About the FSAB

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Please direct inquiries to the FSAB Secretary.

Accreditation

This program is intended to establish a mechanism whereby the forensic community can assess, recognize and monitor organizations or professional boards that certify individual forensic scientists or other forensic specialists (conformity assessment bodies, CABs). The FSAB is a not-for-profit organization with income derived solely from accreditation fees. The FSAB does not currently have any international affiliations. This program was originally established with the support and grant assistance of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Certification and accreditation are specific recommendations cited in a 2009 assessment of the forensic sciences, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States, published by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). View the FSAB comments on this important NAS report. For standards and applications for accreditation/re-accreditation, see Accreditation Program.

History

The Strategic Planning Committee of the AAFS reported in 1995 that the quality and standards applied by different forensic boards for granting certification varied widely. The Committee recommended that AAFS should assume a role in establishing a formal mechanism whereby the different credentialing processes of the various certifying boards can be objectively assessed. During the review of this issue, AAFS recognized that an important aspect of professional oversight is monitoring the quality and consistency of credentialing of forensic specialists by the various forensic boards; i.e., accrediting the certifiers. Groundwork was laid to accomplish this in 1996 by the Professional Oversight Committee and by the AAFS Mini-Task Force on Criteria for Specialist Certifying Boards. The Accreditation and Certification Task Force, now known as the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB), with grant assistance from NIJ, was formed to develop a voluntary program to objectively assess, recognize and monitor the various forensic specialty boards which seek accreditation. FSAB was incorporated as an independent organization in Colorado on June 23, 2000.

While working to develop this program, FSAB considered the accreditation of forensic boards by an independent organization as an option. There are at least two major organizations in the United States that set standards for individual specialties, the National Commission of Certifying Agencies(NCCA), which accredits certifying organizations meeting their standards, including education and examinations and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which primarily sets standards for medical disciplines, such as radiology, surgery, etc. Forensic Pathology is already listed under the ABMS as a sub-specialty under Pathology. A forensic specialty board could demonstrate compliance with national standards by being accredited by the NCCA. While this course of action is objective, the forensic community would be unwisely delegating its professional oversight responsibility to non-forensic organizations. Additionally, because of the unique nature of the forensic disciplines and the relatively small numbers of specialists credentialed by each organization, the forensic boards would be better assessed by an accrediting organization dedicated to that task and which has a thorough understanding of the forensic disciplines.

View a PowerPoint presentation describing the history, mission and function of the FSAB.

Contact

Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board, Inc.
Attention: James Williamson
723 N. Weber Street, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Phone: 719-755-4268
Administrative questions
Financial/Other questions
FSAB Accreditation or to file a complaint, please contact the FSAB Secretary.

News

Message from the FSAB President

2022-Jan-03
ISO/OEC 17011:2017 Conformity Notice

Procedure 12 Update 2021-Dec-19

2021-Apr-08
ISO/OEC 17024, 17011 Conformity Assessment

FSAB Seeking Nominations for Director Positions

2019-May-20
The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) has several openings for Director and Public Director. Directors must be certificate holders of an FSAB-accredited certifying board. Public Directors have no similar requirement. Experience with certification and/or accreditation is particularly desirable. Please note that FSAB Directors are not considered representatives of a certifying board. FSAB directors serve three-year terms, with a maximum of four consecutive terms.

To assist you in considering the opportunity, please view the announcement that describes the duties of Directors. All nominations (including name and CV) should be submitted to the FSAB Secretary.

Officers, Directors and Affiliates for 2021-2022

Officers

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Executive Committee Public Director

Directors

Public Directors

Affiliates

Interested in becoming a Director?

Accreditation Program

Accreditation Standards

CAB Forms

Application for Accreditation and Re-accreditation 2020-Jun-10
Annual Report Template
Site Visit Checklist

Print completed documents and submit with supporting materials to:

Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board, Inc.
Attention: James Williamson
723 N. Weber Street, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs)

(Listed chronologically by initial accreditation)

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2004 through Feb-28-2009
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2009 through Feb-28-2014
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2014 through Feb-28-2019
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2019 through Feb-29-2024

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2005 through Feb-28-2010
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2010 through Feb-28-2015
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2015 through Feb-29-2020
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2020 through Feb-28-2025

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2006 through Feb-28-2011
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2011 through Feb-29-2016
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2016 through Feb-28-2021
Re-accreditation extended through Feb-28-2022
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2022 through Feb-28-2027

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2006 through Feb-28-2011
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2011 through Feb-29-2016
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2016 through Feb-28-2021
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2021 through Feb-28-2026

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2007 through Feb-29-2012
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2012 through Feb-28-2017
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2017 through Feb-28-2022
Provisional re-accreditation extended through Feb-28-2023

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2007 through Feb-29-2012
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2012 through Feb-28-2017
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2017 through Feb-28-2022
Provisional re-accreditation extended through Feb-28-2023

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2008 through Feb-28-2013
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2013 through Feb-28-2018
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2018 through Feb-28-2023

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2009 through Feb-28-2014
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2014 through Feb-28-2019
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2019 through Feb-29-2024

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2012 through Feb-28-2017
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2017 through Feb-28-2022
Provisional re-accreditation extended through Feb-28-2023

Accreditation effective Mar-01-2015 through Feb-29-2020
Re-accreditation effective Mar-01-2020 through Feb-28-2025

Downloads and Links

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Bylaws

Code of Ethics

Current Code of Ethics Agreement 2017-Feb-11

Confidentiality

Current Confidentiality Agreement 2019-Dec-08

Conflict of Interest

Current Conflict of Interest Policy 2019-Dec-08
Current Conflict of Interest Statement 2019-Dec-08

Director Position

Job Description 2019-May-20

Meeting Minutes

Policies and Procedures

Current Policies and Procedures 2019-Dec-08
Procedure 12 Update 2021-Dec-19

Press Releases

Whitepaper 2017-Sep-25
Accreditation of Forensic Specialty Certification Bodies (.pdf)
Accreditation of Forensic Specialty Certification Bodies (link)
NAS Report 2009-Feb-23
Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States (link)

Links

American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC)
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

More

PowerPoint Presentation 2012-Jan-18
Checklist for CAB Examination Surveillance 2020-Feb-16

Director Archives

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