**Analyst Certification**

The *National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan* (NCISP or Plan) is
regarded as the blueprint for law enforcement administrators to follow
when enhancing or building an intelligence function. The Plan contains
over 25 recommendations that were vetted by law enforcement officials
and experts from local, state, tribal, and federal agencies. One of the
recommendations contained in the Plan pertains to minimum standards for
intelligence analysis. There is a diverse range of intelligence products
created by analytical personnel. These products must be accurate,
timely, and factual. It is critical that standards are in place to
ensure consistent quality products. The Plan recommended that the
International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts
(IALEIA) develop these standards.

As a result, IALEIA, at the direction of the Office of Justice Programs,
U.S. Department of Justice, through the Global Justice Information
Sharing Initiative (Global) Intelligence Working Group (GIWG), developed
a booklet entitled *Law Enforcement Analytic Standards.* The booklet was
published in November 2004.

The booklet contains 25 recommended analytic standards. The first seven
standards relate to analysts or those who fill the analytic function.
These standards refer to education, training, professionalism, and
certification. The remaining standards relate to analytical products and
processes. Specifically, the analyst certification standard states,

> *Analysts should be certified by an agency or organization
> (governmental, professional association, or institution of higher
> learning) program specifically developed for intelligence analysts.
> These analytic certification programs shall reflect experience,
> education, training, and proficiency testing.*

It is recommended that persons hired as analysts in support of
intelligence-led policing meet this criterion as well as the other
recommended standards contained in the booklet. In addition, it is
recommended that

> *Individuals hired without certification obtain the experience and
> proficiencies needed and become certified within the first four years
> of employment.*

Certification offers a number of benefits to analytical personnel.
Certification recognizes the professional ability and skills of
individual analysts. Certification allows for those individuals that
have taken additional steps to increase their knowledge to be recognized
by their employers and their peers. Doing so promotes professionalism
and leadership among the analytical community. In some instances,
certification can assist analysts obtain promotions and/or better define
career paths. Certification also provides employers with a reliable
method to gauge competence and experience.

In order to provide additional information regarding certification, the
GIWG discussed the need to develop certification standards, both for the
certification organization or association and the certification process.
These standards are not mandates but, rather, guidelines for
certification programs to follow to ensure a level of consistency and
continuity among programs.

Several certification programs have been instituted at the national and
state level. Two examples of state government certification programs are
those at the California Department of Justice and the Florida Department
of Law Enforcement. Both of these require the completion of particular
classes given in those states. Two examples of professional
organization-based programs are the Society of Certified Criminal
Analysts (SCCA) at
[www.certifiedanalysts.org](http://www.certifiedanalysts.org/) and that
of the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) at
[www.iaca.net](http://www.iaca.net/). SCCA is the certification arm of
IALEIA and tests applicants based on six core analytic books. IACA
certification relates more to "crime analysis" rather than "intelligence
analysis" and is based on materials developed by IACA. Also, colleges
and universities offer degree and certificate opportunities in the
criminal analysis field. Other analytical programs are in the process of
being developed. These may be appropriate for persons entering the field
who may not meet the experience requirements.

**The following are offered as recommended standards for certification
organizations:**

**Standard 1:** Adhere to the tenets of the *National Criminal
Intelligence Sharing Plan* (NCISP)[^1] and the standards outlined in the
*Law Enforcement Analytic Standards* booklet[^2].

-   Provide a link to the NCISP and the *Law Enforcement Analytic
    Standards* booklet on the organization's Web site.

-   Encourage applicants to review the NCISP and *Law Enforcement
    Analytic Standards* booklet and utilize the standards in their
    professional growth as well as when developing and preparing
    analytical products.

**Standard 2:** Maintain a review board responsible for evaluating
applications, approving certification, and resolving disputes.

-   Consider allowing a portion of the governing body to be
    representatives from the certified analyst population.

-   Develop, adhere to, and publish a charter or bylaws to govern
    operations.

-   Ensure that the organization maintains a set of policies and
    procedures that can be accessed by organization employees and
    certification applicants, as appropriate. At a minimum, develop
    policies for the following areas:

    -   Approval process

    -   Recertification process

    -   Code of Ethics (addressed in Standard 3)

    -   Privacy (addressed in Standard 4)

    -   Appeal process

    -   Process to remove individuals as certified analysts

**Standard 3**: Develop, adhere to, and publish a Code of Ethics.

-   Provide a set of values-based guidelines for individuals to follow.

-   Utilize the Code of Ethics to help institutionalize professionalism
    of the analytical position.

-   Include language that addresses the expectations and
    responsibilities of individuals performing the analytical function.

**Standard 4:** Develop, adhere to, and publish a Privacy Policy.

**Standard 5:** Utilize an application process.

-   Safeguard and maintain applicant information by the organization and
    do not release to outside sources.

-   Include language regarding the types of information obtained and how
    it is used, maintained, and purged.

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-   Ensure that the directions to complete the application and the
    application process are clearly stated and posted for applicants to
    review.

-   Include a list of materials that must be submitted.

-   Ensure applicants are aware of the criteria used to approve or deny
    certification.

