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What are the document examiner education requirements to work in this profession?.

What are the actual document examiner education requirements? There is lot of confusion around the actual legal  ‘document examiner education requirements’ to work in this profession. 

However, at, forensicdocexamschool.com, we can outline the common requirements outlined by the major organizations and court systems worldwide.

Scroll down and read the typical requirements so that the judge accepts an individual as having the minimum acceptable training to testify as a forensic handwriting expert.

What If the judge asks the question, ‘What are the document examiner education requirements?’

They are published on this page but vary by state and country.

Did you know that there is no official government criteria for ‘document examiner education requirements’.  www.forensicdocexamschool.com has researched the various recommendations to start a career and get accepted by judges nationwide.  The most common answer cited by the court system and appellate judges in the United States is the an individual have completed a minimum 2-year apprenticeship program with a working court qualified document examiner. 

However, the judges also often cite membership into various organizations as a criteria for expert status.  While the courts cannot agree on which organization meets the standards, it is clear that simple membership into any specific forensic document organization is not enough to make one an expert.

The courts and judges have wide discretion when evaluating  ‘document examiner education requirements’ and thus can at the court’s sole discretion allow testimony as an expert witness or prevent testimony after voire dire. 

In some courts, the simple introduction into evidence that an expert was disallowed in a different court and different case is grounds enough for a judge to not allow testimony.  This is exclusion by precedent.

Put a Query: ‘Document Examiner Education Requirements’

Here are the typical requirements  

‘document examiner education requirements’ have been outlined in the document E2388 of the ASTM Guidelines.   The procedures outlined here are grounded in the generally accepted body of knowledge and experience in the field of forensic document examination.  

By following these requirements and procedures, an appropriate trainee can acquire the scientific, technical, and other specialized knowledge, skill, and experience required to reliably perform the work of a forensic document examiner.

 5.1 Training Materials and Equipment:

5.1.1 Access to texts, periodicals, papers, and other professional literature.

5.1.2 Access to equipment appropriate to each area of instruction.

5.2 Requirements for the Trainee Candidate:

5.2.1 An earned baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.

5.2.2 Documented successful completion of a form discrimination test.

5.2.3 Documented successful completion of a color perception test.

5.2.4 Documented successful completion of near and distant visual acuity tests with best corrected vision within six months prior to commencement of training.

6. Procedure

6.1 The training program shall be the equivalent of a minimum of 24 months full-time training under the supervision of a principal trainer.

6.1.1 The training program shall be successfully completed in a period not to exceed four years.

6.1.2  Each area of instruction will have a objectives and  Examinations will be administered in order to measure the trainee’s knowledge.  Written tests and verbal testing is recommended.

NOTE 1 — Although attending meetings and presentations is useful as supplemental training, it does not replace the formal training outlined in Section 7 of this standard.

7.1 A formal written training program will include specific topics of instruction. The order in which they are administered is discretionary; however, the amount of time must be adequate to ensure competency in all topic areas.

The minimum specific topics are:

7.2 Introduction and History of Forensic Document Examination:

7.2.1 Ethical responsibilities.

7.2.2 Literature of the field.

7.2.3 Evolution of the field.

7.2.4 Historical cases.

7.2.5 Scientific method.

7.2.6 Research methodology.

7.3  Evidence Handling Procedures:

7.3.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.3.2 Relationship of forensic document examination to other forensic disciplines.

7.3.3 Collection and preservation.

7.3.4 Marking and documentation.

7.3.5 Chain of custody.

7.4 Examination Procedures:

7.4.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.4.2 Theory of individualization.

7.4.3 Case organization.

7.4.4 Notetaking.

7.4.5 Conclusions and findings.

7.4.6 Report writing.

7.5 Laboratory Instrumentation and Equipment:

7.5.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.5.2 Physics of light pertinent to forensic document examination procedures.

7.5.3 Microscopy.

7.5.4 Measuring systems and devices.

7.5.5 Light sources.

7.5.6 Electrostatic detection devices.

7.5.7 Typewriter examination devices.

7.5.8 Computers and peripherals.

7.5.9 Other relevant laboratory equipment.

7.6 Paper:

7.6.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.6.2 History of paper.

7.6.3 Manufacturing processes.

7.6.4 Physical properties (for example, light-reactive, watermarks, dimensions, security features).

7.6.5 Physical matches (for example, fibers, tears, edge striations).

7.6.6 Tapes and adhesives.

7.6.7 Indentations.

7.7 Writing Instruments and Inks:

7.7.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.7.2 History of writing instruments and inks.

