.

It is important to note that while CDT always encourages non-local students to apply for its training programs, the expectation is that all students should make arrangements to attend in-person classes regardless of location. In-person sessions are not offered via hybrid, there are no make-up sessions for missed classes, and sessions are not recorded, regardless of delivery format.

To assist with planning, the GenAI Boot Camp Program Schedule and Calendar will be provided to all students accepted into this year’s program for careful review before formally committing to the program and will identify which sessions will be conducted online versus in-person so appropriate arrangements can be made.

The GenAI Boot Camp will use Microsoft Teams to house all program-related documents and Zoom will be the delivery medium for all remote class sessions. Students must be able to access these platforms. In addition, students are expected to possess a fully functioning camera and microphone so they can actively participate in class sessions.

What specific topics are covered in the GenAI Boot Camp curriculum?

The course topics have been carefully selected to provide students with the critical knowledge, skills, and tools needed by the state’s workforce. Classes are a mix of half-day, full-day and multiple-day sessions depending on the subject matter. Below is a tentative course listing for the 2026 GenAI Boot Camp program. Please note that course topics may be subject to change and that circumstances beyond our control may require adjustments to the program schedule. In addition, it is important to note that refunds will not be provided after the onset of the program (see below for further details on our refund policy).

• Introduction to Generative AI
• Telling Your Story
• Prompt Engineering Basics
• GenAI Quality and Accuracy
• Productivity with GenAI Tools
• Ethical and Responsible Use of GenAI

*These sessions will be conducted in-person only, will not be recorded, and will not be offered via hybrid; therefore, students are expected to make arrangements to attend.

What are some additional details regarding the Team Capstone Project?

As the culminating experience for the GenAI Boot Camp, the Team Capstone Project will provide students with the opportunity to work collaboratively in assigned teams to complete a project that incorporates the knowledge, skills, and practical tools learned throughout the program to address a problem or challenge within the state where GenAI could be meaningfully leveraged to benefit the citizens of California. Throughout the program, teams will be given the opportunity to work cooperatively via scheduled work sessions. However, students should also anticipate working on this project outside of class time, as needed.

How are candidates selected?

With only 20 spots in the boot camp, the application process will be highly competitive. Participants will be selected based on the quality and thoughtfulness of their application responses. To provide additional context, the OPD advises candidates to respond to questions similar to how they would for a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) submission. Finally, before submitting their application, students should carefully craft and review their answers to ensure they thoroughly address each question and that responses represent their unique thoughts and opinions, and, ironically, not those provided using GenAI.

Do I have to attend all the training sessions to remain in boot camp?

The GenAI Boot Camp covers a great deal of curriculum in its 6-week period. While some absences are unavoidable (e.g., illness), the maximum allowable absences is one (1). There are no make-up sessions for courses missed, and classes are generally not recorded. Students who exceed this limit will be withdrawn from the boot camp. Therefore, if you have vacation or other planned time off during the boot camp that will significantly interfere with your participation, you are encouraged to apply for a future cohort that will not have conflicting dates.

The GenAI Boot Camp is a rigorous program effort which requires students attend class sessions 3-4 days per week in addition to completing their Team Capstone Project. Therefore, before applying, interested candidates should have a frank conversation with their immediate supervisor about the commitment level associated with this program and the strong probability that their workload will need to be redistributed if accepted.

What is the drop policy for the GenAI Boot Camp?

After your formal acceptance, students who wish to drop from the GenAI Boot Camp do so with the understanding that their home department will incur up to 100% of the program’s charge. Requests for removal from the program must be in writing.

Below is an overview of the charges that will be incurred depending on the date of the drop request:

Date of Request	Charges Incurred to Home Department
From September 23 – September 28	50% charge of program amount ($2,500)
From September 29 or later	100% program cost ($5,000)

As a result, candidates who are offered a spot to join this year’s cohort should carefully and thoroughly review the program schedule and calendar that will be provided upon acceptance before formally confirming and/or contact the OPD for clarification or resolution of specific questions or concerns regarding their ability to fully engage.

What if I need a reasonable accommodation?

The OPD is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for all academy and boot camp students. If a student accepted into the program needs a reasonable accommodation, s/he should make this request as soon as possible to allow our team sufficient time for planning and preparation before the start of the program.

Where do I direct my questions?

Please contact the Office of Professional Development for questions and further information at GenAIOPD@state.ca.gov.