Forensic Technician Certification
Become a Forensic Science Technician
- Career Plan: How to Become a Forensic Science Technician
- Schools offering: Forensic Science Programs
Forensic Science Resources…
As a forensic technician, you will generally not need licensing. There could be some duties in your job description that would require certification. You will need NCIC certification if you have access to fingerprint records or other sensitive FBI records. This requires a brief training session. It is of course paramount that your own background is clear.
As a forensic technician or criminalist, you can seek certification through the American Board of Criminalistics. The first stage is Affiliate. You may take the proficiency exam toward the end of the final semester of your Bachelor of Science program provided you have a letter from a professor. The professor will confirm that you will indeed be graduating. If you pass the exam, you will be considered “certification eligible”.
You will be expected to do some professional development during your time as an Affiliate. Full certification, or Diplomate status, though, comes a little later. Diplomates must have two years of full-time work experience. Some forensic technicians progress to Fellow status through additional testing. They may take the Comprehensive Criminalistics exam or an exam in a specialty area.
Other certifications may be an asset, depending on the branch of forensic science you are involved with or what your job description will include. If you want to specialize in digital forensic technology, there are several specialty certifications you can pursue. One is the EnCE Certification Program. If you work at the crime scene (as opposed to just at a lab) you might pursue Crime Scene Technician certification through the International Association for Identification. Certification does require at least a little bit of actual crime scene experience. The IAI also offers specialized certifications in several areas.
