Membership Requirements

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Serve as an Associate Member for a minimum of two (2) years; and
3. Register and attend a minimum of one (1) annual conference of the AAFS as an Associate Member. The conference at which the title Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted; and
4. Demonstrate attendance at one (1) Section Business Meeting; and
5. Submit for review:
   1. Copies of two (2) recent (within 5 years) case reports (as defined above); or
   2. Copies of two (2) first or second authored publications (as defined above); or
   3. Copies of two (2) pieces of evidence documenting teaching or other contributions to applied anthropology with a forensic science emphasis.
6. Demonstrate engagement in AAFS service and participation, to include four (4) of the following:
   1. Mandatory Service/Participation from (minimum of two (2)):
      1. Serve as presenting author of presentation (i.e., oral, poster, virtual) at an AAFS event, including scientific sessions workshops case breaks, Las Word Society, Bring Your Own Slides, AAFS Connect, Young Forensic Scientists Forum, Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center poster session, Student Academy, International Educational Outreach Program, panel discussions, etc. One presentation may be substituted for authorship on a publication submitted to JFS or FSI. 
      2. Publish a peer-reviewed and/or formal publication in JFS or FSI (AAFS Proceedings do not count. 
      3. Serve as a moderator at two (2) annual conferences. 
      4. Serve a minimum of one (1) year on an AAFS committee (Academy-wide or Section level). 
      5. Participate in AAFS forensic science outreach and development programs (e.g., CSI camps, Young Forensic Scientist Forum, International Education Outreach Program, Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission etc,). 
      6. Participate in Academy Standards Board (ASB) development process. 
      7. Serve a minimum of one (1) year as a mentor in the AAFS mentoring program. 
   2. Supplemental Service/Participation Items (maximum of two (2)): 
      1. Publish peer-reviewed and/or formal publication in forensic science or related journal other than JFS (AAFS Proceedings do not count). 
      2. Teach a forensic science-related course (must provide course curriculum, minimum of 10 contact hours), 
      3. Participate in forensic science outreach programs outside of AAFS. 43 Policy and Procedure Manual Section 2. Membership 
      4. Participate in national or international standards development-related activities outside of the ASB (e.g., ASTM, ISO, ADA, NFPA, OSAC, etc.) 
      5. Submission of a recent case report (within five (5) years). References not required 

NOTE: Submission may include any combination of two (2) of the above. Proof of 
activity from a, b, or c must have occurred since being elected to Associate Member.

References not required

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Serve a minimum of two (2) years as an Associate Member; and
3. Register and attend a minimum of one (1) annual conference of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the meeting at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted.

References not required.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and any such additional requirements as may be established for its members; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS and one (1) Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section Business Meeting. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted (special consideration may be given for promotion after attendance at one (1) conference if extenuating circumstances have prevented attendance for two (2) years and all other promotion requirements have been met); and 
3. Meet two (2) of the following requirements prior to the annual conference at which promotion to Member is conferred. 
   NOTE: One (1) of the contributions must be from category a., and the other contribution must be from either b. or d.: 
   1. Participate as an active member or chair of a committee of the Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section of AAFS. One (1) year of committee work equals one (1) contribution. The committee chairs will submit a list of active members at the end of each year to the section chair; or 
   2. Participate in the annual AAFS program by presentation of paper, poster, luncheon presentation, workshop or seminar, or moderating a routine Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section program session; or 
   3. Author a paper on a subject relevant to the section's area of interest that is accepted for publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peerreviewed journal or conference proceedings. This requirement is fulfilled if the applicant's name appears as an author on the paper. Letters to the Editor or Book Reviews will not be considered in fulfilling this requirement; or 
   4. Participate as a site evaluator/Commissioner for Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) or as a faculty member of a Forensic Science Educational Conference (FSEC) on two (2) separate occasions; and 
4. Demonstrate active work in the forensic sciences at the time the promotion application is filed; and 
5. Applicant must provide one (1) letter of reference from a full Member, Fellow, Retired Member, or Retired Fellow of the Digital & Multimedia Sciences Section.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1.  Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirement for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS within five (5) consecutive years. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted; and
3. Meet the following requirements within six (6) consecutive years prior to the annual conference at which the title of Member is being considered (not to include the annual meeting at which the title of Member is being considered): a. Author or co-author a minimum of two (2) scientific papers presented at AAFS Annual Meetings; or b.Publish two (2) articles in the Journal of Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed scientific journal; or c. Participate as an active member or chair on committees of the Engineering & Applied Sciences Section for two (2) or more years; or d. Any combination of two (2) of the above prior to the annual conference at which promotion to Member is conferred.

