Certification
The American Board of Criminalistics certification program consists of the following steps:
- Apply for certification
- Successfully complete an appropriate certification examination
- Confer certification by vote of the Board of Directors
- Demonstrate continued competency by submitting recertification paperwork for review and attaining the required points
- Pay Annual Maintenance Fees and submit signed Rules of Professional Conduct
- Confer recertification by vote of Board of Directors
The American Board of Criminalistics currently offers examinations in the following areas of certification:
- Comprehensive Criminalistics (ABC-CC)
- Drug Analysis (ABC-DA)
- Molecular Biology (ABC-MB)
- Fire Debris Analysis (ABC-FD)
- Hair and Fiber (ABC-HF)
- Paint and Polymer (ABC-PP)
The ABC is currently conducting field testing of examinations for the following certifications:
Forensic DNA (ABC-DNA)
Biological Evidence Screening (ABC-BIO)
For more information on the field testing process, please visit the Field Testing page.
To determine if you are eligible for certification, please see our Certification Eligibility Requirements:
The American Board of Criminalistics previously offered the following certifications:
Biochemistry (ABC-BC)
Drug Analysis, Technical Specialist (ABC-DAT)
General Knowledge Examination (ABC-GKE)
Molecular Biology, Technical Specialist (ABC-MBT)
Certificants who attained certification in these areas retain their certified status as long as they stay in good standing with the ABC. If a certificant allows their certification to lapse, they must reapply for certification using one of the current certification schemes.
For more information on historical ABC examinations, please visit the History page.
Biochemistry (ABC-BC)
Drug Analysis, Technical Specialist (ABC-DAT)
General Knowledge Examination (ABC-GKE)
Molecular Biology, Technical Specialist (ABC-MBT)
Certificants who attained certification in these areas retain their certified status as long as they stay in good standing with the ABC. If a certificant allows their certification to lapse, they must reapply for certification using one of the current certification schemes.
For more information on historical ABC examinations, please visit the History page.