Applicants

Individuals wishing to establish eligibility to sit for the examination for a Certificate of Qualification in Forensic Anthropology granted by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology should contact the current Application Committee Chairperson of the ABFA at: Application Committee Chair

To foster impartiality in reviewing the case file portion of the application, the names of applicants will not be associated with those documents when they are under review. Each applicant will be assigned a random identifier when they contact the Application Committee Chairperson. The applicant should use that random identifier on each page of the redacted case reports and any supporting documents in place of their name.

The Application

1. An original notarized copy of the application must be submitted by mail to the Application Chair. An individual who wishes to be considered for the examination must submit electronic versions of the entire application packet (including a digital copy of the notarized application) and the names of three (3) recommenders via email to the Application Committee Chair email address provided above.

2. The completed application must be received by April 1. The completed application includes:

• Payment of the non-refundable application fee; Payment must be made electronically through the ABFA website. Applicants should enter “application fee” in the “Service” field.
  • Applicants who do not pay the application fee prior to April 1 must defer their application until the following year.

• Three letters of recommendation. One recommender must be a Diplomate of the ABFA and the recommenders must be from at least two different institutions. Each recommender must send a letter of recommendation directly to the Application Committee Chair of the ABFA. Email correspondence is preferred.

• Hard (paper) copies of:
  • all pages of the notarized application.

• Electronic versions of:
  • a copy of the notarized application;
  • three (3) redacted forensic case files with supporting documents; (see Guidelines for Case File Submission)
  • a copy of the applicant’s doctoral diploma;
  • a copy of the applicant’s current curriculum vitae;
  • a copy of the applicant’s training log, a record of the casework they have performed during their training and professional career. Note: the submission of a training log is recommended, not mandatory;
  • a copy of the applicant’s proficiency testing log, a record of the successful proficiency tests that the applicant has taken during their training. Note: the submission of a proficiency testing log is recommended, not mandatory;
  • three (3) letter of reference (see paragraph below for more information).

3.  The Application Chair will advise each applicant of the Board’s decision by October 1 in the year that the application is received.

4. The Board of Directors, at its discretion, may request additional information from the applicants or referees.

5. The original set of application materials will be retained for three (3) years. All associated materials such as the curriculum vitae, copy of the doctoral diploma, case reports, and letters of recommendation will be destroyed after three (3) years. Copies of letter(s) of denial sent to unsuccessful applicants will be retained indefinitely, along with their original application(s).

6. Information in the application will remain strictly confidential. All Directors will destroy their copies of the application materials within thirty (30) days after the vote to accept or reject an applicant.

Application Format

1. Your packet must include three case reports that you have submitted to a medical examiner, coroner, law enforcement agency or other government agency as part of your forensic work. Information that could identify the author of the report (including logos, mention of the jurisdiction where the work was completed, case numbers/identifiers, names, signatures, and any other information that might identify the applicant) must be redacted from the report. The ABFA BOD will consider the redacted files for the purposes of maintaining objectivity in the review process. All submitted materials should be redacted including the case report, the cover letter, the photographs, the diagrams, and the bench notes. Any questions about the information to be redacted should be directed to the Application Committee Chair.
2. Mock cases may be submitted as long as the applicant provides detailed information regarding the provenience of the case and affirming that the applicant had no prior knowledge of the case. Please see the Guidelines for Case File Submission.
3. You should be the single author for the case reports submitted for evaluation, however; the ABFA Board of Directors recognizes that in some instances multiple anthropologists may contribute to a final report. In such cases submit a separate statement indicating that you (the applicant) were the primary author submitting a multiple-authored report, your specific role must be clearly explained.
4. Supporting materials (redacted) must be included and should contain information that will allow the Board of Directors to ascertain whether appropriate methods were used to validate and justify the conclusions reached by the author. Refer to the Guidelines for Case File Submission.
5. Assign a number (#1, #2, #3) to each case report and all related documents and write that case number as well as the code given to you by the Application Committee Chair on each page of every case report before scanning it for the Board. This avoids complex numbering systems and facilitates discussion of each case by the Board of Directors.