NOTE: At least one (1) of the contributions must be from category a. or b.

References not required.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion, and any such additional requirements as may be established for its members by a specific forensic science discipline represented in the General Section; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS and two (2) General Section Business Meetings. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted (special consideration may be given for promotion after attendance at one (1) conference if extenuating circumstances have prevented attendance for two (2) years and all other promotion requirements have been met); and
3. Fulfill one of the three conditions in a. (below) AND one of the three conditions in b. (below):
   1.  
      1. Serve for one year as an active member or chair of a standing or ad hoc committee of either the General Section or of the AAFS. The committee chair will submit a list of active members at the end of each year to the section chair that will be retained by the Historical Committee; or
      2. Serve as a moderator of at least one General Section Scientific Session during an annual conference; or
      3. Serve as the General Section Luncheon speaker.
   2.  
      1. Present a scientific or technical paper or poster accepted for presentation in a scientific session, workshop, breakfast seminar, or luncheon seminar; or
      2. Author a forensic-related article accepted for publication in AAFS Journal of 
         Forensic Sciences or other peer-reviewed journal.
         NOTE: Letters to the Editor or Book Reviews will not be considered in fulfilling this requirement; or
      3. Participate as a site evaluator/Commissioner for the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) or as faculty of a Forensic Science Educational Conference (FSEC); and
4. Demonstrate active work in the forensic sciences at the time the promotion application is filed.

References not required.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Have a license in good standing to practice law, or have full-time status as a professor on the law faculty of any university; and
3. Obtain one (1) recommendation from a Member or Fellow of the AAFS, and
4. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted; and
5. Participate in one (1) program of the AAFS at an annual conference by presentation of papers, acting as a panelist of a program, or serving as a moderator, or serving as an active member or chair of a committee of the Jurisprudence Section; and
6. Attend one (1) Jurisprudence Section Business Meeting since becoming an Associate Member and prior to application to be promoted to Member.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted.
    

References not required.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS and Pathology/Biology Section. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted, and
3. Demonstrate active engagement in a field of forensic science including pathology, forensic pathology, forensic medicine, veterinary pathology; or other biological science.
    

References not required.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of one (1) annual conference of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted.

NOTE: Please contact the AAFS office for requirements for applicants outside the U.S.

References not required.

Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the Questioned Documents Section of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted; and
3. Present at least one (1) technical paper or participate in the scientific program of the Questioned Documents Section. Participation may include serving as a moderator or panelist at an AAFS annual conference, publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, or participation on a working committee within the Questioned Documents Section.
    

References not required.

Section Promotion Requirements: Associate Member to Member

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion; and
2. Register and attend a minimum of two (2) annual conferences of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted; and
3. Attend one (1) Toxicology Section Business Meeting. NOTE: if the annual conference requirement (as described in 2) for promotion was fulfilled prior to 2021, the section business meeting requirement will be waived, and
4. Be actively engaged in the field of forensic toxicology at the time of application for advancement, and
5. Serve as an Associate Member for a minimum of two (2) years.

Section Requirements

While serving as an Associate Member, the applicant must:

1. Fulfill the AAFS Basic Requirements for Promotion and any such additional requirements as may be established for its members;
2. Serve a minimum of two (2) years as an Associate Member; and

3. Register and attend a minimum of one (1) annual conference of the AAFS. The conference at which the title of Associate Member was conferred, if attended, may be counted; however, the conference at which the title of Member is being considered shall not be counted. 

   References not required.