AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion
A. The criteria for promotion are applicable to all members seeking promotion to Member or to Fellow. Applications must be received and completed by October 1 to be considered for approval at the AAFS annual meeting.
B. The criteria for original membership in the AAFS apply to promotions:
1. Membership shall be available only to those persons of professional competence, integrity, and good moral character:
a. Who are actively engaged in the field of forensic sciences and who have made some significant contribution to the literature of forensic science, or
b. Who have advanced the cause of forensic science in some other significant manner, and
c. Who satisfy the requirements for membership of the section applied to or recommended for, and
d. Who have earned a baccalaureate or higher academic degree from an accredited college or university.
2. In addition, the following criteria for service to the AAFS and to forensic science in general is used:
a. Service to the AAFS. This includes attendance at the annual meetings and participation in the program. Attendance at a minimum of one (1) meeting is required for advancement from Associate Member to Member and one (1) additional meeting for advancement from Member to Fellow. However, if exigencies such as workload requirements, finances, or ill health preclude such attendance, this will be taken into consideration.
b. Service in the general area of forensic sciences. This is intended to recognize the individual who performs outstanding service in the execution of his/her regular responsibilities but who, in so doing, is unable to excel in other endeavors.
c. Service in the area of forensic science research. Any contribution which the individual has made since his/her admission to the AAFS or latest advancement will be given consideration.
d. Service in the area of forensic science education or training. Any effort (either by formal or informal curricula) to disseminate the scientific information which the individual has acquired throughout his/her career will be considered.

Individual Section Requirements

Criminalistics Pathology/Biology Digital & Multimedia Sciences Physical Anthropology Engineering Sciences Psychiatry & Behavioral Science General Questioned Documents Jurisprudence Toxicology Odontology

Criminalistics

 

A. Associate Member to Member
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Serve two (2) years as an Associate Member, and
3. Register and attend a minimum of one (1) annual meeting of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted.
* References not required.

B. Member to Fellow
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Serve two (2) years as a full Member, and
3. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
4. Meet one (1) or more of the following requirements on three (3) separate occasions within ten (10) consecutive years prior to the annual meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered (not to include the annual meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered):
a. Be presenting author of a paper presented at an annual meeting of the AAFS, or
b. Prepare and submit a paper that is accepted for publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed scientific journal. This requirement is fulfilled if the applicant's name appears as author on the paper. Letters to the Editor or Book Reviews will not be considered in fulfilling this requirement, or
c. Participate as a moderator, assistant moderator or panelist at two (2) or more annual meetings of the AAFS, or
d. Participate as a site evaluator for FEPAC, an active member or chair of a committee of the AAFS or Criminalistics Section for two (2) or more years.
* References not required.

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Digital & Multimedia Sciences

*Promotion Waiver (Expires February 28, 2012)

A. Associate Member to Member
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and any such additional requirements as may be established for its members; and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS and one (1) Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section Business Meeting. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted (special consideration may be given for promotion after attendance at one (1) meeting if extenuating circumstances have prevented attendance for two (2) years and all other promotion requirements have been met); and
3. Meet two (2) of the following requirements prior to the annual meeting at which promotion to Member is conferred. (Note: At least one (1) of the contributions must be from category b. or c.):
a. Participate as an active member or chair of a committee of the Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section of AAFS (*for transferred Associate Members - or have conducted a similar participation activity while an Associate Member of their prior section*). One (1) year of committee work equals one (1) contribution. The committee chairs will submit a list of active members at the end of each year to the section chair.
b. Participate in the annual AAFS program by presentation of paper, poster, luncheon presentation, workshop or seminar, or moderating a routine Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section program session (*for transferred Associate Members - or have conducted a similar participation activity while an Associate Member of their prior section*).
c. Author a paper on a subject relevant to the section's area of interest that is accepted for publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed journal or conference proceedings.  This requirement is fulfilled if the applicant's name appears as an author on the paper.  Letters to the Editor or Book Reviews will not be considered in fulfilling this requirement; and
4. Demonstrate active work in the forensic sciences at the time the promotion application is filed.
* References not required.

