Latent Print Certification

General Provisions for Certification

The following is the General Provisions concerning the IAI Certification Program. Specific information on the Latent Print Certification Program can be found here.

Section VII (Certification Program Operations Manual)

  1. General Qualifications:

    An applicant for certification must be employed in the discipline in which they are applying for certification, must be of good moral character, high integrity, good repute, and must possess a high ethical and professional standing (Section IV - Code of Ethics and Section V - Standards of Professional Conduct). All applicants for certification will be required to meet all currently published standards for their individual discipline(s). A complete list of standards, requirements and study materials is available here or from the certification board secretary. Applicants for certification require documentation of continued relevant forensic science work experience, the requirements of which shall be defined by the certification body.

  2. Education, Training and Experience Requirements:

    These have been established and approved by each individual Certification Board. (Latent Print Certification Requirements)

  3. Endorsements:

    All applicants for certification must submit two letters of endorsement.

  4. Examinations:
    1. Certification shall be determined by the successful completion of knowledge and skills assessments based upon a series of tests derived from approved curriculum and published materials promulgated by the Certification Board and approved by the IAI Board of Directors. For specific information, see Latent Print Certification Requirements.
    2. Applicants failing any part of a certification test are bound by the retesting portion of the specific certification board guidelines as published by that Certification Board and approved by the IAI Board of Directors.
    3. Those reapplying for certification must submit a new application with all attachments plus remit the current certification fee as posted on the IAI website.
  5. Administering the Examination:

    Upon receipt of the application and certification fee, the approval by the division or certification board if no division or certification committee exists, the Secretary or the designee of the certifying Board will forward the test to the test proctor responsible for administering the test. Once the test proctor has received the test, a 90-day time frame begins. The test must be returned to the specific certification board secretary or designee within that 90-day time frame or a written explanation as to the reason why the testing process was delayed must be submitted to the Chairs of the certification board and the Quality Assurance Certification Board.

    The packaging containing the test materials is marked, contains sealed envelope(s) and instructions, which are to be strictly followed. The sealed envelopes are not to be opened until the time of the test., in accordance with the instructions and in the presence of the applicant. The test proctor provided by the Division or Region or testing authority administering the test will be responsible for keeping track of the specified testing time frame, maintaining the integrity of the test and must be present during the entire test. At the conclusion, the test will be packaged, sealed according to the instructions and returned to the Secretary or designee of the certifying Board, for pass/fail grading.

    The location, date/time of the test, individual and lunch breaks will be upon mutual arrangement between the test proctor and applicant.

Other Provisions (Section VIII – Certification Program Operations Manual)

  1. Upon satisfactorily completing the test, the applicant is issued an 11x14 inch certification certificate suitable for framing, and a wallet-size card stating that the individual is certified in his/her respective forensic discipline(s). Persons holding a valid certification of qualification issued by the IAI Certification Board(s) are entitled to use the designation Certified in conformance with the standards of the IAI.
  2. Certifications are issued for a period of five (5) years, subject to renewal upon application by the member. Such application for renewal shall be subject to standards in effect at the time of request for renewal and payment of the established fee (FAQ Question 2). The IAI Certification board(s) established fees for certification and recertification, with the approval of the IAI Board of Directors.
  3. Certifications issued by the International Association for Identification are non transferable. They remain the property of the IAI: however, every person to whom a certificate has been issued shall be entitled to its continued possession unless and until such certification is revoked.
  4. Membership in the IAI or in any of its State or Regional Divisions is not mandatory for certification. However, IAI membership is required to serve on a Certification board.
  5. The right to deny certification is reserved by the respective IAI Certification Board(s).
  6. A complete roster of IAI Certified persons will be listed on the IAI website. An updated list of IAI Certified individuals in each discipline will be provided to the IAI Divisions upon request. Names of those who pass a certification test shall be forwarded to the Editor of Identification News for publication in the IAI newsletter.
  7. Any IAI Certified person interested in being considered for appointment to any Certification Board(s) to which he/she holds a valid certificate shall submit a letter and resume to the chairpersons or secretaries of those IAI Certification Board(s) on which he/she desires to serve. The Board will consider these in making recommendations to the IAI President. See here for more information.

CENSURE, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION (Section XI – Certification Program Operations Manual)

Certification may be censured, suspended or revoked for a number of reasons.

  1. Censure is defined as a warning or reprimand in writing, not resulting in loss of certification. Suspension is defined as loss of certification with the opportunity for becoming reinstated at a later time. Revocation is defined as permanent loss of certification.

Full details of the Censure, Suspension or Revocation of Certification information can be found here.