7.7.3 Properties of inks.

7.7.4 Destructive and nondestructive analyses of inks.

7.7.5 Writing instrument characteristics.

7.7.6 Sequence, direction, and pressure of strokes.

7.8 Handwriting (including Cursive or Script Style Writing, Hand Printing, Signatures, Numerals, and Other Written Marks or Signs):

7.8.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.8.2 History and theory.

7.8.3 Physiology of handwriting and motor control.

7.8.4 Handwriting systems.

7.8.5 Handwriting comparison process.

7.8.6 Individualizing characteristics (individual and class).

7.8.7 Features of handwriting (for example, variation, line quality, skill level).

7.8.8 Distorted handwriting.

7.8.9 Factors affecting handwriting (internal and external).

7.8.10 Tracings and simulations.

7.8.11 Other handwriting problems.

7.9 Alterations, Obliterations, and Erasures:

7.9.1 Procedures and Protocols.

7.9.2 Types of alterations

7.9.3 Types of obliterations

7.9.4 Types of erasures 

7.9.5 Detection and decipherment techniques.

7.10 Typewriters:

7.10.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.10.2 History of typewriters.

7.10.3 Fundamentals of typewriter examination (individualization and comparison).

7.10.4 Typestyle classification.

7.10.5 Typing and correction ribbon examinations.

7.10.6 Paper fiber transfer.

7.11 Computer Printers:

7.11.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.11.2 History of computer printers.

7.11.3 Fundamentals of computer printer examinations (individualization and comparison).

7.11.4 Computer printing processes (impact and nonimpact).

7.11.5 Font classification.

7.12   Photocopiers:

7.12.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.12.2 History of photocopiers.

7.12.3 Electrostatic and other imaging processes.

7.12.4 Fundamentals of examination (individualization and comparison).

7.12.5 Alteration and manipulation techniques.

7.14 Printing Processes:

7.14.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.14.2 History of printing.

7.14.3 Typography.

7.14.4 Characteristics of printing processes.

7.14.5 Fundamentals of examination (individualization and comparison).

7.14.6 Security features.

7.15 Mechanical Impressions:

7.15.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.15.2 History of devices (for example, check writers, rubber and polymer stamps, paper binders, staples, embossing devices, seals and stamped impressions, fasteners, hole punchers).

7.15.3 Fundamentals of examination (individualization and comparison).

7.16 Charred and Soaked Documents:

7.16.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.16.2 Care and preservation.

7.16.3 Examination and decipherment.

7.17 Photography and Digital Imaging:

7.17.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.17.2 General photography.

7.17.3 Document photography.

7.17.4 Digital photography.

7.17.5 Digital imaging techniques.

7.17.6 Alteration and manipulation techniques.

7.17.7 Image editing software.

7.19 Expert Witness and Legal Proceedings:

7.19.1 Procedures and protocols.

7.19.2 Terminology.

7.19.3 Relevant law.

7.19.4 Adjudication systems.

7.19.5 Effective communication.

7.19.6 Courtroom demeanor.

7.19.7 Preparation and use of demonstrative exhibits.

7.19.8 Observation of pre-trial conferences and testimony of experts, actual or mock.

7.19.9 Participation as an expert witness in mock trials.

7.19.10 Understanding of critical challenges to the discipline.

7.20 Practical Experience and supervised case studies:

7.20.1 Supervised casework.

7.20.2 Training or observation at other forensic document laboratories is recommended.

7.20.3 Supplemental education (for example, courses, seminars, technical visits, workshops).

 The above criteria is commonly part of any comprehensive 2-4 year training program whether handled by an individual or an institution of higher learning that offers to meet the official ‘document examiner education requirements’.

Further on this

 So, the short answer of what are the ‘document examiner education requirements’ is about 2 years of specific text book based classes covering the above topics.  However, the on-the-jo7b training and apprenticeship program is another important key that any organization and judge looks for.

You will find more resources at forensicdocexamschool.com, relating to education and training among the search terms ‘document examiner education requirements’

Our Faculty member meet or exceed the education requirements outlined above

If you enroll and pass our 2 year curriculum, you can become a certified forensic document examinser.

Many judges don’t actually  know the real answer to what is the ‘document examiner education requirements?’

Thanks to our team of qualified professional trainers and researcher, this page contains the most current criteria for getting trained and qualified as a forensic document examiner.

So when you say ‘document examiner education requirements,’ these are the people behind this website that have helped come up with the commonly published criteria.  

• Court  qualified document examiners
• Forensic handwriting experts
• University professors
• Renowned attorney’s and legal professionals.
• Experts of forensic sciences

Whenever our team hears a student or judge ask about the common criteria of  ‘document examiner education requirements’, we send this to this page online to review.

For more information on getting  you or someone you know trained and certified, please visit this page to learn more about the upcoming semester and gaining admission.  http://internationalschool.us