ABFA Guidelines for Case File Submission

Case file submission will demonstrate your involvement in forensic activities and your preparation to sit for the ABFA Board Certification Examination. Submission requirements include redacted copies of the following:

1. The written case report as it was issued by you and your agency.
2. Submitted reports that reflect work done solely (or primarily) by you.
3. A cover letter for each case file. Briefly outline case details, and also use this document to explain when the actual report varies from the ABFA guidelines. Explain circumstances such as co-signed reports or the absence of chain of custody information, scene and investigative information, and/or forensic analyses.
4. Bench notes for each case submitted.
5. Photographs for each case submitted. If the photographs are not part of the report, submit photos in a single file format such as powerpoint or word (.ppt, .doc).
6. FORDISC printouts where applicable and demonstrate appropriate use and interpretation of FORDISC.

Overall

1. The three (3) submitted case files will serve to demonstrate your overall skill level. They allow the ABFA to evaluate your abilities in the subspecialties within forensic anthropology as well as confirm your professional involvement in the discipline. Choose your cases carefully and take the time to prepare your submission.

• Preferably submit cases that contain nearly complete or complete skeletal/fleshed remains.
• As much as possible, submit three reports that contain the following analyses:
  • Age at death
  • Sex
  • Ancestry
  • Stature
  • Time since death
  • Perimortem trauma
  • Antemortem conditions
  • Postmortem/Taphonomic modifications

2. The written case report and supporting documentation are carefully scrutinized to ensure that you are able to clearly, concisely and accurately relay the above information. The ABFA recognizes that case report formats differ according to jurisdictional requirements. The goal of the ABFA is to assess your abilities across the spectrum of analyses utilized in forensic anthropology. Choose cases that include a full array of analysis. Do not submit more than one case dealing solely with trauma analysis (i.e., that does not include a biological profile, taphonomy or other). The ABFA suggests particular attention to the following areas:

• Proper use of grammar and proofreading within the report. Choose past or present tense and be consistent. Keep all descriptions brief, direct and objective. Avoid non-specific language such as “tiny”, “large” etc. Avoid jargon, slang, and vernacular or colloquial terms.
• Professionalism in the language of the report. The overall quality of the report should be commensurate with the level of education and experience you have attained.
• Citation of current and appropriate references. (Note: If your report format requirements preclude reference citations, note that in the cover letter and provide a supplementary document that lists the references utilized.)
• Listing of the method used with specific criteria where appropriate (e.g. pubic symphysis phase with a description of the relevant criteria and the reported mean or interval) should be either in the report or accompanying bench notes.   Standards must be correctly applied and must be the most appropriate standards for the case.
• Organized, concise, clear, and factual reports. Ensure that your report is helpful (in the sense of providing clear, accurate, objective information) to the agency requesting it. For example, does it contain enough information regarding the biological profile to assist with identification? Is the trauma clearly interpreted rather than overly interpreted? Is the postmortem interval (PMI) estimate supportable?
• Co-signed reports. If you work in a large agency the protocols for co-signing in your agency must be explained in your cover letter (e.g., an internal peer-review process in which the reviewer co-signs the final document or a signature from a supervisor signifying an administrative review). Remember that submitted reports should reflect work done solely (or primarily) by the applicant.
• Chain of custody. If not mentioned in your written report, include information regarding “chain of custody” and legal authority for your examination in the cover letter. Include the date and time of transfer, the source (e.g., the person from whom you received the remains), condition, and specific information regarding the type of analysis you were asked to perform and by whom (e.g., medical examiner/coroner, law enforcement, family).
• Background/provenience information. If not mentioned in your written report, include information regarding the date of recovery of remains, and investigative circumstances of the case in the cover letter. The ABFA requires some contextual information to see that you have appropriately assessed PMI.

