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

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

3. 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.

5. 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”.

6. 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

7. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

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

17. 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