Requirements for Forensic Artist Certification

Due to the multifaceted nature of the field of forensic art, forensic art certification has three categories. They are Composite Imaging, Facial Reconstruction and Image Enhancement or Age progression. The applicant can apply for forensic art certification with an emphasis on any one or all three categories. However, an artist applicant should posses at least a fundamental knowledge for all three forensic art categories before applying.

1. Qualifications:

First Time Certifications:

An applicant for forensic art certification must meet all of the following qualifications which can apply to the three forensic art categories.

Received 80 hours of IAI approved forensic art training programs. These workshops should be considered basic and intermediate programs. Certificates of successfully completing the programs are required. See approved training program specifications below.
Additional 40 hours of related workshops, lectures or short program training.
- Related workshop in fields such as digital imagery, interviewing, forensic sciences, and short forensic art programs.
- Any Lectures attended at an IAI conference, local or international.
A minimum of two years of experience as a forensic artist for an agency or multiple agencies.
- The applicant will supply confirmation letters for each agency that they are claiming credit. The confirmation letter specifications are below.
A minimum of 30 forensic art cases which can include composites, reconstructions and age progressions (other related case experience maybe evaluated on an individual basis).
Plus one letter of recommendation from one of the following persons an IAI certified forensic artist, a forensic artist that is an IAI member or any person IAI certified in any field.

In addition to the before mentioned qualification the following is also required:

A properly completed application and current IAI certification fee.
A portfolio submission. The portfolio specifications are listed below.
Once the application and portfolio has been received and approved. The applicant will be required to complete and pass the written exam and practical test which will be provided.

Confirmation Letters Specifications:

Applicants must submit a letter that states the status of the applicant’s employment with the agency, or the status of the agreement under which the applicants services are provided. In contractual agreements, letters must be submitted by each agency the applicant is claiming credit for. All submitted letters should include the following information on an official letterhead:

The agency’s name and contact information.
The title, name and contact information of the of person making the endorsement
The total number of forensic art cases prepared for the agency.
The applicant’s rank or status with the agency.
The applicant’s date of appointment or date entered into contract.
A summary of the agency’s experience with the applicant.

Forensic art endorsement categories include:

Composite Imaging: Preparation of a suspect image in a criminal case from information gleaned from an interview of a witness or victim.
Facial Reconstruction: Preparation of a facial image of an unidentified deceased for the purpose of identification. These forensic images could be a three dimensional or two dimensional post mortem reconstructions.
Age or Image Enhancement: These are images of age progressions, age regressions, image enhancements and subject image updates.

Portfolio Specifications:

All copies of the forensic art images, sketches and drawings should be high quality reproductions or high resolution images. The portfolio should be professionally presented. This portfolio can be hard copies and/or in a digital format. All digital images must be in a JPEG file format. Each image must be clearly labeled with the applicant’s name and date. All of the following should be included:

10 images prepared for law enforcement investigation cases. (These cases do not require a suspect hit. They are generally to illustrate your technique and skills).
- Each case submitted should include:
  - Clear print(s) or digital images
  - A short case history (date, crime, location)
  - A short basic description on how the image was developed. This is required only once for each technique submitted.
3 forensic art cases that resulted in a “Hit”. These cases require an image of an identified suspect or individual.
- Each case submitted should include:
  - Clear print(s) or digital images of the forensic image and identified suspect or individual
  - A short case history(date, crime, location)
  - A basic description of the witness or victim participant if applicable.
  - A short narrative on how the forensic image assisted in the apprehension or identification.

2. Testing Procedure:

Once the application and portfolio has been accepted, the applicant will be required to complete and pass the written exam and practical test which will be provided.

The written exam is a multiple choice question test. The applicant will be required to answer all the first section questions correctly and score 80 percent or better on the second section.
The practical forensic art test for certification consists of multiple drawings and/or images. The artist’s original images will be required to be submitted. The artist must demonstrate a level of professional skill. Each sketch or image will be judged on certain criteria which will include but not limited to the following concepts.
- The artist’s command of his/her technique
- The artist’s demonstration of facial anatomy and proportions
- The execution of a proper method for the forensic art technique being tested
- Proper use of basic rendering elements and textures
- Resemblances to subjects
- Consistency of technique
- Experience demonstrated with descriptive words

3. Additional Information:

Once all the above listed qualifications, application and testing procedure have been successfully met. The artist will be granted IAI certification in the field of forensic art with an emphasis on the requested category. They will receive a certificate in the mail. The artist name will be recorded on the certification list with the Forensic Art Certification Board as well as posted on the IAI website.

Failure to provide an accurate application or failing any portion of the testing will require the applicant to wait six (6) months from the rejection date to reapply. Those reapplying must submit a new application with all the attachments plus the current certification fee as posted on the IAI Website.

4. Recertification Qualifications:

Recertification is required every 5 years from the date of the original certification. An artist requesting forensic art recertification must meet all of the following criteria. These qualifications apply to all the forensic art certification categories.

