ASTM E2917-19

Standard Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing Education, and Professional Development Programs

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This practice separately outlines criteria and implementation approaches for the training, continuing education, and professional development of forensic science practitioners. The use of this practice can help establish training programs designed to achieve competency in targeted disciplines. The standard also describes measures to maintain competency through continuing education/professional development.  
3.2 This practice provides a framework for extending learning opportunities to promote and achieve higher standards of professional practice in forensic science.  
3.3 This practice is not intended to be inclusive of all possible options nor to address the challenges of a particular discipline.  
3.3.1 This practice does not address proficiency testing programs or specific requirements of professional certification and licensure bodies, although the foundational requirements addressed may be essential elements for such programs.  
3.3.2 This practice is not intended to supersede requirements from professional certification and licensure bodies.
3.3.2.1 Licensing and certifying bodies in a number of fields typically impose continuing education and professional development requirements on their license or certificate holders. Such requirements are intended to encourage professionals to expand their knowledge base and keep abreast of new developments. Depending on the field, these requirements might be satisfied through internal training; completion of college, university, or extension coursework; or through attendance at conferences and seminars. Individuals in such positions should obtain and document their on-going training and development as required by their licensing or certifying body.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides foundational requirements for the training, continuing education, and professional development of forensic science practitioners to include training criteria toward competency, documentation, and implementation of training, and continuous professional development. This information is intended for forensic science service providers to help establish a training framework with program structure and content; for forensic science practitioners as they acquire and maintain their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs); and for training programs to manage and support the continuous development of their employees.  
1.2 This practice outlines minimum training criteria and provides general information, approaches, and resources for all disciplines. The standard would complement additional specific requirements for each forensic science discipline (for example, relevant degree programs, higher education) if developed by subject matter experts in their respective fields.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Feb-2019
• ICS: 03.100.30 - Management of human resources
• ICS: 07.140 - Forensic science
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM E3255-21 - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science Service Providers Performing Forensic Chemical Analysis
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3295-23 - Standard Guide for Using Micro X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) in Forensic Polymer Examinations
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E1732-22 - Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3296-22 - Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Polymer Examinations
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E1413-19 - Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E2123-20 - Standard Practice for Preservation of Evidence in Sexual Violence Investigation
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E2227-23e1 - Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Dyes in Textile Fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3272-21 - Standard Guide for Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3189-19 - Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Static Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E2228-23a - Standard Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E2225-23 - Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fabrics and Cordage
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3309-21 - Standard Guide for Reporting of Forensic Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDS)
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3316-22 - Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3294-22 - Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray Diffraction
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E3254-23 - Standard Practice for Use of Color in the Visual Examination and Forensic Comparison of Soil Samples
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2019

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2917 − 19
Standard Practice for
Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing
1
Education, and Professional Development Programs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2917; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Some material in this practice is based on theTechnicalWorking Group for Education andTraining
in Forensic Science, National Institute of Justice (TWGED, NIJ), Special Report, Education and
Training in Forensic Science: A Guide for Forensic Science Laboratories, Educational Institutions,
2
and Students (1).
1. Scope mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 This practice provides foundational requirements for the
training, continuing education, and professional development
2. Terminology
of forensic science practitioners to include training criteria
toward competency, documentation, and implementation of
2.1 Definitions:
training, and continuous professional development. This infor-
2.1.1 apprenticeship, n—a relationship where an individual
mation is intended for forensic science service providers to
works for an entity while learning skills (1).
help establish a training framework with program structure and
2.1.2 competency, n—demonstration that a forensic science
content; for forensic science practitioners as they acquire and
practitioner has acquired and demonstrated specialized
maintain their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs); and for
knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) in the standard prac-
training programs to manage and support the continuous
tices necessary to conduct examinations in a discipline or
development of their employees.
category of testing prior to performing independent casework
1.2 This practice outlines minimum training criteria and
(2).
provides general information, approaches, and resources for all
2.1.3 continuing education, n—the mechanism through
disciplines. The standard would complement additional spe-
which a forensic science practitioner increases or updates
cific requirements for each forensic science discipline (for
knowledge, skills, or abilities (KSAs), reinforces knowledge,
example, relevant degree programs, higher education) if devel-
or learns of the latest research, developments, or technology
oped by subject matter experts in their respective fields.
related to his or her profession.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
2.1.4 forensic science practitioner, n—an individual who (1)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
applies scientific or technical practices to the recognition,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
collection, analysis, or interpretation of evidence for criminal
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
and civil law or regulatory issues; and (2) issues test results,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
provides reports, or provides interpretations, conclusions, or
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
opinions through testimony with respect to such evidence (3).
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
2.1.5 forensic science service provider, n—a forensic sci-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ence agency or forensic science practitioner providing forensic
science services (3).
2.1.6 internship, n—an in-depth educational or training
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
program that offers a period of supervised practical experience
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin-
in a forensic science setting (2).
ary Forensic Science Standards.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2019. Published February 2019. DOI:
2.1.7 knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), n—the level of
10.1520/E2917-19.
2
information, qualifications, and experience needed to perform
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
this standard. assigned tasks.
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E2917 − 19
2.1.7.1 Discussion—Knowledge refers to acquired under- 4.1.2 A certificate or statement of successful completion of
standing of the principles and practices related to a particular the initial training, with documentation that all required KSAs
job, skills refer to acquire
...