​​​Analyst Application Requirements

​

​​

​

​

​

Submission of applications opens February 1, 2025 (to sit for the 2026 Analyst Exam). With the exception of waivers for application requirements, application materials submitted prior to February 1, 2025 will not be accepted. Waivers for residency/citizenship requirements and degree requirements are due December 1, 2024 (see below for application requirements and waiver procedures).

 

Instructions on the submission of Application files will be posted closer to February 1. Applications will be closed on June 30, 2025 (5pm Central Time).

​​

Due to limitations in seating capacities for in-person examinations, the Board of Directors has voted to have a seat capacity of 40 examinees, with the possibility of expanding it above 40 at the Board’s discretion, based on application submissions and exam logistics.
 

The Applications Committee will review applications on a rolling basis after February 1 and will continue accepting applications until the June 30 deadline or until 40 applications are received, whichever comes first. Once 40 completed applications (including reference forms) are received, the ABFA will notify any additional applicants and place announcements on the webpage indicating that any additionally received applications will be put on a “Review Waitlist.” Should additional seats become available, by order of receipt of complete applications, those on the waitlist may be reviewed. Applicants on the waitlist will not be charged the Application Fee until a review spot becomes available. Once the number of approved applications has reached the examination seat capacity, any applicants on the waitlist will be notified that their materials will not be reviewed this cycle and will be encouraged to apply the next cycle.  
 

Note that this is the ABFA’s first multilevel certification cycle. All application procedures will be reviewed following this first cycle in 2025 and changes may be made for the following year.

​

The ABFA Analyst Application will require the following items:
 

1. Signed and notarized Application Form that demonstrates current involvement in forensic anthropology. The form will ask questions about education, employment, professional memberships, attendance to national/regional professional meetings, relative publications, names and contact information for references, and a written description of your current involvement in the discipline of forensic anthropology and reason for pursuing ABFA certification. Download the 2025 Application Form here.
    

2. Proof of citizenship or permanent residency (e.g., copy of government issued photo ID). Per the PPM, applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, Canada, or their territories, or have been granted a residency waiver by the ABFA Board of Directors. Applicants must submit a Waiver Request Form directly to the Applications Chair(s) by December 1 (see current Board of Directors contact information). The ABFA Board of Directors reserves the right to request additional information. Download the Waiver Request form here. 
    

3. Transcripts demonstrating that, at a minimum, a Master’s degree was conferred in Anthropology, or a related field, with an emphasis in biological or forensic anthropology prior to the application deadline. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but the Board reserves the right to request official transcripts. The degree must be from an accredited U.S. institution. If the degree is not in Anthropology or is from non-accredited or foreign institutions, the applicant must petition the Board to be granted a waiver. For degrees from non-accredited or foreign institutions, the applicants must provide an evaluation from a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). The applicant is responsible for costs associated with a NACES or AICE evaluation. Applicants must submit a Waiver Request Form directly to the Applications Chair(s) by December 1 (see current Board of Directors contact information). The ABFA Board of Directors reserves the right to request additional information. 
   
   Note - You do not need a degree waiver if: 
                a. Your Master's degree meets the above requirements, but                    your PhD does not
                b. Your PhD meets the above requirements, but your                                 Master's degree does not.
    

4. An Analyst Training Log demonstrating training activities and engagement in the field of forensic anthropology.  All skills listed on this form must be verified for the form to be considered complete. The ABFA Board of Directors reserves the right to contact verifiers for additional information.  Download the Analyst Training Log here. 
    

5. Three Analyst Reference Forms, one of which must be from an active D-ABFA who has direct knowledge of the applicant’s education/training/work and/or who supervises the applicant directly. No more than two referees may be from the same institution. Referees should be able to speak to the Applicant’s character and involvement in forensic anthropology. All abilities listed on the form should be addressed between the three referees (i.e., if one referee marks an item “N/A,” one of the other referees should be able to speak to this item). Referees will submit the completed forms directly to the Applications Chair(s) (see theabfa.org/board-of-directors for current contact information). Download the Analyst Reference Form here.
    

6. Application fee: $150, due within 2 weeks of receipt of invoice. An invoice will be sent after the application submission is complete. If an applicant is put on a review waitlist, the application fee will only be invoiced when/if a review spot becomes available.

 

Analyst Application Review​

The Application Committee will conduct a holistic review of each Applicant’s materials using the following rubric (download Analyst Application Evaluation Rubric here). See SOP 4.1 Applications for procedural details.  Application decisions require a majority vote from the Board of Directors. The decision of the Board of Directors is final.

 

Analyst (A-ABFA) Examination

To become certified as an Analyst of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, approved applicants must pass an in-person examination. The exam will take several hours and will have the following components:

• Redesigned examination using physical specimens, radiographs,  laboratory instruments, as well as written questions covering Analyst competencies (see Multilevel Certification Competencies). 

• Competency-based assessment with varying question formats (e.g., multiple-choice & short answer questions)

• Exam content focuses on technical capabilities and foundational knowledge, for example:

  • Osteology

  • Knowledge and proper application of analytical methods (e.g., scoring the pubic symphysis or basic knowledge about isotopic analyses)

  • Osteometrics

  • Identify and describe classic characteristics of major classes of skeletal trauma

  • Knowledge of ethics and professional standards

  • Knowledge of landmark court decisions and relevant Federal Rules of Evidence, including their impact on expert witness testimony, evidentiary standards for admissibility, and forensic anthropology practice.

  • Note: the above are just examples – refer to the Analyst competencies for a full list of expectations.

The ABFA is finalizing some of the Analyst Examination details and will update this website with additional information as it becomes available.

Examination Fee: $200

Annual Dues: $250/year

​