IAI Membership

Benefits of Membership

Membership in the IAI provides the following important benefits for forensic science and law enforcement professionals:

Public representation and serves as the focal point for public information concerning the forensic identification profession.
Annual International Educational Conference, presented at a different site each year.
Additional training and educational seminars offered throughout the year at many sites.
Promotes accuracy, precision, and specificity in the forensic identification sciences.
Membership qualifications ensure that only eligible individuals are admitted as members. Consequently, IAI membership substantiates professional competency and is widely recognized by courts and other domains as a sign of distinction in the area of forensic science.
Authorized the use of the IAI logo on professional documents such as letterheads and business cards.
The Journal of Forensic Identification (JFI), an internationally recognized quarterly scientific journal. The JFI includes articles by international authorities on original investigations, experiments, testing, and reviews in all branches of forensic identification.
Personal contact with the most up-to-date, talented forensic identification specialists in the world through conferences, workshops, and seminars.
Information on the latest decisions and other late-breaking items posted regularly to the IAI's web site.
Employment announcements.
An annually updated Membership Directory.

As an IAI member, you will also belong to the discipline section of your choice. Through membership in this section, you will have many unique opportunities to discuss prevailing forensic identification matters with your professional colleagues within the discipline. In addition, you will have ample opportunity through the International Educational Conference and numerous educational seminars to participate in professional programs with colleagues outside of your forensic specialty.

Qualifications and Types of Membership

To qualify for Active Membership, an individual must be actively engaged as an examiner, analyst, practitioner or supervisor in the forensic sciences. Active members do not lose their status because of retirement or change of position, so long as they remain in good standing, and they may hold office.
Individuals not qualified for "Active Membership" may qualify for "Associate Membership." That category includes those employed in some aspect of forensic science and vendors to the forensic sciences.
"Associate Members" have all the rights and privileges of an "Active Member" but cannot hold presidential or vice-presidential offices.
“Student Membership” is a category of membership available to full-time college students at an accredited college with a major in a forensic science related field or law enforcement. To be considered as an applicant for Student Membership a person must be a full-time student taking 12 or more semester hours/credits or the equivalent in quarter hours/credits for undergraduate study and at least 9 semester hours/credits or the equivalent in quarter hours/credits for graduate study. In addition, student applicants must include a letter or transcript from their educational institution stating the number of credits currently being taken. The words “full-time student” will not suffice.
"Distinguished Membership" is open to current IAI members who meet certain criteria. (Download Application for Distinguished Membership)