Intelligence Analysts Certified, IAC is a certification credential comprised of three levels. Upon enrolling, one must select and pass two of the three levels in order to obtain the credential. The three levels contain a broad range of intelligence information, general to specific, and cover some of the following topics:
Phase One
Phase One is the required module and is designed for is designed for intelligence community analysts responsible for analyzing information and making decisions in intelligence related organizations. The goal is to ensure Intelligence Analysts have a basic understanding of U.S. Intelligence Community from its inception to the present, in addition to the intelligence cycle and various forms of intelligence collection. A key component of the course is the legislation and executive orders creating the various members of the community, its members, and the roles they play in the Intelligence Community. Additionally, the role Congress plays in control and oversight of intelligence operations is beneficial to ensure the intelligence analyst understands expectations of U.S. laws and lawmaker overseers. Finally, the role of the Director of National Intelligence will be examined, coupled with understanding the ongoing restructuring of the intelligence community in the wake of 9/11.
Phase Two
Phase Two is designed for intelligence community analysts responsible for analyzing information and making decisions in a intelligence related organization. The goal is to ensure a basic understanding of Intelligence Analysis is possessed by an individual seeking a certification in Basic Intelligence Analysis and Decision Making. This certification course examines the cultural and psychological biases which impact the objectivity of the intelligence process and decision-making with regard to their usefulness of intelligence products within today’s government, military, civil, and business organizations. Human information processing and problem solving will be discussed from a psychological perspective, as well as psychological factors influencing the information processing of the individual analyst. Limitations of memory and attention, and effects of categorisation and summarisation of information on intelligence analysis will be determined. The students will review intelligence processes and inferences about cognitive sciences and decision-making processes. The course will identify ways of countering these psychological mechanisms, and students will acquire tools in order to improve the objectivity of intelligence analysis that influences the individual analyst during each stage of the intelligence cycle.
Phase Three
Phase Three is designed for intelligence community analysts responsible for analyzing information and making decisions in intelligence related organizations. The goal is to ensure an in-depth understanding of how critical thinking skills affect daily analysis of information. These skills are paramount and should be possessed by an individual seeking a certification in Critical Thinking and Intelligence Analysis. This certification course examines the definition of critical thinking, the standards of critical thinking, and skill-based definitions to further help an analyst understand the components of critical thinking. Using historical situations related to the intelligence community of past like the Soviet Missile Crisis in Cuba, this certification course will help an intelligence analyst understand how to employ critical thinking in analysis situations. Additionally, analysts will understand how to think critically, coupled with the cost and benefits of thinking critically and how critical thinking can transform current and future analytical analysis and decision making. Furthermore, the analyst will review key methodologies, learn how to assess evidence in a whole new light, and comprehend creating better inferences when employing critical thinking.
