AFTE Store - Summary Report on the Development of Certification Examinations for Practicing Firearm and Toolmark Examiners

The goal of this project was to develop certification examinations for practicing Firearm and Toolmark Examiners. Certification examinations have been developed for three subject areas within the field of Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Identification. The three subject areas covered by these examinations are: 1) Firearm Evidence Examination and Identification, 2) Toolmark Evidence Examination and Identification, and 3) Gunshot Residue Evidence Examination and Identification. The certification examination for each subject area consists of a written examination and practical examination. An applicant must pass both examinations to be certified in that subject area. The written examination must be passed before the applicant is allowed to take the practical examination in each subject area. Written examinations are offered at the cost of fifty dollars ($50.00) per subject area and a practical examination will be offered to eligible applicants at a cost of two hundred dollars ($200.00) per subject area. Two separate but equivalent versions of each certification examination have been prepared in each subject area in order to give some longevity to the program. These certification examinations are available to members of the Association of Firearm and Toolmark examiners (AFTE) at the Annual Training Seminars and their local workplaces.