American Board of Criminalistics
PO 418
Gardiner, ME  04345

If you have taken the electronic FSAT, please complete the survey here



Forensic Science Assessment Test (FSAT)

The FSAT is a general knowledge exam given to college students which has been found to perform like similar exams such as the GRE, MCAT, and ACS.  The test consists of 200 multiple-choice questions of which all will be scored. Three hours are allowed to finish the test. Questions cover all disciplines in a crime laboratory plus the areas of ethics, law, and, safety. These areas are delineated in the KSAs found in the presentation linked below.

Examination Scoring Information:
  • This IS NOT a pass/fail test. A numerical score out of a possible 200 points is given directly to the student.  Students have the option to release their scores to their professor.
  • The Program Director will receive a summation of their students' scores and the institution's rank compared to other institutions participating in that year's examination.
  • Scores will be released to students and Program Directors within 3-4 weeks after testing materials are received back by ABC Registrar.
  • The Graduate and Undergraduate rankings will be available by the end of June and December for each year.

For more information on the FSAT, download the presentation by clicking the button below.

Hosting an Examination

Institutions interested in hosting an FSAT examination must make the request at least 45 days prior to the examination date.

The individual responsible for administering the examination must submit a Request for FSAT Examination Offering by clicking on the button below.  ​

Taking the FSAT

The FSAT Examination is available to college seniors in their last semester who are attending a participating institution.  If your institution is offering the FSAT examination, you may request to take the examination by clicking on the FSAT Examination Seat Request button below.  The seat request must be made at least 60 days before the offering.

If you wish to prepare for the FSAT, a reading list has been developed and may be reviewed by clicking on the FSAT Reading List button below.

Electronic Examination Instructions

The FSAT will be administered electronically using the WebXam platform.  All Proctors and candidates taking the examination must download the Safe Exam Browser and complete the demo test prior to the test administration date.  Please visit our Electronic Testing Guidelines page for more information.

Paying for the FSAT

Please note:  Due to rising costs, we have made the decision to raise the FSAT Sitting Fee to $90.  We feel this is a modest increase that won't cause a significant negative impact on our customers while also allowing us to continue to budget effectively as we continue to work on many efficient business transitions including electronic testing.  We have not raised the sitting fee since 2013 and we recently raised our certification fees this year for the same reasons.  We have scheduled this increase to be effective on January 1, 2025.  We are hopeful that this will allow our university customers ample time to adjust any budgeting.  We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to work with you and providing FSAT testing services in the future.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the President or Registrar's Office. 

Payments can be made online by clicking on the button below or by mailing a payment to:

Gretchen Lajoie
ABC Registrar
PO Box 418
Gardiner, ME 04345
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