3. Bench notes and photographs must be included in your submissions (redacted when necessary). Consider the following when reviewing your bench notes and photographs for cases you plan to submit:

• Bench notes are to be solely authored by the applicant.
• Discrepancies between the bench notes and reports must be explained in the cover letter.
• Redact initials, logos, and other identifiers from photographs and bench notes.
• Diagrams, photographs, and illustrations should be clear and readable and contain the case number used for submission. A legend clearly outlining the symbols used must accompany all diagrams, if applicable.
• Each case must be accompanied by photographs including at least one view of the complete set of remains from a superior view.
• Photographs of the elements or features used to assess the biological profile, postmortem interval, postmortem modification, and trauma (e.g. close-up photo of pubic symphysis face, sternal rib end, and auricular surface) should be submitted to assist the Board of Directors in assessing your abilities. Photographs should clearly match the written descriptions. (Note: It is recognized that the photographs will not necessarily be part of the original report. Separate photographs should be submitted in a single file format.)
• Photographs must be in focus and contain a clearly visible scale.
• All photographs must be labeled with descriptions. The ABFA recommends that each document or photograph be labeled to stand on its own if separated from the bulk of the report or if removed from the context of another larger report.

Additional Elements for Case File Submission

4. Skeletal Inventory: Complete a skeletal inventory listing all remains by element when possible (e.g. each rib is a separate element and should be sided and seriated when possible). Inventory can be listed as “all present” or “all absent” depending on the case and individual style. Reference only to a diagram or photograph is not an acceptable replacement.

5. Postmortem Interval: Contextual data and/or bone preservation data should be listed and the PMI, if estimated, must be supported by evidence and appropriate reference citation. The environment from which the remains were recovered should be clearly described. (Note: If the case was analyzed in the blind, then this should be noted in the report or in the cover letter.)

6. Sex: When listing morphological traits, indicate their presentation (e.g., non-projecting mastoid processes). Submit supporting photographic evidence of each trait used in the analysis.

7. Ancestry:

• FORDISC must be used and interpreted appropriately, including the posterior probabilities and typicality statistics. Do not use a blanket statement such as “FORDISC indicates that this is a white individual.”
• Morphological traits listed as supporting a particular ancestry should be established through appropriate reference citations.
• Supporting photographic evidence of various views of the cranium or skull will help the Board of Directors assess your abilities.

8. Age: 

• Criteria and skeletal elements used must be stated (e.g. right 4th rib sternal end with a deep v-shaped pit) and appropriate references should be cited. Submit supporting photographic evidence of each trait used in the analysis to help the Board of Directors assess your abilities.
• Tests performed for age estimation should be the most probative available given the condition and completeness of remains.
• Synthesis of the results from multiple tests should be clear and rational to the reader of the report.

9. Stature:

• Conclusions should be solidly based on appropriate use of standards and references and appropriate interpretation of results.
• In the absence of information regarding sex and ancestry, a justification for the stature model(s) selected should be provided.

10. Trauma:

• The type of trauma should be stated, if appropriate (e.g., consistent with blunt force, sharp force, or projectile/GSW).
• Trauma documentation must include measurements, appropriate interpretation, and photographic documentation. All defects should have the location within the skeleton clearly described (such as using measurements from at least two anatomical landmarks). Supporting photographic evidence of each trait used in the analysis will help the Board of Directors assess your abilities.
• Trauma description should be succinct.
• The method(s) of evaluation should be stated (e.g., radiographic, gross, microscopic).
• Do not make statements regarding cause and manner of death.

11.  Postmortem Modifications: Do not over-interpret results. Statements such as “postmortem modification is caused by carnivores or rodents” must be supported. For example, if you specifically describe damage as canid damage, you must show supporting evidence.

12.  Conclusions: 

• Conclusions should summarize the overall findings in the report, be appropriate to the evidence presented, and be supported through careful documentation.
• Refrain from drawing behavioral conclusions from the evidence (e.g. activity patterns). Avoid overstating facts from anecdotal evidence.
• No conclusions should be drawn or analysis performed outside of the expertise of the analyst or the field of forensic anthropology (e.g., discussion of the cause and manner of death should be left to the pathologist).