-   Post the length of the certification process and means of
    notification for certification/denial.

-   Inform the applicant, if denied certification, in writing within 30
    days of the decision, and include a reason why the applicant was
    denied.

**Standard 6:** Include a proficiency testing element in the
certification process.

-   Ensure the test includes questions on a variety of intelligence and
    analytical issues, products, and services.

-   Publish the length of the test, the number of questions, and a
    general synopsis of what will be covered on the test.

-   Ensure testing is administrated by an organization proctor or a
    supervisor within the analyst's agency.

-   Regularly review and update testing process, question bank, etc.

**Standard 7:** If the organization offers a recertification program,
ensure policies and procedures are developed, adhered to, and published
regarding the process.

-   Determine specific criteria used for recertification.

-   Establish the recertification cycle.

**Standard 8:** If the organization offers training, ensure curriculum
meet the *Minimum Criminal Intelligence Training Standards*[^3]*.*

-   All organizations should adhere to these recommended minimum
    training standards, particularly for the Intelligence Analyst and
    Intelligence Officer classifications.

-   Individuals instructing training classes for the organization should
    adhere to the existing train-the-trainer minimum standards.

**Standard 9:** Offer resources, workshops, forums, or other types of
communication and networking opportunities for individuals assigned to
the analytical function.

-   Create a collaborative environment where certified analysts can
    build relationships with other analysts, learn from each other, and
    be kept abreast of changes in the intelligence arena.

-   Embrace and encourage trusted relationships.

-   Maintain a Web site that includes information on the certification
    process.

**Standard 10:** Support mechanisms to institutionalize the
professionalism of the analytical position.

-   Recognize the professionalism and relevance of the analytical
    position.

-   Participate in events and/or create opportunities to showcase the
    accomplishments of certified analysts.

-   Provide outreach materials to executives and other appropriate
    individuals regarding the profession and benefits to certification.

**The following are offered as recommended standards for the analyst
certification process:**

**Standard 1:** Complete the certification application.

-   Require that data is complete and accurate.

-   Include a signature block for applicants that will indicate that the
    information submitted is accurate.

-   At a minimum, ensure the application addresses the following:

    -   Applicant name, address, and contact information

    -   Employer information

    -   Supervisor contact information

    -   Education and work experience

    -   Summary of training

    -   Professional association memberships or achievements

**Standard 2:** Possess a minimum level of experience in the analytical
field.

-   Include a minimum number of years applicants must have been working
    in the analytical field to be eligible for certification (i.e., two
    years).

-   Request applicants to submit proof of employment, copies of job
    descriptions, and/or examples of work.

**Standard 3:** Possess an education from an accredited college or
university.

-   Offer options that allow applicants to possess levels of education
    and/or a combination of education and experience, for example:

    -   4-year degree

    -   2-year degree, 5 years of experience

    -   No degree, 10 years of experience

**Standard 4:** Pass a certification examination.

-   Ensure applicants adhere to the testing policies and procedures.

-   Require a minimum passing score.

-   Determine and post passing score information, number of times
    applicants can take the exam, and the cost of the exam.

-   Consider providing feedback to applicants regarding their
    deficiencies.

**Standard 5:** Hold current membership in a professional association or
organization.

-   Embrace a collaborative environment by building relationships and
    maximizing the resources and expertise of association members.

-   Provide proof of membership with certification application.

-   Include awards or recognition received through association
    activities.

**Standard 6:** Receive a minimum of forty hours of criminal analysis
training within the last three years.

-   Adhere to the core training objectives in the *National Criminal
    Intelligence Sharing Plan.*

-   Adhere to the *Minimum Criminal Intelligence Training Standards* by
    seeking accredited or standards-compliant training programs.

**Standard 7:** Adhere to recertification criteria in order to maintain
certification status.

-   Participate in at least eight hours of continuing education per
    year.

**Standard 8:** Successfully pass a fingerprint-based background
investigation upon initial hire as an analyst and subsequently pass a
name-based records check within the last three years.

-   Obtain a letter of confirmation from employing agency that the
    applicant has successfully passed a background investigation.

**Standard 9:** Adhere to the standards outlined in the NCISP and the
*Law Enforcement Analytic Standards* booklet.

-   Consider including a section on the application that indicates
    applicant has read the booklet and the NCISP.

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[^1]:   A copy of the *National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan*
    (NCISP) can be found at [www.it.ojp.gov](http://it.ojp.gov/).

[^2]:   A copy of the *Law Enforcement Analytic Standards* booklet can
    be found at
    <http://it.ojp.gov/documents/law_enforcement_analytic_standards.pdf>.

[^3]:   The *Minimum Criminal Intelligence Training Standards* document
    was developed by the Criminal\
    Intelligence Training Coordination Strategy Working Group and set
    forth the minimum\
    intelligence training standards for six law enforcement
    classifications, including Intelligence Analyst,\
    Intelligence Officer, and Train-the-Trainer. More information on
    these standards can be found at
    [www.it.ojp.gov/documents/minimum_criminal_intel_training_standards.pdf](http://www.it.ojp.gov/documents/minimum_criminal_intel_training_standards.pdf).