CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR
CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION

PROCEDURES FOR LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS

I.    General Qualifications
 An applicant for certification must be of good moral character, high integrity, good repute, and must possess high ethical and professional standing.

II.    Educational Qualifications
A.     Bachelor's Degree plus 3 years basic experience as required by Section IV.

or

B.     Experience can be substituted for the Bachelor' Degree requirement at the rate of one year full time experience as a latent print examiner for one year of college credit on the following basis:

a.     An Associate Degree (or documentation of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of college credits) plus 3 years basic experience as required by Section IV plus 2 years full--time experience as a latent print examiner (total 5 years experience) equals Bachelor's Degree requirement.

or

b.     Three years basic experience as required by Section IV plus 4 years full--time experience as a latent print examiner (total 7 years experience) equals Bachelor's Degree requirement.

Educational requirements are not applicable to re--certification.

III.     Technical Training
          Minimum of 80 hours of formal training in fingerprint matters.

IV.     Basic Experience
A.     Minimum of one year full--time experience in classification, filing and searching of inked fingerprints,

and

B.     Minimum of two years' full--time experience in the comparison and identification of latent print material and related matters,

or

C.     If less than one year's experience in classification, filing and searching of fingerprints, then must have a minimum of three years' experience in the comparison and identification of latent print material and related matters.

D.     If less than full--time experience for the given time periods is possessed, times must be accumulated to reach an acceptable minimum.

 

V.     Endorsements
All applicants for certification must submit two letters of endorsement. If the applicant is employed by a public law enforcement agency, one letter shall be from a superior within the applicant's department or agency and one shall be from an associate in the field of print identification certified by the I.A.I. and who is a member of either a state or regional division and/or the parent body. If an applicant is using the experience substitution to meet the educational requirements, letters of endorsement should include information concerning the number of years basic, and full--time experience the applicant possesses.

VI.     Examinations
Certification shall be determined by testing to encompass four areas:

1.     Written test -- The applicant will be required to pass a written test covering both technical aspects and the development of the science of fingerprint identification.

2.     Pattern recognition of inked fingerprints.

3.     The comparison of latent prints to inked prints.

4.     Either oral board testing and/or presentation of a case for review to include a latent print, inked print, charted enlargements and court questions and answers.

If the applicant HAS already testified in a court of law as an expert, he may submit a case for review, or may submit to the oral board testing.

If the applicant HAS NOT given testimony in a court of law as an expert, he shall be required to undergo oral board testing.

VII.     General Provisions Concerning Certification

1.     The right to deny certification is reserved.

2.     Certificates granted and issued may be suspended or revoked by the Certification Board for any of the following reasons:

a.     A misstatement or misrepresentation, or concealment or commission of a material fact or facts in an application or any other communication.

b.     Conviction of an applicant for certification or holder of a certification by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.

c.     Issuance of a certificate contrary to or in violation of any of the laws, standards, rules or regulations of the I.A.I., or determination that the person certified was not in fact eligible to receive such certificate at the time of its issuance.

d.     Unethical conduct or technical error by a holder of a certificate that brings the specialty of latent print identification into disrepute.

3.     Action to suspend or revoke may only be taken after at least thirty (30) days advance notice of the charges or reasons for such action has been given to the individual concerned and an opportunity for such person to be heard has been provided by the I.A.I.

4.     Persons holding a valid, un--revoked certificate by the Certification Board are entitled to use the designation Certified Latent Print Examiner in conformance with the standards of the International Association for Identification.

 

 

 

This information was reprinted in “THE PRINT”
Volume 15(6) November / December 1999, pg 6
and has been obtained from the online library provided by the
Southern California Association of Fingerprint Officers
www.scafo.org