B. Member to Fellow
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and any such additional requirements as may be established for its members, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS and one (1) Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section Business Meeting (*for transferred Members - attendance at one (1) AAFS annual meeting while serving as a Member of their previous section may count towards the two (2) required annual meetings*). The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted (special consideration may be given for promotion after attendance at one (1) meeting if extenuating circumstances have prevented attendance for two (2) years and all other promotion requirements have been met), and
3. Meet three (3) of the following requirements prior to the annual meeting at which promotion to Fellow is conferred (Note: At least one (1) of the contributions must be from category b. or c.):
a. Participate as an active member or chair of a committee of the Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section of AAFS (for transferred Members - or have conducted a similar participation activity while a Member of their prior section*). One (1) year of committee work equals one (1) contribution. The committee chairs will submit a list of active members at the end of each year to the section chair, or.
b. Participate in the annual program of the AAFS by presentation of paper, poster, luncheon presentation, workshop or seminar, or moderating a routine Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section program session (*for transferred Members - or have conducted a similar participation activity while a Member of their prior section*), or
c. Author a paper on a subject relevant to the section's area of interest that is accepted for publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed journal or peer-reviewed conference proceedings.  This requirement is fulfilled if the applicant's name appears as an author on the paper.  Letters to the Editor or Book Reviews will not be considered in fulfilling this requirement; and
4. Demonstrate active work in the forensic sciences at the time the promotion application is filed.
* References not required.

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Engineering Sciences

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS within five (5) consecutive years. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Meet the following requirements within six (6) consecutive years prior to the annual meeting at which the title of Member is being considered (not to include the annual meeting at which the title of Member is being considered):
a. Author or co-author a minimum of two (2) scientific papers presented at AAFS Annual Meetings, or
b. Publish two (2) articles in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed scientific journal, or
c. Participate as an active member or chair on committees of the Engineering Sciences Section for two (2) or more years, or
d. Any combination of two (2) of the above prior to the annual meeting at which promotion to Member is conferred. (Note: At least one (1) of the contributions must be from category a. or b.)
* References not required.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Meet two (2) of the following requirements prior to the annual meeting at which promotion to Fellow is conferred:
a. Author a minimum of two (2) scientific papers presented at an annual meeting of the AAFS, or
b. Publish two (2) articles in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed journal, or
c. Participate as an active member or chair of two (2) committees of the Engineering Sciences Section for one (1) year, or
d. Any combination of two (2) of the above prior to the annual meeting at which promotion to Fellow is conferred. (Note: At least one (1) of the contributions must be from category a. or b.)
* References not required.

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General

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and any such additional requirements as may be established for its members by a specific forensic science discipline represented in the General Section, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS and one (1) General Section Business Meeting. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted (special consideration may be given for promotion after attendance at one (1) meeting if extenuating circumstances have prevented attendance for two (2) years and all other promotion requirements have been met), and
3. Fulfill one of the three conditions in a. (below) AND one of the three conditions in b. (below):
a.1. Serve for one year as an active member of a standing or ad hoc committee of either the General
Section or of the AAFS, or
2. Serve as a moderator of at least one General Section Scientific Session during an annual meeting, or
3. Serve as Chair of a standing or ad hoc committee of the General Section.
b.1. Present a paper or poster accepted for presentation in the program of an AAFS annual meeting, or a General Section Business Luncheon presentation, or
2. Present or co-present a workshop or seminar approved for presentation at an AAFS annual meeting, or
3. Author or co-author a scientific paper accepted for publication in the AAFS Journal of Forensic Sciences, and
4. Demonstrate active work in the forensic sciences at the time the promotion application is filed.
* References not required.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and any such additional requirements as may be established for its members by a specific forensic science discipline represented in the General Section, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted (special consideration may be given for promotion after attendance at one (1) meeting if extenuating circumstances have prevented attendance for two (2) years and all other promotion requirements have been met), and
3. Meet three (3) of the following requirements prior to the annual meeting at which promotion to Fellow is conferred (Note: At least one (1) of the contributions must be from category b. or c.):
a. Participate as an active member or chair of a committee of the General Section or AAFS. One (1) year of committee work equals one (1) contribution. The committee chair will submit a list of active members at the end of each year to the section chair, or
b. Participate in the annual program of the AAFS by presentation of paper, poster, luncheon presentation, workshop or seminar, or moderating a routine General Section program session, or
c. Author a scientific paper that is accepted for publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, and
4. Demonstrate active work in the forensic sciences at the time the promotion application is filed.
* References not required.

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Jurisprudence

 

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Have a license in good standing to practice law, or have full-time status as a professor on the law faculty of any university, and
3. Obtain two (2) recommendations from Members or Fellows of the AAFS, and
4. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted, and
5. Participate in one (1) program of the AAFS at an annual meeting by presentation of papers, acting as a panelist of a program, or serving as an active member or chair of a committee of the Jurisprudence Section.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Have a license in good standing to practice law, or have full-time status as a professor on the law faculty of any university, and
3. Obtain two (2) recommendations by Fellows of the Jurisprudence Section of the AAFS, and
4. Attend a minimum of one (1) meeting of the AAFS. Neither the meeting at which the applicant becomes a Member nor the meeting at which promotion to Fellow is being considered shall be counted in fulfilling this requirement, and
5. Participate in one (1) program of the AAFS at an annual meeting by presentation of papers, acting as a panelist of a program, or serving as an active member or chair of a committee of the Jurisprudence Section.

