Board of Forensic Document Examiners
HISTORY of REVISIONS
* The BFDE initially allowed applicants to substitute twelve years of professional experience for the degree requirement. This allowed application by competent and qualified examiners who began practicing many years ago when a degree was not necessary in the profession. This window of latitude ended in 2008.
* In the December of 2010 the review of the Policies Manual, the prerequisites for initial training were clarified. The reference to ASTM Standard E444 was deleted and replaced with a more descriptive narration of the requirements. A statement was also added that an applicant's training should comply with any national standard applicable to training in forensic document examination.
* In the 2021 review of the Policies Manual the requirement for Proficiency Testing twice within a recertification cycle was eliminated due to a lack of quality testing available in the field.
* In 2021 the requirement for 60 continuing education credits within a five year recertification cycle was temporarily reduced to 40 credits (still meeting FSAB requirements) due to the diminution of the usual sources of credits because of the COVID pandemic.
* In a 2021 update to the Constitution and Bylaws the number of directors on the Board was changed from 3 to 2, and the limit of two consecutive terms for officers was removed.
* In 2021, as part of the update to Policies and Procedures to maintain compliance with new FSAB Standards, the details of the BFDE Conflict Resolution Policy were grouped as an attachment to the Bylaws.
* In 2022 it was decided that the reduction in continuing education credits to 40 during the COVID crisis would be extended until December 31, 2024. It was also decided that when the extension expired, the number of credits required for recertification would be set at 50. As of January 1, 2025 all applying for certification will be required to document 50 hours of continuing education for their 5 year recertification period.
* In the December of 2010 the review of the Policies Manual, the prerequisites for initial training were clarified. The reference to ASTM Standard E444 was deleted and replaced with a more descriptive narration of the requirements. A statement was also added that an applicant's training should comply with any national standard applicable to training in forensic document examination.
* In the 2021 review of the Policies Manual the requirement for Proficiency Testing twice within a recertification cycle was eliminated due to a lack of quality testing available in the field.
* In 2021 the requirement for 60 continuing education credits within a five year recertification cycle was temporarily reduced to 40 credits (still meeting FSAB requirements) due to the diminution of the usual sources of credits because of the COVID pandemic.
* In a 2021 update to the Constitution and Bylaws the number of directors on the Board was changed from 3 to 2, and the limit of two consecutive terms for officers was removed.
* In 2021, as part of the update to Policies and Procedures to maintain compliance with new FSAB Standards, the details of the BFDE Conflict Resolution Policy were grouped as an attachment to the Bylaws.
* In 2022 it was decided that the reduction in continuing education credits to 40 during the COVID crisis would be extended until December 31, 2024. It was also decided that when the extension expired, the number of credits required for recertification would be set at 50. As of January 1, 2025 all applying for certification will be required to document 50 hours of continuing education for their 5 year recertification period.