- COSINT
- DoD COOL
- Missouri DHE
- POST Approved for CLEE
- NICCS aligned
Certified in Open Source Intelligence (C|OSINT)
OSINT Certification: Practice Open-Source Intelligence to a Professional Standard.
The C|OSINT certification prepares investigators, analysts, and intelligence professionals to collect, verify, analyze, and report open-source intelligence using structured, defensible methods.
- 4.7
- 18 reviews
- 55
- Hours
- 50
- CPE credits
- Lifetime
- Access
- 1 Year
- Exam License
- FBI
- DHS
- FedEx
- Citi
- Mossberg
- DEA
- DoD
- 3-Day Money-Back Guarantee
- Full Lifetime Access
- 1 Year Exam License
- Official Study Manual
- Official Online Training
- Official Prep Review Quizzes
or pay over time with Affirm · Sezzle
Military / Gov COOL and TA eligible
When intelligence cannot be verified, documented, and defended, the investigation is at risk.
Open-source information is abundant. Reliable open-source intelligence is not. Professionals working in investigations, intelligence, and compliance are expected to evaluate sources critically, corroborate findings across independent channels, preserve methodology, and communicate conclusions in a form that will hold up under scrutiny.
Leads are missed when collection depends on fragmented tools and inconsistent methods.
Findings lose weight when sources and analytical steps cannot be independently verified.
Reports are harder to defend when methodology and provenance are not documented as the work is performed.
C|OSINT provides a structured methodology for planning collection, validating sources, analyzing findings, and producing intelligence products that are defensible in operational, investigative, and legal settings.
What sets this program apart
Practitioner-Informed Curriculum
Developed with input from professionals experienced in intelligence, investigations, law enforcement, and open-source research.
Methodology Over Tooling
Emphasis on collection planning, source validation, and analytic tradecraft, with tools introduced in the context of the workflow they support.
Documented, Defensible Work Product
Coursework builds the habit of recording sources, decisions, and analytic reasoning so the resulting intelligence can be reviewed and defended.
Rigorous Assessment
Certification requires successful completion of the training, applicable eligibility requirements, and a proctored final examination. Course access alone does not result in certification.
Choose your enrollment path
Self-pay, military/government funding, or employer sponsorship — we'll take you to the right option.
A board-issued credential, recognized where it counts
- DoD COOL
- Missouri DHE
- POST Approved for CLEE
- NICCS aligned
Board certification programs: Students must submit all course quizzes, score 70% or better on all sections of the course and obtain a 70% or better on the final online examination, and submit proof eligibility up completion of your exam application. All fees must be paid in full. Upon successful completion of your program, the McAfee Institute will issue your board certification. Students who successfully complete the program before meeting the eligibility will be put into a holding pattern until the eligibility is met at which time the credentials will be issued.
Completion of training does not guarantee employment, promotion, security clearance eligibility, or acceptance by any agency or third party.
Eligible for military & government credentialing assistance
Select certification programs may be eligible for use with military and government credentialing or tuition assistance benefits, subject to agency and individual eligibility requirements. Participation does not imply endorsement by any agency.
State & Federal Regulatory Approvals
Missouri DHEWD
State-certified to operate under 6 CSR 10-5.010
Dept. of Higher Education and Workforce Development
NICCS Education & Training Catalog
Listed training provider, NICCS Education & Training Catalog
Mapped to NIST NICE framework · operated by CISA
Missouri POST
55 CLEE hours approved · Control #26710
20 legal studies · 35 technical studies
Officers should confirm acceptance with their licensing agency.
What You'll Learn
The C|OSINT program develops knowledge and applied skills in the following areas:
Joshua A. McAfee · Founder & CEO, McAfee Institute
15 years building credentials for the professionals who actually do the work. COSINT was developed alongside practitioners from federal, state, and corporate investigation teams.
Built for professionals at the front line
The certification is designed for the working roles below. Eligibility is reviewed at enrollment.
This course is perfect for
Early-career professionals with 1-5 years of experience as OSINT analysts or in OSINT-related support roles who are looking to advance their expertise.
Professionals transitioning from adjacent fields such as law enforcement, intelligence, investigations, or military roles, who want to leverage OSINT skills to enhance their career or pivot into OSINT-focused positions.
This course may not be for you if
You are Civilian or Private-Sector Professionals
This program is not intended for individuals who are not employed in a full-time, paid investigative or intelligence role. Eligibility requires that investigative, intelligence, or analytical duties are a formal part of your current professional responsibilities.
You are Student or Entry-Level Learner
If you’re currently pursuing a degree or are brand new to the intelligence, law enforcement, or investigative fields without professional experience, this certification may not be the right starting point.
You are an Individual Outside Investigative or Intelligence Environments
Those not currently serving in or directly supporting law enforcement, military intelligence, government, or private investigative operations will not gain the intended professional value from the program.
You are Casual Learners or Hobbyists
The course is designed for professionals seeking to advance their operational expertise, not for general-interest learning or personal enrichment.
