Forensic Science CERTIFICATION in the United States Lance Gima, CWAG Forensic Science Program Director

Topics Covered Certification Certification in the United States Forensic Science Certification American Board of Criminalists General requirements Types Recertification Forensic Science Assessment Test

Certification Generally of Individuals, but ISO 9001 is a certification of a company or unit within a company. In the USA, certification is generally through professional associations. Similar to licensing, but licensing is usually a legal requirement.

CERTIFICATION “Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task”.

CERTIFICATION Individuals usually have to meet eligibility requirements , pass an examination, and pay a fee. There are usually ongoing requirements that need to be met, such as retesting or participating in a minimum number of continuing education activities

American Board of Criminalistics Composed of regional and national organizations which represent forensic scientists. Each organization is entitled to one member on the Board of Directors Each organization is entitled to one member on the ABC Examination Committee

American Board of Criminalistics Purpose Establish professional levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Define a mechanism for achieving these levels. Recognize those who have demonstrated attainment of these levels. Promote growth within the profession.

American Board of Criminalistics Certification by the ABC Certification in: Comprehensive Criminalistics Specialties: Molecular biology Drug chemistry Fire debris analysis Trace evidence Hairs and fibers and trace evidence Paints and polymers

ABC Testing The philosophical, conceptual application, and scientific basis of criminalistics Basic technical subjects of criminalistics, including Drug Analysis Crime scene reconstruction Firearms and toolmarks Molecular biology and DNA Fire debris and explosives Photography Trace Evidence Safety Ethics Appropriate areas of civil and criminal law

ABC Testing Up to three hour examination 22o multiple questions 200 scored and 20 are piloted for future examinations Comprehensive Criminalistics Examination 100 % general questions Specialty Examination 60-40% general/specialty questions

ABC Certification levels Diplomate Degree in natural science Two years in forensic science Completion of any exam Fellow Working two years in specialty Completion of specialty exam Proficiency tested Affiliate Completed exam, but did not yet meet two year requirement

Recertification Certification is valid for five years   Certification is valid for five years Recertification can be accomplished by: Training Casework Publishing Retesting Fellows must successfully participate in annual proficiency testing.

Forensic Science Test Assessment For students in their last semester of an academic Forensic Science Program. Results can be used to show prospective employers their level of forensic science knowledge. Academic programs can use results as a measure of program assessment.

STUDY GUIDE for FSAT Crime Scene Preservation Crime Laboratory Operations QA/QC Safety Legal Important laws and legal decisions Court Testimony Ethics

Study Guide for FSAT General Science Terms and Principles Chemistry concepts Biology concepts Physics concepts Physiology and Anatomy concepts Statistics Theory and Application To various disciplines