The artist must submit completed application and IAI fee.
The artist is required to have successfully completed a 40 hours IAI approved forensic art training program. This program should be considered an advanced level workshop. If the artist has already successfully completed this advanced training, the artist should receive training in a forensic art category other then their originally emphasis.
Additional 20 hours of related workshops, lectures or short program training.
- Related workshops in fields such as digital imagery, interviewing, forensic sciences, facial recognition and short forensic art programs.
- Any lectures or workshop attended at an IAI conference, local or international.
In the past five years the artist should have completed at least 75 forensic images for investigative cases (other related case experience maybe evaluated on an individual basis). The artist may be required to submit proof in the form of agency contacts or confirmation letters.
The artist must have attended at least two IAI conferences local or international in the past 5 years. Proof of attendance is required.
The artist is required to submit 5 forensic art cases that resulted in a “Hit”.
- Each case submitted should include:
  - Clear print(s) or digital images of the forensic image and identified suspect or individual
  - A short case history(date, crime, location)

Note: All artists requesting recertification are required to take and pass the practical test established in August, 2011. If the artist has already taken and passed this practical test, they are not required to take it again. If the artist requesting recertification fails to pass the practical test, their recertification process will be temporally suspended. The artist will have up to six months to improve his or her skills before requesting to take the practical test again without resubmitting the recertification application.

5. Recertification Continuance Status:

If the artist has ten years or less as a forensic artist, has never passed the practical test established in August 2011 or does not meet the qualification listed below, they should follow the above section 4 recertification procedure. However, below are the qualifications to apply for a recertification continuance status.

The artist must have been forensic art recertified at least once.
The artist must be a forensic artist for over ten years.
The artist must have completed at least 350 forensic art images during that time.
The artist must have attended at least two IAI conferences, local or international in the past 5 years (proof of attendance required).
The artist has offered his or her forensic art expertise as an educator or lecturer in some capacity (documentation required).
The artist has written forensic art related materials for an agency, training program and/or professional organization. Or the artist has published in any context about forensic art or a related field (documentation required).

Once a forensic artist has met the qualifications for recertification continuance status, he or she can send a formal business letter along with any required documentation listed and current IAI recertification fee to the forensic certification board requesting his or her certification to be continued. There after the forensic artist can apply for recertification every five years with just a formal business letter to the forensic certification board requesting his or her certification to be continued. However the artist will be require to pay the recertification fee that is currently listed on the IAI website at that time.

6. Unusual Circumstances:

This section only applies to honorably retired forensic artists from a law enforcement agencies and certain foreign applicants. If the above listed procedures are unable to be met for reasons beyond the control of the applicant, contact the Forensic Art Certification Board Secretary for further assistance.
This section only applies to an established practicing forensic artist with a level of experience that meets the requirements of certification, recertification and recertification continuance status. If the artist has allowed a past certification to elapse or has never been certified and now desires to be certified, please contact the Forensic Art Certification Board Secretary for further assistance.

7. Forensic Art Approved Training Specifications:

Each workshop and training course must be a minimum of 40 hour program.
Approved training courses must be conducted by an instructor that has been IAI forensic art certified.
Programs can be offered as introduction/basic, intermediate or advanced.
A certificate should be presented to a student that successfully completes a program. This certificate should include the dates, location, program title, instructors name and contact information.
Approved training courses should cover the following aspects of forensic art as it relates to a specific discipline. However, certain techniques in drawing, facial reconstruction, age progression and digital graphics may require additional topics. Below are guidelines for these workshop curriculums:

Introduction or Basic Programs:

Strong emphasis on drawing the human head
Improving the artist’s visual skills
Facial proportions
Facial anatomy and the human skull
Rendering elements and lighting patterns
Facial textures
Achieving a strong likeness to a specific subject
Proper use of facial reference materials
General forensic art definitions and concepts

Intermediate Programs:

A proper procedure for conducting a composite session.
The development of an artist standard operating composite session procedure
Compositing multi images and descriptions into a proper anatomical sketch
Profile views
Racial differences
Interviewing and questioning techniques
General memory and perception concepts
Age Progression techniques
Digital imaging techniques
Post-mortem reconstruction techniques.
Proper skull photographing techniques
Drawing techniques

Advanced Programs:

Advance interviewing techniques
Typology of witnesses and victims
Developing solutions for descriptive words
Advanced drawing and reconstruction techniques
Managing difficult composite sessions
Recognizing witness or victim deception
Multi-witness composite sessions
Courtroom and expert testimony

Note: It is advised that workshop instructors submit his or her established forensic art training curriculum to the Forensic Art Certification Committee for review. This should be done under the committee’s reviewing criteria soon to be instituted. Programs not meeting the above training guidelines may not be accepted as approved training for certification. This is only to insure that a potential student will receive the required information and skills during a particular workshop necessary to pass certification. If you are a forensic art educator and have any questions, contact the forensic art certification board.

For further information, contact:

Norma Dieppa
Forensic Art Certification Secretary
10180 SW 99 Avenue
Miami, Florida 33176