Diplomate GKE Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The regional peer groups and the ABC Exam Committee have formulated a list of general knowledge, skills and abilities which they thought were necessary for a typical forensic scientist to effectively do casework. Applicants for certification should use this list to help determine their strengths and weaknesses prior to taking the general examination. The successful applicant will have the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined below.

Evidence Collection and Preservation

1. Appropriate selection and use of appropriate tools for recording evidence without loss, contamination, or deleterious changes.
2. Documentation of relevant crime scene data and information, using notes, descriptive drawings and/or photographic techniques.
3. Recognizing and safeguarding of the evidence potential of various items by proper sampling and collection of controls.
4. Proper marking, packaging, and storage of evidence.
5. Preservation of evidence using appropriate legal decisions.
6. Application of measures to retard or prevent changes to evidence caused by time, temperature, or biological agents.

Evidence Examination and Data Interpretation

1. General
1. Measurements, procedures, and tests commonly used in the examination of physical evidence and the nature and significance of the information derived from these.
2. Testing protocols that will provide the most useful information while avoiding procedures that are redundant, unnecessarily consumptive, or will interfere with subsequent tests.
3. Properties of commonly encountered evidence materials that allow their characterization.
4. Limitations in personal skills and laboratory resources and the potential contributions of other expertise.
5. Scientific method and general chemical, physical and biological basis for examinations, evaluation, and interpretations.
6. Understand and interpret technical data including any conditions or circumstances that could effect the conclusions.
7. Think logically, using inductive and deductive reasoning.
8. Recognize discrepancies or inconsistencies in analytical findings and determine their cause and significance.
2. Specific Analytical Area: The items listed under "General" (above) apply to the general principles involved in each of the specific topic groups below.
   1. Forensic biology.
   2. Trace evidence, latent prints, documents and fire debris.
   3. Controlled substances and blood alcohol/toxicology.
   4. Firearms and tool marks.

Laboratory Safety

1. Hazards associated with firearms, explosives, biological materials, and chemical substances and the proper methods for safe handling of all evidence types.
2. General Laboratory Safety.

Instrumental/Equipment Usage

1. Instruments and equipment used at crime scenes and in the laboratory, including their application and principles of operation.
2. Instrument use based on the size and condition of the sample to be examined.
3. Various isolation and separation techniques as required for sample preparation.

Communication - Report Writing

1. Write clear, grammatically correct, and concise reports on analyses, results and conclusions.

Communication - Legal Aspects and Court Testimony

1. Court decisions, procedures and associated legal terms applying to expert witnesses.
2. Understand and respond appropriately to questions from counsel and/or the court.

Rules of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics

1. The Rules of Ethics as drafted by the American Board of Criminalistics, their interpretation, and their application to occupational situations.

Forensic Science and Other Applicable Literature

1. Current criminalistics information (journals, books, newsletters).
2. Critically evaluates written and oral information.
3. Foundational basis of criminalistics.