(a) Issuance. The Commission may issue an individual's
forensic analyst license for forensic examinations or tests not subject
to accreditation under this section.
(b) Voluntary. Licensure under this section is voluntary
and is not a prerequisite for practice in any of the forensic disciplines
listed in this section.
(c) The following forensic disciplines are eligible
for a forensic analyst license under this section:
(1) forensic anthropology;
(2) document examination, including document authentication,
physical comparison, and product determination;
(3) latent print examination; and
(4) digital/multimedia evidence (limited to computer,
mobile, vehicle, call detail records (i.e., phone
carrier record comparisons to mobile device), and location detail
records).
(d) Application. Before being issued a forensic analyst
license, an applicant shall complete and submit to the Commission
a current forensic analyst license application and provide documentation
that he or she has satisfied all applicable requirements set forth
under this section.
(e) Minimum Education Requirements.
(1) Document Examination Analyst. An applicant for
a forensic analyst license in document examination must have a high
school diploma or equivalent degree or higher (i.e.,
baccalaureate or advanced degree).
(2) Forensic Anthropologist. An applicant for a forensic
analyst license in forensic anthropology must be certified by the
American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA), including fulfillment
of any minimum education requirements required to comply with and
maintain ABFA certification at the time of the candidate's application
for a license.
(3) Latent Print Analyst. An applicant for a forensic
analyst license in latent print examination must have:
(A) A baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited
university;
(B) 3 years of experience in latent print examination
with an Associates of Arts or Associates or Science; or
(C) 4 years of experience in latent print examination
and 176 hours of training that includes 16 hours of testimonial training
(with only a maximum of 80 conference hours accepted as training hours).
(4) Digital/Multimedia Evidence Analyst. An applicant
for a forensic analyst license in digital/multimedia evidence must
have:
(A) a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited
university;
(B) a non-law enforcement or non-military background
without a baccalaureate degree, demonstrating equivalent digital skill
set through Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE), Global Information
Assurance Certification Certified Forensic Examination (GCFE), or
Global Information Assurance Certification Certified Forensic Analyst
(GCFA) or equivalent non-vendor certification examination(s) with
competency test(s); or
(C) law enforcement or military experience equivalent
demonstrated through forensic training through one of the following
organizations: SysAdmin, Audit, Network, and Security (SANS), International
Association for Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS), National
White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), Law Enforcement & Emergency
Services Video Association International, Inc. (LEVA), U.S. Military,
Computer Analysis Response Team (CART) (FBI Training), Seized Computer
Evidence Recovery Specialist (SCERS), or U.S. Secret Service.
(5) Foreign/Non-U.S. degrees. The Commission shall
recognize equivalent foreign, non-U.S. baccalaureate or advanced degrees.
The Commission reserves the right to charge licensees a reasonable
fee for credential evaluation services to assess how a particular
foreign degree compares to a similar degree in the United States.
The Commission may accept a previously obtained credential evaluation
report from an applicant or licensee in fulfillment of the degree
comparison assessment.
(f) Specific Coursework Requirements and Certification
Requirements.
(1) General Requirement for Statistics. An applicant
for any forensic analyst license under this section must have a three-semester
credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an
accredited university or a program approved by the Commission.
(2) Forensic Discipline-Specific Coursework Requirements.
(A) Document Examination Analyst. An applicant for
a forensic analyst license in document examination must have a three-semester
credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an
accredited university or a program approved by the Commission. No
other specific college-level coursework is required.
(B) Forensic Anthropologist. An applicant for a forensic
analyst license in forensic anthropology must be certified by the
American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA), including fulfillment
of any specific coursework requirements required to comply with and
maintain ABFA certification at the time of the candidate's application
for a license.
(C) Latent Print Analyst.
(i) An applicant for a forensic analyst license in
latent print examination who qualifies for a latent print analyst
license based on the minimum education requirements forth in subsection
(d)(3)(A) or (B) of this section must have a minimum of 24 semester-credit
hours or equivalent in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
(STEM) related coursework.
(ii) All applicants for a forensic analyst license
in latent print examination must have a three-semester credit hour
(or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an accredited
university or a program approved by the Commission.
(iii) IAI Certification Requirement for Unaccredited
Laboratory. All licensed latent print examination analysts and applicants
who are not employed by a laboratory accredited by the Commission
are required to be certified by the International Association for
Identification (IAI) under the IAI's Latent Print Certification program
and are required to provide proof of certification upon request. Licensees
are required to notify the Commission of any change in the status
of their IAI certification within ten (10) business days of any changes.
(D) Digital/Multimedia Evidence Analyst. An applicant
for a forensic analyst license in digital/multimedia evidence must
have a three-semester credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics
course from an accredited university or a program approved by the
Commission.
(3) Exemptions from Specific Coursework Requirements.
Previously Licensed Document Examination Analyst Exemption. An applicant
for a voluntary forensic analyst license previously licensed by the
Commission when licensure was mandatory for the discipline is exempt
from any specific coursework requirements in this subsection.
(g) General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam Requirement.
(1) Exam Requirement. An applicant for a forensic analyst
license under this section must pass the General Forensic Analyst
Licensing Exam administered by the Commission.
(A) An applicant is required to take and pass the General
Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam one time.
(B) An applicant may take the General Forensic Analyst
Licensing Exam no more than three times. If an applicant fails the
General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam three times, the applicant
has thirty (30) days from the date the applicant receives notice of
the failure to request special dispensation from the Commission as
described in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph. Where special dispensation
is granted, the applicant has 90 days from the date he or she receives
notice the request for exam is granted to successfully complete the
exam requirement. However, for good cause shown, the Commission or
its Designee at its discretion may waive this limitation.
(C) Requests for Exam. If an applicant fails the General
Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam three times, the applicant must request
in writing special dispensation from the Commission to take the exam
more than three times. Applicants may submit a letter of support from
their employing agency's director or licensing representative and
any other supporting documentation supplemental to the written request.
(D) If an applicant sits for the General Forensic Analyst
Licensing Exam more than three times, the applicant must pay a $50
exam fee each additional time the applicant sits for the exam beyond
the three initial attempts.
(2) Credit for Pilot Exam. If an individual passes
a Pilot General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam, regardless of his
or her eligibility status for a voluntary or mandatory Forensic Analyst
License at the time the exam is taken, the candidate has fulfilled
the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam Requirement of this subsection.
(h) Proficiency Monitoring Requirement.
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