AFTE Certification Program

PURPOSE

The Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners, AFTE, offers a certification program to qualified AFTE members. The purpose of the Association in presenting this program is two fold:

• To act toward the public benefit by attesting that successful applicants meet certain standards as defined by members of AFTE.
• To promote professionalism among firearm and toolmark examiners by establishing certification as a level of accomplishment.

PROCEDURE

Qualified applicants can choose any or all of the three areas in which they want to be certified.

1. Firearm Evidence Examination and Identification
2. Toolmark Evidence Examination and Identification
3. Gunshot Residue Evidence Examination and Identification

For eligible applicants, the certification procedure consists of the successful completion of both a written and a practical examination in each of the areas they have selected. These examinations were developed and validated in conjunction with an independent firm to meet applicable guidelines for certification examinations. The independent agency chosen to participate in the development and validation of certification tests was designated by the Board of Directors based upon the completion of a competitive bidding process and the recommendation of the Certification Committee.

Written examinations are offered to candidates at the Annual Training Seminar. Practical examinations are offered at or near the applicant's workplace, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Ammendale, Maryland laboratory. They are proctored by a designate of the Certification Committee. Examinations are graded by the Certification Committee in accordance with procedures determined by the test validation study. Test results are reported as pass/fail only and all decisions of the Certification Committee are final. No information will be released related to the number of times a candidate takes any certification examination. Candidates must agree not to divulge any information pertaining to the contents of any certification examination including, but not limited to any questions or answers to which they may have been exposed.

A twelve month waiting period is required before retesting if the applicant fails either the written or both parts of the practical examination within a selected area. Failure in one area does not affect the certification procedure in any other area. Successful candidates receive a document of certification in their tested areas valid for five years from the date of issue. Candidates are notified by letter of any unsuccessful attempt to certify within a selected area. Recertification requires the practitioner accumulate points as outlined in the AFTE Recertification Process. Every effort shall be made to process the practitioner's recertification request prior to the expiration of their current certification document.

FEES

The fee for taking the examinations is commensurate with maintaining a self sufficient certification program. This fee, in U.S. currency, is required at the time of application and is nonrefundable. All examinations for certification and recertification are to be conducted in the English language.

Written test fees are $50.00 U.S. and Practical test fees are $200.00 U.S.  Applications will not be acted upon without fee payment.  Recertification is $25.00 per area. Fees can be paid either by personal check, agency purchase order, or by using PayPal services. 

Click here to make payments via PayPal.

REVOCATION

Certification may be revoked by the Certification Committee at any time if it is determined that:

1. The practitioner violated the AFTE Code of Ethics and that violation results in expulsion from AFTE.
2. The practitioner violated the AFTE Code of Ethics and resigns from AFTE in lieu of investigation or sanction.
3. The practitioner knowingly participated in any fraud associated with the certification process.
4. The practitioner divulged any information pertaining to the contents of a certification examination including, but not limited to, questions and answers from the examination.

Revocation of certification is not final until the practitioner has had an opportunity to represent himself in accordance with the AFTE Bylaws and the AFTE Code of  Ethics. Certified status may be reestablished upon reinstatement of AFTE membership or if sufficient evidence is presented to absolve the practitioner of all charges.

QUALIFICATIONS

Effective June 1, 2006, the qualifications necessary to apply for certification are as follows:

1. All AFTE members who are regular, distinguished or emeritus members in good standing are eligible. Regular, distinguished or emeritus members who have achieved that status through Technical Advising are accepted.
2. Regular, distinguished or emeritus members of AFTE who have achieved that status through Technical Advising and Provisional members of AFTE are eligible if they can demonstrate the following:

a. Training and experience equivalent to the Course of Studies described in the AFTE Training Manual.

And

b. Three years paid experience as a court qualified Firearms and/or Toolmark Examiner. Training and experience must equate to five years of total experience as a Firearms and/or Toolmark Examiner.

And

c. Applicants will be required to possess an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited academic institution with major course work in physical science, natural science, forensic science, criminalistics, criminal justice, police science, industrial technology or related fields of study (this requirement will not apply to applicants for recertification if they were certified prior to this restriction taking effect).

3. A BS or equivalent 4-year degree from a college or university.

To become a Certification Proctor the replicant must be certified in all three subject matter areas, and have a minimum of five years in good standing as a regular, distinguished or emeritus member of AFTE.

OR

Individuals not eligible for the certification exams who are members of a professional organization with a Code of Ethics may proctor exams. Example - a Latent Print Examiner who is a member of IAI may proctor an exam.

APPLICATION

Candidates who meet the qualifications as described above should submit an application (see link below), in English, to the Certification Committee Chairman stating the basis for their application, i.e., the qualification requirements they satisfy. 

In addition, their application should indicate the areas in which they wish to be certified, the location in which they wish to be examined and the time frame in which they wish to be examined.

Applicants are to be advised of their eligibility as soon as possible after their application is received.

The application linked to below is an Adobe Acrobat form that can be submitted by:

• Printed and mailed to the Certification Chairman
• or submitted via email as an attachment.

Application Form  (Adobe Acrobat Format)

Required documents:

1. Photograph – can be sent electronically with your application
   
2. A copy of college degree(s) or college transcripts

Applications submitted to the Certification Chairman will not be acted upon until all required documents are received and payment is received either by mail or by PayPal payments online.

Applications submitted to the Certification Chairman will not be acted upon until payment is received either by mail or by PayPal payments online.

Mail or email your completed applications to:

Robert M. Thompson
Program Manager: Forensic Data Systems
Office of Law Enforcement Standards
National Institute of Standards & Technology
100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8102
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Email: aftecertification@afte.org