Membership Requirements

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled, and
2. Applicants for the Anthropology Section will be considered in any area of anthropology (e.g., physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology) or a related field, with a demonstrated sufficient forensic science emphasis.
3. Must have completed a master's or doctorate degree in anthropology or a closely related field, with a demonstrated sufficient forensic science emphasis, and
4. Submit curriculum vitae listing relevant experience in forensic applications of anthropology (courses taken, volunteer work, etc.), and
5. All Trainee Affiliate applicants must provide a letter of reference that verifies their trainee status (volunteer and unpaid intern positions do not qualify). The letter must be from their immediate supervisor confirming active training in a forensic science discipline with additional section-specific information provided about the program requirements and methodologies being applied.
6. Trainee Affiliate status may not be held for more than three (3) years.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Applicants must provide (1) one letter of reference that verifies their trainee status (volunteer and unpaid intern positions do not qualify). The letter must be from their immediate supervisor or research advisor confirming active training in a relevant forensic science discipline.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Applicants must provide one (1) letter of reference from their immediate supervisor indicating that the applicant is working in a program relevant to the section's area of interest.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Have less than four (4) years of experience with a baccalaureate degree, less than three (3) years with a master's degree, or less than two (2) years with a doctoral degree.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Have less than five (5) years of experience with a baccalaureate degree, or less than four (4) years with a master's degree, or less than three (3) years with a doctorate degree; and
3. Applicants must provide one (1) letter of reference from their immediate supervisor indicating that the applicant is working in a program or field relevant to the forensic sciences.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Have less than two (2) years of experience; and
3. Applicant must have been awarded a law degree or otherwise be qualified to take the Bar examination or have a license in good standing to practice law, and be fulfilling the experience requirement for Associate Membership in the Jurisprudence Section.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. One (1) year or less experience in forensic odontology.

Section Requirements

NOTE: Applicants who have or are planning a career in a biological science without a doctorate degree level and/or in the forensic application of serology or human DNA analysis, should apply to the Criminalistics Section.

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Must plan to pursue a career in forensic medicine, veterinary medicine, or biological science.

Section Requirements

NOTE: Please contact the AAFS office for requirements for applicants outside the U.S. (membship@aafs.org)

AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled, and
2. In addition to annual eligibility certification, a Trainee Affiliate may not continue in this status for more than four (4) years before either applying for Associate Member or reapplying for Trainee Affiliate status. Justification for reapplication will be contingent upon acceptance by the section Executive Committee. If an applicant has not begun a Questioned Documents training program, but their employer supports one and the applicant has been accepted to begin one, the employer must provide specifics on when the program will begin and information on the credentials of the principal trainer; and
3. Submit one (1) letter of reference. Reference must be a full Member or Fellow of the Questioned Documents Section of the AAFS and must be able to comment knowledgeably on the applicant's training program. Exceptions to this requirement may be considered for applicants residing outside of the United States and Canada, in which cases, the reference may be from one person other than a Member or Fellow of the Academy. This reference will be evaluated and will be accepted if approved by a majority vote of the members present at an annual business meeting of the section. Since the AAFS Board of Directors approval occurs before the section business meetings, those seeking a waiver of requirements will be delayed approval of the application for one (1) year.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Must provide a letter of reference that verifies their trainee status (volunteer and unpaid intern positions do not qualify). The letter must be from their immediate supervisor confirming active training in a forensic science discipline with additional section-specific information provided about the program requirements and methodologies being applied.

Academy Requirements

Trainee Affiliate status is limited to persons who have completed the educational requirements, but not the experience requirements for Associate Member in the section to which application is being made. Both at the time of application and at the time the application is being considered for approval, applicants for Trainee Affiliate status must be actively working toward completion of the experience requirements by participating in a training program or employment that supports a forensic science career accepted by the section. Each Trainee Affiliate must certify eligibility annually.

Section Requirements

1. AAFS Basic Requirements for Trainee Affiliate must be fulfilled; and
2. Applicants must provide one (1) letter of reference from their immediate supervisor indicating that the applicant is working in a forensic program relevant to the section's area of interest.