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Odontology

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted.
* References not required.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Complete two (2) separate presentations that may be given in the same year. These may be oral or poster (author must be listed in official Academy documents as presenting author) in any section of the Academy, including workshop presentations. The following may be substituted for a single presentation: Publication as first author of a forensic article in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed journal. This article cannot be the same material as a presentation claimed above.
* References not required.

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Pathology/Biology

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Demonstrate active engagement in a field of forensic science including pathology, forensic pathology, forensic medicine, veterinary pathology, or other biological science.
* References not required.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Demonstrate active engagement in a field of forensic science including pathology, forensic pathology, forensic medicine, veterinary pathology, or other biological science, and
4. Advance the work and purpose of the Pathology/Biology Section by:
a. Presentation of one (1) or more oral or poster sessions at an annual meeting, or
b. Publication of one (1) or more articles in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.
* References not required.

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Physical Anthropology

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Submit for review two (2) recent written case reports, or publications, or evidence of teaching or other contributions to forensic anthropology.
*References not required.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of three (3) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Submit for review two (2) written case reports, or publications, or evidence of teaching or other contributions to forensic anthropology.
*References not required.

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Psychiatry & Behavioral Science

*Please contact Cheryl Hunter at the AAFS office for requirements for applicants outside the U.S.

 

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of one (1) annual meeting of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted.
*References not required.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Be certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology in general and forensic psychiatry, or be a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology/ American Board of Forensic Psychology and Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology or for research, Psychologists (admitted under Associate Member, C.4) who have attained the rank of Fellow of the American Psychology - Law Society (Div. 41 of the American Psychological Association), and
3. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
4. Have served three (3) years as a Member or one (1) year in the event of participation in a joint session of the AAFS or scientific presentation in a section other than the Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Section, and
5. Demonstrate active participation in the Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Section. Participation may include the presentation of a scientific paper or serving as a moderator at an AAFS Annual Meeting, publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, or active participation on a working committee within the Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Section.
*References not required.

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Questioned Documents

A. Associate Member to Member.
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the Questioned Documents Section of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Present at least one (1) technical paper or participate in the scientific program of the Questioned Documents Section. Participation may include serving as a moderator or panelist at an AAFS Annual Meeting, publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, or participation on a working committee within the Questioned Documents Section.
* References not required.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the Questioned Documents Section of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Present at least one (1) technical paper that is accepted for publication by the Journal of Forensic Sciences or the Journal of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners.
*References not required.

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Toxicology

A. Associate Member to Member. 
While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Attend a minimum of two (2) annual meetings of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Be actively engaged in the field of forensic toxicology at the time of application for advancement.
4. Applicants for promotion will be required to provide two letters of reference from full Members or Fellows of the Toxicology Section of the AAFS if eligible references were not provided when applying for Associate Member.

B. Member to Fellow.
While serving as a Member, the applicant must:
1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and
2. Be actively engaged in forensic toxicology at the time of application for advancement, and
3. Attend a minimum of three (3) annual meetings of the AAFS after becoming a Member. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
4. Advance the work and purpose of the Toxicology Section in three (3) or more of the following ways while an Associate Member or Member:
    a. 1. Present at least two (2) technical papers at annual meetings of the AAFS at oral or poster sessions, or
2. Present at least one (1) technical paper and co-author at least two (2) technical papers at annual meetings of the AAFS at oral or poster sessions, or
3. Co-author at least four (4) technical papers at annual meetings of the AAFS at oral or poster sessions, or
b. Participate as a moderator, assistant moderator, chair, assistant chair, faculty member or panelist at two (2) or more annual meetings of the AAFS in scientific sessions, workshops, breakfast sessions, roundtables, Student Academy or other recognized AAFS meeting sessions, or
c. Participate as an active member or chair of a committee of the Toxicology Section for one (1) or more years, or other equivalent service to the Toxicology Section, such as newsletter editor, or
d. Attend a minimum of six (6) annual meetings of the Toxicology Section of the AAFS. The meeting at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Fellow is being considered shall not be counted, and
e. Other service to the section or the profession determined to be acceptable by the Toxicology Section Chair and Secretary, such as: (1) submit evidence of teaching or training activities in the area of forensic toxicology, or (2) certification by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology.
*References not required. 

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Download AAFS Promotion Application Form in PDF HERE. 

Download AAFS Membership Reference Form in PDF Format HERE. 

OR

contact the AAFS Membership Department at 1-800-701-AAFS, Fax: (719) 636-1993, or e-mail: membship@aafs.org.