Five Days to PQC Migration Competence
The PQC Practitioner Bootcamp compresses the Post-Quantum Foundation and Post-Quantum Certified Specialist (PQCS) Training content into an intensive, instructor-led week. Where the self-paced courses spread learning over weeks or months, the Bootcamp delivers the same depth in five consecutive days of immersive, focused instruction with live labs and group exercises.
Participants work through a simulated PQC migration program from start to finish: conducting a cryptographic inventory on a sample environment, building a CBOM, performing algorithm selection exercises, designing hybrid implementation approaches, creating a migration roadmap, and testing PQC-enabled protocol configurations in a lab environment.
The Bootcamp does not replace the certification exam. Participants who want to earn the PQCS credential still sit for the proctored exam separately, but the Bootcamp provides thorough preparation. No additional self-study should be required for well-prepared candidates.
Who Should Take This Course
Security professionals who learn best through immersive, instructor-led training and want to compress their preparation timeline. Also appropriate for teams that want to build shared PQC competence quickly through a cohort-based experience.
You should take this course if you:
- Prefer intensive, structured learning over self-paced study
- Want to go from zero PQC knowledge to exam-ready in one week
- Are part of a team launching a PQC migration program and need the whole team trained together
- Value direct instructor access, peer discussion, and hands-on lab exercises
- Need to be productive on PQC migration work immediately after training
What You Will Learn
The Bootcamp covers the same learning objectives as Post-Quantum Foundation and PQCS Specialist Training:
- The quantum threat to cryptography (HNDL, TNFL, CRQC timeline assessment)
- NIST post-quantum standards and regulatory drivers
- Cryptographic inventory and CBOM methodology (hands-on lab)
- NIST PQC algorithm evaluation (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA, FN-DSA, HQC)
- Hybrid implementation design (key exchange and signatures)
- Protocol migration assessment (TLS, SSH, IPsec, PKI)
- Risk assessment, prioritization, and migration planning
- Cryptographic agility principles and architecture
Program Structure
Day 1 — The Quantum Threat and Regulatory Landscape
Morning: What the quantum threat actually is, how Shor’s algorithm breaks current cryptography, and the HNDL/TNFL threat models in technical detail. Afternoon: Regulatory requirements (CNSA 2.0, EU directives, sector-specific mandates), market drivers, and timeline assessment methodology. By end of day, participants can articulate the threat and the urgency with precision and evidence.
Day 2 — NIST PQC Algorithms: Technical Deep Dive
Full-day deep dive into every standardized algorithm. ML-KEM: lattice-based key encapsulation, performance characteristics, parameter selection. ML-DSA: lattice-based signatures, key and signature sizes, deployment considerations. SLH-DSA: hash-based signatures, conservative security, larger size tradeoffs. FN-DSA: compact lattice-based signatures, implementation considerations. HQC: code-based backup standard. Comparative exercises: selecting the right algorithm for specific deployment scenarios.
Day 3 — Cryptographic Inventory, CBOM, and Hybrid Implementations (Lab)
Morning lab: Conduct a cryptographic inventory on a sample enterprise environment using discovery tools and manual methodology. Build a CBOM and score assets for migration priority. Afternoon: Hybrid implementation design — configuring hybrid TLS key exchange with open-source libraries, measuring performance impact, analyzing fallback behavior.
Day 4 — Protocol Migration and Risk Assessment (Lab)
Morning: Protocol-by-protocol migration assessment — TLS 1.3, SSH, IPsec, S/MIME, code signing, PKI. Each protocol examined for migration requirements, available tooling, and sequencing considerations. Afternoon lab: Risk assessment workshop — prioritizing a cryptographic estate for migration using risk-weighted scoring, vendor dependency analysis, and business criticality mapping.
Day 5 — Migration Planning, Agility, and Capstone Exercise
Morning: Migration planning methodology aligned with the PQC Migration Framework. Cryptographic agility principles and architecture patterns. Afternoon capstone: Teams develop a complete migration roadmap for a realistic organizational scenario, present to peers, and receive instructor feedback.
Format and Delivery
Live online — US$2,995. Five days of real-time, instructor-led sessions via video conference with virtual lab environments. Monday through Friday, approximately 8 hours per day. Includes all course materials and lab access.
In-person — US$3,495. Five days at scheduled locations worldwide with hands-on lab environments. Small-group format. Includes all course materials, lab access, and printed reference materials.
Corporate — Private Bootcamp for organizational teams of 10+ (contact training@quantumacademy.com for scheduling and pricing).
Runs Monday through Friday. Certificate of completion included. Does not include the PQCS certification exam.
Prerequisites
None. The Bootcamp begins at the Foundation level and builds to Specialist level over the five days.
What Comes Next
After the Bootcamp, participants are eligible to sit for the PQCS certification exam. The Bootcamp provides thorough preparation; no additional self-study should be required for well-prepared candidates.
Pricing
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Live online (5 days) | US$2,995 |
| In-person (5 days) | US$3,495 |
| Bootcamp + PQCS exam bundle (live online) | US$3,295 |
| Bootcamp + PQCS exam bundle (in-person) | US$3,795 |
All prices are in US dollars.