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.
In 2006, a Test Committee was formed by FEPAC, ABC, ASCLD, COFSE and NIJ to develop a test. The test was piloted in 2007 at multiple colleges. The official exam was rolled out in 2008.
The former ABC General Knowledge Exam was the starting point for the test which was developed for students in their last semester of an academic Forensic Science graduate or undergraduate program. Results from this test can be used by students to show prospective employers their level of forensic science knowledge. Academic programs can also use the results of the examination as a measure of program assessment.
In the latter half of 2021, a group of professors developed a new version of FSAT. Questions submitted by professors and students associated with Forensic Science programs were selected for this new version. The new version is available as of March 2022. There are 200 questions assessing 20 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
ABC Registrar's Office must be notified by the academic institution to schedule an exam date at least 45 days prior. Request for ABC Examination Seat form 09-031F must be typed, not handwritten, and received by ABC Registrar at least 35 days prior to exam date. Fee is $75. An administrative/processing fee will be assessed to the institution for any offering with four or less students.
Students will receive their scores directly from the ABC. If the student signs a waiver releasing their scores to their Program Director and returns the waiver to the ABC, their Program Director will receive the student's results as well. The Program Director will regardless 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 the end of June and December for each year.
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. All 20 KSA areas will be scored independently as a percentage and ranked across all other scores for the semester. A total score for the exam will also be reported and ranked. This IS NOT a pass/fail test. A numerical score out of a possible 200 points will be provided to the student.
The FSAT is given at each participating academic institution and administered by the program director or another faculty member.
For more information on the FSAT, download this informational presentation.
FSAT Reading List