Our technical proposal aims to pragmatically establish a Regulation of the Professional Practice of Forensic Specialists (RPPFS) by defining the general requirements for its recognition, which must include appropriate experience/training/pedagogical processes for each of the five certification levels. A designated academic/scientific entity in each country must award and validate the levels mentioned below, and may delegate certification in specific forensic areas to other entities. For all due purposes, the five levels of a forensic specialist are as follows:
- Level 1 Forensic Specialist – the qualified professional in scientific areas of Forensic Sciences certified by experience or continuous post-graduate education in an accredited institution, in accordance with point I. The candidate must demonstrate a curriculum in forensic areas (e.g., Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Dental Medicine, Forensic Genetics, Forensic Anthropology). Each specific area will produce their own guidelines regarding minimum hours of education and/or the minimum period of forensic professional routine expertise. It should be noted that even within a particular forensic area, sublevels of expertise and hierarchy may require specific education, as recently suggested.
- Level 2 Forensic Specialist – the qualified professional with a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Sciences or specific speciality forensic areas, in accordance with point II.
- Level 3 Forensic Specialist – the qualified professional with a master’s degree in Forensic Sciences or in specific forensic speciality areas, in accordance with point III and the general recommendations for a Level 2 Forensic Specialist (broad scope bachelor’s admitted).
- Level 4 Forensic Specialist – the qualified professional with a PhD degree in Forensic Sciences or in specific forensic speciality areas, in accordance with point IV and the general recommendations for a Level 2 Forensic Specialist (broad scope bachelor’s admitted).
- Level 5 Forensic Specialist – the qualified professional with habilitation in Forensic Sciences, in accordance with point V and the general recommendations for a Level 4 Forensic Specialist.
Each level can be paired with specific areas within Forensic Sciences, as will be defined in future regulations (e.g., Level 1 Forensic Specialist in Ballistics and Level 2 Forensic Specialist in Forensic Genetics). Each area will produce specific guidelines complementing the general requirements. Applying for certification in each speciality will demand the general base requirements specified above.
