Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC)
Credential: Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC)
Credentialing Agency: Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I))
Renewal Period: 3 years
The Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC) program is sponsored by the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)) to professionalize the defense intelligence workforce by establishing a common standard of the fundamental knowledge and skills expected of all who serve and support, and those who hope to serve and support, in the Defense Intelligence Enterprise (DIE). The IFPC is based on the Defense Intelligence Fundamentals standards, which are cross-cutting and enterprise-wide, and depict the Department’s core expectations of what all Defense Intelligence Professionals, regardless of Service/Agency, Function/Specialty and experience level, must know and/or be able to do to successfully execute and/or contribute to the execution of intelligence missions, functions, and activities at the fundamental level. The IFPC will also serve to ensure incoming defense intelligence professionals meet knowledge standards. IFPC candidates must meet minimum eligibility requirements and pass a written exam.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Attainability:
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite
- Experience
- Education
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
Exam Administration (View Details)
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 3 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I))
5000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-5000
Phone: 571-305-5268
Email: osd.pentagon.ousd-intel.mbx.ifps-pmo@mail.mil
Education and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS
Candidate must be a Military or Civilian person currently employed by the DoD (waivers can be provided to personnel currently employed by a federal, state, tribal, or local government entity supporting DoD-recognized intelligence missions).
Category 2:Candidate must be enrolled and/or employed in the last six months at a U.S.-based, regionally accredited, post-secondary academic institution with a formal relationship with the DoD (i.e., institutions participating in the DoD Voluntary Education MoU program).
Category 3:Candidate must be employed by an organization eligible to pursue contracts with the U.S. Intelligence Community (i.e., organizations that hold a CAGE code). Note: This includes individuals currently working on a contract with a Component of the DIE.
The IFPC Eligibility Policy was approved by the CGC on 23 May 2017.
Other REQUIREMENTS
The Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC) credential has the following other requirements:
- Candidate must hold U.S. Citizenship.
Written Exam
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What is Intelligence? (19%)
- Concepts, principles, history, and processes of intelligence
- Role, responsibilities, and definition of intelligence
- Categories of intelligence products
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What are the intelligence disciplines? (15%)
- Characteristics of intelligence disciplines (i.e., counterintelligence (CI), human intelligence (HUMINT), geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT), open-source intelligence (OSINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and technical intelligence (TECHINT))
- Cueing, tipping, corroborating relationships amongst INTs
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Who is involved in intelligence? (9%)
- Roles and Responsibilities for Intelligence Community members
- Roles and responsibilities at strategic, operational, and tactical level
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Why does intelligence require oversight? (12%)
- Intelligence oversight concepts and principles
- Considerations regarding collection on US persons
- Intelligence Oversight program framework
- Intelligence Oversight roles and responsibilities
- Laws and policies that govern oversight of intelligence activities
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How is intelligence conducted? (9%)
- Purpose and function of each phase of the intelligence process
- Roles and responsibilities of individuals who execute the intelligence process
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How are classified and controlled materials protected? (16%)
- Roles and responsibilities for security and intelligence professionals
- Handling, marking, storing, transporting, and/or destroying classified or otherwise controlled materials
- Security clearance concepts (e.g., reporting foreign contacts, financial changes)
- Reporting security incidents and violations
- Foreign intelligence service threat
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How are classified and controlled materials shared? (10%)
- Interagency and multinational intelligence sharing
- Requirements and standards for intelligence sharing and cooperation
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How do my actions affect my status as an intelligence professional? (10%)
- Safe versus unsafe search and data capture
- Online vulnerabilities
- Behaviors that could lead to clearance revocation or denial
- Insider Threat behavioral indicators
- Insider Threat reporting requirements
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC) examination:
- Best Sources
An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.
Testing Information
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Exam Administration
Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC) credential where checked:
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
For more information on the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)) testing process, visit the agency website.
RECERTIFICATION
Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC)
Renewal Period: 3 years