Reapplication Procedure:

1. The decision of the Board of Directors to accept or reject an applicant is based on a majority vote and is final.
2. If denied, in order to reapply, the applicant must submit a new application packet and the application fee. The application fee is due with each application.
3. Reuse of any material(s) in a reapplication is allowed only through written permission by the Application Chair and only within the three-year period prior to the destruction of records.
4. In most circumstances, new letters of recommendation must be submitted. However, if the Application Chair receives a written request from the re-applicant, existing letters of recommendation may be reused at the discretion of the Application Chair (this request may be emailed).
5. New case reports for review will be required unless (a) the only criticism from the Board involved the lack of supporting documentation, and (b) the reapplication occurs in the year following the original denial. If previously submitted case reports are approved, the applicant must provide the additional supporting documentation needed for the review process.
6. If an application is denied twice the applicant will be required to wait for two (2) years from the date the application was denied by the Board of Directors to apply again. Applicants will be allowed to apply twice more (for a total of four applications). 

Important Dates for Applicants

• Completed application (including all letters of recommendations) must be received by April 1. The application fee must be submitted through the electronic payment system.
• If reapplying after failed application attempt, reapplication must be received by the Application Chair by April 1 (see “Reapplication Procedure” for more information).

Important Dates for Examinees

• Notify the Vice President of your intention to sit for the examination by December 1 prior to the examination.
• Pay examination fee to the Treasurer of the ABFA by December 1 prior to the examination.
• Sit for the examination on MONDAY (note day change) of the week and at the location of the annual AAFS meeting. The Vice President will notify you of the precise time and location of the scheduled examination at least two weeks prior to the examination.
• You will be notified of the results of your examination no later than March 31 of the year in which the examination is taken.
• If a reexamination is necessary, please see the “Reexamination” portion of the manual for details about the procedures.

Examination Committee

The ABFA Examination Committee consists of the ABFA Vice President (chair) and at least two ABFA Diplomates. The Examination Committee is charged with administering the examination, including: creating; proctoring; and, grading.

As a member of the Examination Committee, the role of Vice President is to create the examination and examination key, proctor the examination, communicate the location and time of the examination to all examinees, and respond to all examinee questions regarding the content or administration of the examination. The VP may receive assistance from other Examination Committee members in any of these tasks.

A minimum of two Examination Committee members will serve as examination graders. These individuals will not be involved in creating or proctoring the exam. Also, they will not be involved in communications with the examinees prior to the exam. The only task assigned to the grading members of the Examination Committee is the grading of the examination. They will grade the examination following the established examination key.

All members of the Examination Committee will sign a Confidentiality Agreement prohibiting them from discussing the examination content, examinees or examination results outside the Examination Committee or ABFA Board of Directors.

The Certification Examination:

1. The ABFA examination consists of a multiple-choice test and a practical. It is designed to test the examinee’s breadth and depth of knowledge in the field of forensic anthropology. For the multiple-choice examination, the examinee must be familiar with the forensic anthropology literature. This literature includes, but is not limited to, pertinent forensic journals and texts that are applicable to the practicing forensic anthropologist. While the examinee must be well-versed in current literature, seminal works should not be ignored.
   • In general, the multiple-choice questions cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
     • Methods to establish the biological profile
     • Trauma interpretation and biomechanical principles
     • Anatomy, bone growth and development, osteology and bone histology
     • Pathological conditions
     • Postmortem alterations
     • Individualizing skeletal characteristics
     • Taphonomy, scene processing, and postmortem interval
     • Evidence handling, court procedures, and legal concerns
     • History of forensic anthropology
     • IdentificationStatistical analyses
     • Human/nonhuman classification and medicolegal significance
     • SWGANTH guidelines
   • The practical portion of the examination consists of hands-on stations. Each station will provide the necessary equipment, standards, and guidance to complete the station. Also, magnifying glasses and penlights are available to the examinees during the practical examination. Examinees should read each station carefully and be sure to address all components, but do only what each station asks.
     • The examination will assess the examinee’s ability to apply his or her specific body of knowledge and skills to actual skeletal and dental material and, in some instances, radiographs.
     • The stations will test the examinee’s competence in areas such as the determination of age, ancestry, sex, and stature, craniometrics, dental development, dental charting, minimum number of individuals, trauma recognition and interpretation, pathologic conditions (providing a differential diagnosis), human versus nonhuman, FORDISC 3, taphonomy and radiological assessment. The test may involve these examples but is not limited to them.
     • The examinee will demonstrate critical reasoning abilities and appropriate methods and experience to reach an organized, substantive answer to each question.