You are Seeking a Technical IT or Cybersecurity Course
While digital tools are covered, this certification focuses on intelligence gathering and analysis — not technical cybersecurity, network defense, or penetration testing.
Is this program right for you?
Program-fit questions candidates ask before they enroll.
Enrollment in C|OSINT is governed by the published education and experience eligibility requirements. Applicants should review those requirements before enrolling; the admissions team can confirm whether specific experience meets the standard.
Eligibility & requirements
McAfee Institute trains military, law enforcement, and investigative professionals. Eligibility reflects that. Verification is the reason the credential carries weight in the field.
Education & experience
Any one of the qualifying paths below. Experience must be in investigations, law enforcement, criminal justice, military, or similar fields with direct criminal investigation or intelligence responsibilities.
Path A Bachelor's or higher + 0 years experience
Path B Associate's degree + 2 years experience
Path C HS diploma or equivalent + 3 years experience
Relevant fields include investigations, law enforcement, criminal justice, military, and/or another similar field with direct criminal investigation and/or intelligence responsibilities.
Conduct requirements
Applicants are not eligible with any felony conviction or pending felony charge, or any conviction or pending charge involving violence, dishonesty or breach of trust, or crimes against persons, or other disqualifying offenses. Criminal history must be disclosed at enrollment and may be verified.
International enrollment
McAfee Institute is a U.S.-based institution serving a primarily U.S. professional audience. International enrollments may be subject to additional review, identity verification, professional affiliation verification, and compliance screening. Applicants located in certain countries or regions, or associated with restricted persons or entities under U.S. law, may be ineligible for enrollment.
- 3-Day Money-Back Guarantee
- Full Lifetime Access
- 1 Year Exam License
- Official Study Manual
- Official Online Training
- Official Prep Review Quizzes
or pay over time with Affirm · Sezzle
Military / Gov COOL and TA eligible
Read the full eligibility and conduct policyDisclosure & verification
Applicants must disclose criminal history as requested during enrollment. McAfee Institute may verify eligibility through documentation and/or a background check when required by a program component, partner environment, exam vendor, or when reasonably necessary to protect program integrity. Disclosures are required to the extent permitted by applicable law.
False information
Any material falsification or omission is grounds for denial of admission, removal from the program, and/or denial of certification.
No guarantee of outcome
Completion of training does not guarantee employment, promotion, security clearance eligibility, or acceptance by any agency or third party.
The C|OSINT curriculum is organized around the full open-source intelligence lifecycle: planning, collection, verification, analysis, and reporting. Each module builds toward a documented, defensible intelligence product.
About this Course
Become the Cyber Investigative Expert that Agencies Trust: Welcome to the C|OSINT Certification, your definitive pathway to mastering Open Source Intelligence. Delivered by industry veterans from military intelligence, law enforcement, and cybersecurity, this program equips you with immediately applicable, respected, and in-demand skills.
Unlock Practical Intelligence Techniques: Gain access to actionable skills that are instrumental for investigations across various sectors, including law enforcement, military intelligence, loss prevention, and cybersecurity. Our comprehensive curriculum covers key areas like Open Source Intelligence, Social Media Intelligence, Cyber Investigations, Intelligence Collection, and Legal Fundamentals.
Everything you need to certify
One enrollment includes the full course library, the official manual, the proctored exam license, and your board credential on completion.
- Official study manual
- Prep review quizzes
- Online training program
- Exam license (1 year)
- 55+ hours of instruction
- Mobile & desktop access
- Board certification (digital + physical)
- 50 CPE / CEU credits
- Closed captions
More Than Just Certifications
Join a comprehensive professional development platform designed exclusively for law enforcement, intelligence, and investigation professionals.
Active Community
Engage with verified professionals in law enforcement and intelligence
Exclusive Jobs
Access career opportunities not listed elsewhere
CPE Tracking
Automatic continuing professional education credit management
Expert Network
Connect with federal agents and industry leaders
Communities
Join private discussion groups with peers
Resources
Articles, whitepapers, tools and more
Three ways to fund your certification.
Self-pay · Military / Gov COOL · Employer-funded
Pay once. Lifetime access included.
3-day money-back guarantee
Interest-free via Affirm or Sezzle. 6–12 month plans available.
Military / Gov COOL eligible? Use DoD/Navy/Army/Coast Guard/Air Force COOL or TA funding — switch to the tab for the invoice request flow.
Need financial help? — available for self-paying students demonstrating financial need.
Enrollment, examination, and policy FAQs
- Our certifications are trusted by more than 4,500 employers, including government agencies, law enforcement departments, intelligence units, and private-sector organizations. Programs are recognized by POST (various states), DoD COOL & CA, NICCS, and the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development.
Not sure if this is the right credential?
Talk to an advisor about eligibility, fit, and funding paths.
Practice open-source intelligence to a professional standard.
Complete the C|OSINT certification process and document your specialized education and assessment in open-source collection, verification, analysis, and reporting.