Free OSINT Certification — Open Source Intelligence Course
Earn a free, publicly verifiable OSINT certification. Learn the practical investigative skills used in modern open-source intelligence — social-media analysis, geolocation, link analysis, and structured reporting. 100% free study material, exam, and certificate.
What you can do after this OSINT course
- Run structured OSINT investigations from a single name, handle, or URL.
- Geolocate images and videos using shadows, signage, EXIF, and reverse search.
- Analyze accounts and networks across X, TikTok, Telegram, LinkedIn, Reddit.
- Trace pseudonymous identities through reused handles, avatars, and timing.
- Document evidence in court-ready, repeatable reports with source attribution.
Who this OSINT certification is for
Compliance, fraud, threat-intel, and trust-and-safety professionals adding OSINT to their toolkit.
Reporters verifying claims, geolocating footage, or mapping networks of accounts.
People moving into open-source intelligence, threat-intel, or fraud who need a credible portfolio piece.
What you'll cover
- 1. What OSINT is — and isn't. Ethics, legality, OPSEC basics.
- 2. The investigator's mindset — hypotheses, pivots, and dead ends.
- 3. Person-of-interest workflow from a name, handle, or photo.
- 4. Social-platform deep dives — X, TikTok, Telegram, LinkedIn, Reddit.
- 5. Image & video geolocation — shadows, signage, EXIF, reverse search.
- 6. Pseudonym tracking — reused handles, avatars, timing patterns.
- 7. Network and link analysis — mapping relationships at scale.
- 8. Documentation & reporting — court-ready, repeatable, sourced.
- 9. OIA exam — 100 scenario-based questions, 70/100 to pass.
A certificate anyone can verify
Pass the OIA exam and you earn the GACS OSINT Intelligence Analyst certificate with a unique ID and a public verification page. Add it to LinkedIn, your CV, or your investigator portfolio.
Frequently asked questions
Is this OSINT certification really free?
Yes. The full study material, exam, and printable certificate are 100% free. No credit card, no per-query limit, no upsell.
How does the GACS OSINT certificate compare to McAfee Institute or SANS?
GACS focuses on practical, modern OSINT (social platforms, crypto, AI-generated content) and is free + verifiable. Paid providers like McAfee Institute ($500–$1500) and SANS ($5000+) carry more brand-name weight with US government employers. Many practitioners do both: start with GACS, add paid certs when budget allows.
Will recruiters take this seriously?
Every GACS certificate has a unique ID and a public verification page anyone can check. We don't claim accreditation we don't have — we offer transparent, verifiable proof of work. Recruiters increasingly value demonstrable skill over brand alone.
Do I need a background in investigations or cybersecurity?
No. The course starts from first principles — what OSINT is, the ethical/legal framework, and how to think like an investigator — before moving into platform-specific techniques.
How long does it take?
Most learners finish the study material in 8–12 hours over 1–2 weeks and pass the exam on the first or second attempt.
Free OSINT certification. No catch.
Study free. Sit the exam free. Get a publicly verifiable certificate free.
Open the OSINT study book