2. The exam is typically scheduled during the Monday of the week of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting. The starting and ending times and the lunch schedule will be provided to the examinees by the Vice President prior to the examination.

3. The examination will be administered in an area that provides a secure and otherwise appropriate environment for the written and practical portions.

4. An examinee must notify the Vice President of his/her intent to take the examination by Dec 1.

5. An examinee may choose to postpone the examination up to three years without reapplying. After three years, the examinee must reapply. The examinee must notify the Vice President of his/her intent to postpone by Dec 1 each and every year he/she chooses to postpone. The examinee may be required to reapply if he or she fails to notify the Vice President of his or her intent.

6. The examination fee must be remitted by Dec 1 of the year prior to taking the exam. Payment must be made electronically through the ABFA website. If the examinee fails to remit the examination fee by the deadline, he or she will not be allowed to take the examination the following year.

7. Examinees are not permitted to bring reference materials or analytical aids (such as hand lenses, calipers, or lights) to the examination. During the examination, examinees will have access to appropriate standards and other materials. A list of standards and materials is available from the Vice President upon request.

Grading:

1. To foster impartiality in grading, the names of the examinees will not be associated with their answers.
2. An 80% grade is required on each section of the examination (80% or higher on the practical and 80% or higher on the written) in order to obtain ABFA certification.
3. The Vice President will notify the examinees of examination results no later than March 31 of the year in which the exam is taken.

 Special Accommodations:

1. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, the ABFA will provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants should refer to these laws for more information regarding protected disabilities and applicable accommodations.
2. Documentation of an applicant’s disability must be in writing and must be signed by a licensed or otherwise credentialed and appropriately qualified medical, psychological, or learning professional. Documentation should provide a specific diagnosis and description of the desired accommodation; it must also be dated and include the name, title, professional credentials, address, phone number, and signature of the person making the diagnosis and recommendation. The ABFA will protect such information in accordance with established law but reserves the right to verify the disability and to request additional information if necessary. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
3. The disability documentation, description of the desired accommodation, and specific request for such accommodation must be provided to the ABFA Vice President no later than Dec. 1 of the year prior to taking the exam. The ABFA Board of Directors will consider and approve or deny all requests for accommodation and will issue a decision within 60 calendar days of receipt of the request. The ABFA will strive to make accommodations at no cost to the applicant; however, applicants may be asked to bear some or all of the cost of accommodation and/or to make the necessary arrangements, depending on the specific service(s) or modification(s) requested.
4. The ABFA will make every effort to honor requests for testing accommodations. However, if requests for accommodation are incompletely documented or received after the deadline, the applicant may be asked to take the test without the requested accommodation or defer the examination to a later date. Furthermore, accommodation requests will not be granted if they present an undue burden on the ABFA, provide an advantage over other candidates, or alter the ABFA’s ability to measure fundamental skills or knowledge that the examination is designed to test.
5. If a request for special accommodation is denied either in part or full, an applicant may appeal the decision. A letter describing the applicant’s objection along with additional medical documentation (if appropriate) must be received by the Vice President within 60 calendar days after receipt of notification. A final decision will be made by the Board of Directors within 60 calendar days of receipt of the appeal.

The Appeal Process for the Certification Examination in Forensic Anthropology

 The American Board of Forensic Anthropology is committed to ensuring that candidates for certification have access to an appeal concerning the certification examinations. If an examinee chooses to appeal the ABFA Examination Committee decision (i.e., due to failure of an examination), the examinee must appeal in writing and clearly delineate each area of contention.

