| (a) Issuance. The Commission may issue an individual's
Forensic Analyst License under this section.
(b) Application. Before being issued a Forensic Analyst
License, an applicant shall:
(1) demonstrate that he or she meets the definition
of Forensic Analyst set forth in this subchapter;
(2) complete and submit to the Commission a current
Forensic Analyst License Application form;
(3) pay the required fee(s) as applicable:
(A) Initial Application fee of $220 for Analysts and
$150 for Technicians/Screeners;
(B) Biennial renewal fee of $200 for Analysts and $130
for Technicians/Screeners;
(C) Temporary License fee of $100;
(D) Provisional License fee of $110 for Analysts and
$75 for Technicians/Screeners;
(E) License Reinstatement fee of $220;
(F) De Minimis License
fee of $200 per ten (10) licenses;
(G) Uncommon Forensic Analysis License fee of $200
per ten (10) licenses; and/or
(H) Special Exam Fee of $50 for General Forensic Analyst
Licensing Exam, required only if testing beyond the three initial
attempts or voluntarily taking the exam under the Unaccredited Forensic
Discipline Exception described in subsection (g)(5)(C) of this section;
(4) provide accurate and current address and employment
information to the Commission and update the Commission within five
(5) business days of any change in address or change of employment.
Licensees are required to provide a home address, email address, and
employer name and address on an application for a license; and
(5) provide documentation that he or she has satisfied
all applicable requirements set forth under this section.
(c) Minimum Education Requirements.
(1) Seized Drugs Analyst. An applicant for a Forensic
Analyst License in seized drugs must have a baccalaureate or advanced
degree in chemical, physical, biological science, chemical engineering
or forensic science from an accredited university.
(2) Seized Drugs Technician. An applicant for a Forensic
Analyst License limited to the seized drug technician category must
have a minimum of an associate's degree or equivalent.
(3) Toxicology (Toxicology Analyst (Alcohol Only, Non-interpretive),
Toxicology Analyst (General, Non-interpretive), Toxicologist (Interpretive)).
An applicant for a Forensic Analyst License in toxicology must have
a baccalaureate or advanced degree in a chemical, physical, biological
science, chemical engineering or forensic science from an accredited
university.
(4) Toxicology Technician. An applicant for a Forensic
Analyst License limited to the toxicology technician category must
have a minimum of an associate's degree or equivalent.
(5) Forensic Biology (DNA Analyst, Forensic Biology
Screener, Nucleic Acids other than Human DNA Analyst, Forensic Biology
Technician). An applicant for any category of forensic biology license
must have a baccalaureate or advanced degree in a chemical, physical,
biological science or forensic science from an accredited university.
(6) Firearm/Toolmark Analyst. An applicant for a Forensic
Analyst License in firearm/toolmark analysis must have a baccalaureate
or advanced degree in a chemical, physical, biological science, engineering
or forensic science from an accredited university.
(7) Firearm/Toolmark Technician. An applicant for a
Forensic Analyst License limited to firearm/toolmark technician must
have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
(8) Materials (Trace) Analyst. An applicant for a Forensic
Analyst License in materials (trace) must have a baccalaureate or
advanced degree in a chemical, physical, biological science, chemical
engineering or forensic science from an accredited university. A Materials
(Trace) Analyst performing only impression evidence analyses must
have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
(9) Materials (Trace) Technician. An applicant for
a Forensic Analyst License limited to materials (trace) technician
must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
(10) 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.
(11) If an applicant does not meet the minimum education
qualifications outlined in this section, the procedure in subsection
(f) or (j) of this section applies.
(d) Specific Coursework Requirements.
(1) Seized Drugs Analyst. An applicant for a Forensic
Analyst License in seized drugs must have a minimum of sixteen-semester
credit hours (or equivalent) in college-level chemistry coursework
above general coursework from an accredited university. In addition
to the chemistry coursework, an applicant must also have a three-semester
credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an
accredited university or a program approved by the Commission.
(2) Toxicology. An applicant for a Forensic Analyst
License in toxicology must fulfill required courses as appropriate
to the analyst's role and training program as described in the categories
below:
(A) Toxicology Analyst (Alcohol Only, Non-interpretive).
A toxicology analyst who conducts, directs or reviews the alcohol
analysis of forensic toxicology samples, evaluates data, reaches conclusions
and may sign a report for court or investigative purposes, but does
not provide interpretive opinions regarding human performance must
complete a minimum of sixteen-semester credit hours (or equivalent)
in college-level chemistry coursework above general coursework from
an accredited university.
(B) Toxicology Analyst (General, Non-interpretive).
