Membership in the Forensic Engineering & Applied Sciences Section

Academy Requirements

Both at the time of application and at the time the application is being considered for approval, an applicant for Student Affiliate status must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that would support a forensic science career accepted by the section to which application is being made.  Each Student Affiliate must certify eligibility annually with the AAFS.

Student Affiliate status may be maintained for two consecutive calendar years beginning at the end of the calendar year within which graduation occurs. During the two-year period, once employment in a forensic discipline recognized by a section of the AAFS is attained, Student Affiliates will be required to upgrade their membership to Trainee Affiliate or Associate Member.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Student Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Applicants must provide proof that they are enrolled in an accredited college or university leading to a degree that would be used to support a career in engineering or an engineering-related science.

Academy Requirements

Trainee Affiliate status is limited to persons who have completed the educational requirements, but not the experience requirements for Associate Member in the section to which application is being made. Both at the time of application and at the time the application is being considered for approval, applicants for Trainee Affiliate status must be actively working toward completion of the experience requirements by participating in a training program or employment that supports a forensic science career accepted by the section. Each Trainee Affiliate must certify eligibility annually.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Have less than four (4) years of experience with a baccalaureate degree, less than three (3) years with a master's degree, or less than two (2) years with a doctoral degree.

Academy Requirements

Academy membership shall be available only to those persons of professional competence, integrity, and good moral character:

1. who are actively engaged in the field of forensics sciences and who have made some significant contribution to the literature of forensic sciences, or
2. who have advanced the cause of forensic science in some other significant manner, and
3. who satisfy the requirements for membership of the section applied to or recommended for, and
4. who have earned a baccalaureate or higher academic degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the United States Department of Education, or from a non-U.S. college or university bearing equivalent accreditation.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Associate Member must be fulfilled; and
2. Applicant must provide proof of a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in engineering or an engineering- related science; and
3. Be actively engaged in the application of forensic engineering science for a minimum of four (4) years, or a master's degree and three (3) years of similar experience, or an earned doctoral degree can be substituted and two (2) years of similar experience; and
4. Provide the highest relevant degree, graduate or undergraduate, along with photocopies of certificates, diplomas, degrees, and licensures, which must accompany the application; and
5. Provide proof of active participation in the field of forensic engineering science over the past (4) four years, such as client references, court appearances including court case numbers, engineering research or projects related to forensic engineering; and
6. Two (2) letters of reference. At least one (1) reference shall be from either a full Member or Fellow of the AAFS. References must be able to comment knowledgeably on the applicant's qualifications.

Academy Requirements

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 conference.

The criteria for original membership, as stated in the bylaws for the AAFS Basic Requirements, still apply to promotions:

Membership shall be available only to those persons of professional competence, integrity, and good moral character:

1. Who are actively engaged in the field of forensic sciences and who have made some significant contribution to the literature of forensic science, or
2. Who have advanced the cause of forensic science in some other significant manner; and
3. Who satisfy the requirements for membership of the section applied to or recommended for; and
4. Who have earned a baccalaureate or higher academic degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the United States Department of Education, or from a non-U.S. college or university bearing equivalent accreditation.

 In addition, the following criteria for service to the AAFS and to forensic science in general are used:

1. Service to the AAFS. This includes attendance at the annual conferences and participation in the program. Attendance at a minimum of one (1) conference is required for advancement from Associate Member to Member and one additional conference 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. It is AAFS policy that members who exhibit at the annual conference must pay the conference registration fee, if the exhibitor wishes to receive continuing education credit or count the conference attendance toward fulfilling a requirement for membership promotion.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Section Requirements

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS within five (5) consecutive years. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference 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 conference at which the title of Member is being considered (not to include the annual conference 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 Conferences; b. Publish two (2) articles in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or another peer- reviewed scientific journal; c. Participate as an active member or chair on committees of the Engineering & Applied Sciences Section for two (2) or more years; or d. Any combination of two (2) of the above prior to the annual conference 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.

Academy Requirements 

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 conference.

The criteria for original membership, as stated in the bylaws for the AAFS Basic Requirements, still apply to promotions:

Membership shall be available only to those persons of professional competence, integrity, and good moral character:

1. Who are actively engaged in the field of forensic sciences and who have made some significant contribution to the literature of forensic science, or
2. Who have advanced the cause of forensic science in some other significant manner; and
3. Who satisfy the requirements for membership of the section applied to or recommended for; and
4. Who have earned a baccalaureate or higher academic degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the United States Department of Education, or from a non-U.S. college or university bearing equivalent accreditation.

 In addition, the following criteria for service to the AAFS and to forensic science in general are used:

1. Service to the AAFS. This includes attendance at the annual conferences and participation in the program. Attendance at a minimum of one (1) conference is required for advancement from Associate Member to Member and one additional conference 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. It is AAFS policy that members who exhibit at the annual conference must pay the conference registration fee, if the exhibitor wishes to receive continuing education credit or count the conference attendance toward fulfilling a requirement for membership promotion.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Section Requirements

While serving as a Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference 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 conference at which promotion to Fellow is conferred: a. Author a minimum of two (2) scientific papers presented at an annual conference of the AAFS; b. Publish two (2) articles in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or another peer- reviewed journal; c. Participate as an active member or chair of two (2) committees of the Engineering & Applied Sciences Section for one (1) year; or d. Any combination of two (2) of the above prior to the annual conference 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.