1. Scope of Appeal

• Appealable Issues. Candidates may appeal to the ABFA to raise concerns relative to the examination’s administration (e.g., alleged bias/prejudice of a member of an examination committee or failure to follow established examination procedures) or to raise concerns of inappropriate conduct during the examination (e.g., use of unauthorized information or aids). Candidates may also request that examination grades be recalculated to confirm the accuracy of the overall score.
• Non-Appealable Issues. The ABFA validates all test questions. As such, the ABFA will not consider appeals based on examination content or the sufficiency or accuracy of answers given to examination questions.

2. Procedure for Appeal

• In order to appeal the examination outcome, a candidate must set forth the basis for his/her appeal by submitting a letter via certified mail with return receipt requested to the ABFA President within thirty (30) days of the notification of a failed examination. Appeals postmarked after the thirty (30) day period will not be considered.
• The appellant must select a Diplomate-at-Large to represent him/her throughout the appeal process. A Diplomate-at-Large is any ABFA Diplomate in good standing who is not currently serving on the Board of Directors. The name of the Diplomate-at-Large must be included in the appeal letter. If the appellant does not choose a representative from the Diplomates-at-Large, one will be appointed by the Chair of the Appeal Committee.
• Upon receipt of the letter, the President will promptly notify the ABFA Board of Directors of the appeal request.
• The Appeal Committee shall consist of at least three (3) individuals. The President will appoint the Chairperson of the Appeal Committee who shall be a current ABFA Board of Directors member and who shall serve as the facilitator of the appeal process. The President will select a minimum of one (1) additional member of the Appeal Committee from the ABFA Board of Directors membership and/or ABFA Diplomates-at-Large. The appellant’s Diplomate-at-Large serves as a voting member of the Appeal Committee. No person serving on the Appeal Committee shall have been a member of the standing Examination Committee or Validation Committee in place during the appellant’s examination.
• Members of the Examination Committee and/or Validation Committee may be called upon by the Appeal Committee to provide information only. These individuals shall not vote in the appeal process.

3. Decision of Appeal

• The Appeal Committee will review the appellant’s letter and make a decision about the validity of the claim(s) and the appropriate course of action. Discussions regarding the appeal by the committee will normally be handled via a conference call.
• Decisions regarding the appeal will be determined by a majority vote of the Appeals Committee.
• The Appeal Committee Chair will notify the ABFA President of the outcome. The ABFA President will review the Appeal Committee’s decision to ensure compliance with the ABFA’s appeal policies and procedures and will notify the Board of Directors of the outcome. After approval by the ABFA President, the Appeal Committee Chair will also respond to the appellant in writing via a certified letter within ninety (90) days of the date of receipt of the appeal. The response to the appellant will address each point raised in the appeal.
• The decisions of the Appeal Committee are final and are not subject to further appeals.

Reexamination:

• If the examinee fails one or both section(s) of the examination, he or she may retake the failed section(s).
• The examinee must retake all failed sections of the examination during the following attempt.
• The examinee may retake the examination the following year or may postpone for one year. The examinee must notify the Vice President of his or her intent to retake the examination or to postpone by Dec 1. The examinee may be required to reapply if he or she fails to notify the Vice President of his or her intent.
• If the examinee fails one or both section(s) during the retake, he or she must reapply in order to take the examination a third time.

Successful completion of both portions of the examination will qualify the individual as a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and entitle him/her to use the initials D-ABFA after his/her name. Diplomates are issued a unique certificate number, issued in numerical order. Certificate numbers are never reused. New Diplomates will be added to the ABFA website by September 1 following their qualification. Diplomate certificates will be awarded at the next annual ABFA meeting in February. If necessary, verification of Diplomate status prior to awarding of the certificate may be obtained from the ABFA President.

The President of the Board has the pleasure of presenting the Certificate of Qualification in Forensic Anthropology to successful examinees at the next annual meeting of the Diplomates.

New Diplomate names and contact information will be added to the list of Diplomates located on the ABFA website.

A list of Diplomates (current, deceased, retired, suspended) is on the ABFA website.