A toxicology analyst who conducts, directs or reviews the analysis
of forensic toxicology samples, evaluates data, reaches conclusions
and may sign a report for court or investigative purposes, but does
not provide interpretive opinions regarding human performance must
complete a minimum of sixteen-semester credit hours (or equivalent)
in college-level chemistry coursework above general coursework that
includes organic chemistry and two three-semester credit hour (or
equivalent) college-level courses in analytical chemistry and/or interpretive
science courses that may include Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Informatics,
Instrumental Analysis, Mass Spectrometry, Quantitative Analysis, Separation
Science, Spectroscopic Analysis, Biochemistry, Drug Metabolism, Forensic
Toxicology, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, or Toxicology.
(C) Toxicologist (Interpretive). A toxicologist who
provides interpretive opinions regarding human performance related
to the results of toxicological tests (alcohol and general) for court
or investigative purposes must complete a minimum of sixteen-semester
credit hours (or equivalent) in college-level chemistry coursework
above general coursework that includes organic chemistry, one three-semester
credit hour (or equivalent) course in college-level analytical chemistry
(Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Informatics, Instrumental Analysis,
Mass Spectrometry, Quantitative Analysis, Separation Science or Spectroscopic
Analysis) and one three-semester credit hour (or equivalent) college-level
courses in interpretive science (Biochemistry, Drug Metabolism, Forensic
Toxicology, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, or Toxicology).
(D) An applicant for a toxicology license for any of
the categories outlined in subparagraphs (A) - (C) of this paragraph
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) DNA Analyst. An applicant for a Forensic Analyst
License in DNA analysis must demonstrate he/she has fulfilled the
specific requirements of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Quality
Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing effective September 1,
2011. An applicant must also have a three-semester credit hour (or
equivalent) college-level statistics course from an accredited university
or a program approved by the Commission.
(4) Firearm/Toolmark Analyst. An applicant 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.
(5) Materials (Trace) Analyst. An applicant for a Forensic
Analyst License in materials (trace) for one or more of the chemical
analysis categories of analysis (chemical determination, physical/chemical
comparison, gunshot residue analysis, and fire debris and explosives
analysis) must have a minimum of sixteen-semester credit hours (or
equivalent) in college-level chemistry coursework above general coursework
from an accredited university. In addition to chemistry coursework
for the chemical analysis categories, all materials (trace) license
applicants must also have a three-semester credit hour (or equivalent)
college-level statistics course from an accredited university or a
program approved by the Commission. An applicant for a Forensic Analyst
License in materials (trace) limited to impression evidence is not
required to fulfill any specific college-level coursework requirements
other than the statistics requirement.
(6) Exemptions from specific coursework requirements.
The following categories of licenses are exempted from coursework
requirements:
(A) An applicant for the technician license category
of any forensic discipline set forth in this subchapter is not required
to fulfill any specific college-level coursework requirements.
(B) An applicant for a Forensic Analyst License limited
to forensic biology screening, nucleic acids other than human DNA
and/or Forensic Biology Technician is not required to fulfill the
Federal Bureau of Investigation's Quality Assurance Standards for
Forensic DNA Testing or any other specific college-level coursework
requirements.
(e) Requirements Specific to Forensic Science Degree
Programs. For a forensic science degree to meet the Minimum Education
Requirements set forth in this section, the forensic science degree
program must be either accredited by the Forensic Science Education
Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) or if not accredited by
FEPAC, it must meet the minimum curriculum requirements pertaining
to natural science core courses and specialized science courses set
forth in the FEPAC Accreditation Standards.
(f) Waiver of Specific Coursework Requirements and/or
Minimum Education Requirements for Lateral Hires, Promoting Analysts
and Current Employees. Specific coursework requirements and minimum
education requirements are considered an integral part of the licensing
process; all applicants are expected to meet the requirements of the
forensic discipline(s) for which they are applying or to offer sufficient
evidence of their qualifications as described below in the absence
of specific coursework requirements or minimum education requirements.
The Commission Director or Designee may waive one or more of the specific
coursework requirements or minimum education requirements outlined
in this section for an applicant who:
(1) has five or more years of credible experience in
an accredited laboratory in the forensic discipline for which he or
she seeks licensure; or
(2) is certified by one or more of the following nationally
recognized certification bodies in the forensic discipline for which
he or she seeks licensure;
(A) The American Board of Forensic Toxicology;
(B) The American Board of Clinical Chemistry;
(C) The American Board of Criminalistics;
(D) The International Association for Identification;
or
(E) The Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners;
and
(3) provides written documentation of laboratory-sponsored
training in the subject matter areas addressed by the specific coursework
requirements.
(4) An applicant must request a waiver of specific
coursework requirements and/or minimum education requirements at the
time the application is filed.
(5) An applicant requesting a waiver from specific
coursework requirements and/or minimum education requirements shall
file any additional information needed to substantiate the eligibility
for the waiver with the application. The Commission Director or Designee
shall review all elements of the application to evaluate waiver request(s)
and shall grant a waiver(s) to qualified applicants.
(g) General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam Requirement.
(1) Exam Requirement. An applicant for a Forensic Analyst
License 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.
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