FORENSIC SPECIALTIES ACCREDITATION BOARD, Inc.723 N. Weber Street, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
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This program is intended to establish a mechanism whereby the forensic community can assess, recognize and monitor organizations or professional boards that certify individual forensic scientists or other forensic specialists (conformity assessment bodies, CABs). The FSAB is a not-for-profit organization with income derived solely from accreditation fees. The FSAB does not currently have any international affiliations. This program was originally established with the support and grant assistance of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Certification and accreditation are specific recommendations cited in a 2009 assessment of the forensic sciences, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States, published by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). View the FSAB comments on this important NAS report. For standards and applications for accreditation/re-accreditation, see Accreditation Program.
The Strategic Planning Committee of the AAFS reported in 1995 that the quality and standards applied by different forensic boards for granting certification varied widely. The Committee recommended that AAFS should assume a role in establishing a formal mechanism whereby the different credentialing processes of the various certifying boards can be objectively assessed. During the review of this issue, AAFS recognized that an important aspect of professional oversight is monitoring the quality and consistency of credentialing of forensic specialists by the various forensic boards; i.e., accrediting the certifiers. Groundwork was laid to accomplish this in 1996 by the Professional Oversight Committee and by the AAFS Mini-Task Force on Criteria for Specialist Certifying Boards. The Accreditation and Certification Task Force, now known as the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB), with grant assistance from NIJ, was formed to develop a voluntary program to objectively assess, recognize and monitor the various forensic specialty boards which seek accreditation. FSAB was incorporated as an independent organization in Colorado on June 23, 2000.
While working to develop this program, FSAB considered the accreditation of forensic boards by an independent organization as an option. There are at least two major organizations in the United States that set standards for individual specialties, the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which accredits certifying organizations meeting their standards, including education and examinations and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which primarily sets standards for medical disciplines, such as radiology, surgery, etc. Forensic Pathology is already listed under the ABMS as a sub-specialty under Pathology. A forensic specialty board could demonstrate compliance with national standards by being accredited by the NCCA. While this course of action is objective, the forensic community would be unwisely delegating its professional oversight responsibility to non-forensic organizations. Additionally, because of the unique nature of the forensic disciplines and the relatively small numbers of specialists credentialed by each organization, the forensic boards would be better assessed by an accrediting organization dedicated to that task and which has a thorough understanding of the forensic disciplines.
View a PowerPoint presentation describing the history, mission and function of the FSAB.
Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board, Inc.
Attention: James Williamson
723 N. Weber Street, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
For additional questions regarding the FSAB, accreditation or to file a complaint, please contact the FSAB Secretary.
The FSAB 2021 Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at 2:00 PM EDT (virtual). For attendance instructions, please contact the FSAB Secretary.
Colorado Springs, Nov-06-2017: The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) announces a transition plan for accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs) to comply with new accreditation standards.
Colorado Springs, Sep-25-2017: The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) announces the publication of a white paper on Accreditation of Forensic Specialty Certification Bodies. The authors are Ann Webster Bunch, Thomas L. Bohan, and David R. Senn.
Colorado Springs, May-20-2019: The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) has several openings for Director and Public Director. Directors must be certificate holders of an FSAB-accredited certifying board. Public Directors have no similar requirement. Experience with certification and/or accreditation is particularly desirable. Please note that FSAB Directors are not considered representatives of a certifying board. FSAB directors serve three-year terms, with a maximum of four consecutive terms.
To assist you in considering the opportunity, please view the announcement that describes the duties of Directors. All nominations (including name and CV) should be submitted to the FSAB Secretary.
Letter to accredited CABs describing transition plan to new accreditation standards.
CAB Letter 2017-Nov-06
Application for Accreditation and Re-accreditation
Annual Report Template
Site Visit Checklist
Print completed documents and submit with supporting materials to:
Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board, Inc.
Attention: James Williamson
723 N. Weber Street, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(Listed chronologically by initial accreditation)
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2004 through Feb-28-2009
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2009 through Feb-28-2014
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2014 through Feb-28-2019
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2019 through Feb-29-2024
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2005 through Feb-28-2010
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2010 through Feb-28-2015
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2015 through Feb-29-2020
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2020 through Feb-28-2025
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2006 through Feb-28-2011
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2011 through Feb-29-2016
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2016 through Feb-28-2021
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2006 through Feb-28-2011
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2011 through Feb-29-2016
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-016 through Feb-28-2021
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2007 through Feb-29-2012
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2012 through Feb-28-2017
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2017 through Feb-28-2022
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2007 through Feb-29-2012
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2012 through Feb-28-2017
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2017 through Feb-28-2022
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2008 through Feb-28-2013
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2013 through Feb-28-2018
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2018 through Feb-28-2023
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2009 through Feb-28-2014
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2014 through Feb-28-2019
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2019 through Feb-29-2024
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2012 through Feb-28-2017
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2017 through Feb-28-2022
Accreditation effective Mar-01-2015 through Feb-29-2020
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2020 through Feb-28-2025
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Current Code of Ethics Agreement 2017-Feb-11
Current Confidentiality Agreement 2019-Dec-08
Current Conflict of Interest Policy 2019-Dec-08
Current Conflict of Interest Statement 2019-Dec-08
2017-Sep-25
Accreditation of Forensic Specialty Certification Bodies
2009-Feb-23
Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC)
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
PowerPoint Presentation 2012-Jan-18
Checklist for CAB Examination Surveillance 2020-Feb-16