The Many Cases for Quality Certifications

By John Lechliter
Editor in Chief

In 1982, author and futurist John Naisbitt predicted in his best-selling book, Megatrends, that the world was being transformed from an industrial to an information society. He also accurately forecast the shift toward economic globalism and the growth of diversity in the United States.

Even Naisbitt may be surprised by the scope and speed with which the Internet and Information Age have revolutionized our society. For many of us, the professions we worked in just 5 years ago bear little resemblance to what we are doing today, and what we will be doing in 5 years is hard for us to even imagine.

This climate of constant change is revolutionizing the meaning and methods of higher education. A college degree is rapidly becoming only the starting point of a lifetime of education. For most professionals in the Information Age, to stop learning is to start falling behind.

For this reason, certifications have been growing in importance as a way to keep up with developments and technology that college professors could not have been expected to anticipate. A certification testifies to a professional’s experience and training, and good certifications require professionals to constantly learn about changes in their field.

Through certification, someone who studied computer punch cards in college can acquire today’s cutting-edge software skills, which may themselves be antiquated in just a few years. Certification is higher education that doesn’t  become outdated.

The fields of forensic science and evidence technology exist on the cusp of innovation, so forensic and law enforcement professionals are finding that certification keeps them abreast of change and demonstrates that they are committed to continuing their education.

The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute (ACFEI) is a leader in the forensic science certification field, offering certifications to such professionals as forensic consultants, medical investigators, forensic nurses, and forensic accountants.

Associations such as the ACFEI produce certifications based on the guidance of thousands of professionals who work in the fields, understand the unique needs of the professions, and provide direction into the competencies that are needed and the instruction that is required.

A certification often develops out of a marketplace need. ACFEI’s newest certification, Sensitive Security Information, Certified was the result of a conversation that Dr. Robert O’Block, ACFEI founder and CEO, had with member Dickson Diamond, who was concerned about the lack of training opportunities for government and private employees who work with sensitive information, ranging from civil and criminal evidence, to corporate databases, to trade secrets, and more.

Members of the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security (ABCHS) joined ACFEI experts to determine the competencies needed for a certification, and then to create a course and examination. The result was the most comprehensive course on the handling of sensitive information yet produced.

Because there are more certifications than ever to choose from, it’s important to be careful in selecting the certifications you seek. Many certification programs surpass university-level classes in scope, and especially in providing current information. But some companies that offer certifications do not maintain high standards necessary to safeguard the value of the certification. In other words, if anyone can become certified with little or no effort, then the value of that certification is low.

What to look for
Keep these factors in mind when considering whether to apply for a certification:

  • Is the certification relevant to your career path? Will certification make your work more valuable?
  • Does the company offering the certification have strict requirements on experience and education? Does it offer training courses and examinations that must be passed?
  • Does the certification require continuing education on an annual basis for recertification?
  • Have experts in the field participated in the development of the certification program?
  • Does the certification require membership in a professional association? Association membership connects you to many other quality professionals in your field, and it can open doors in your career.
  • Is the certification organization accredited or approved of by other organizations? For example, ACFEI is an approved continuing education provider by the following organizations:
  • Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
  • National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
  • California Board of Registered Nursing (CBRN)
  • American Psychological Association (APA)
  • California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CBBS)
  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
  • American Dental Association (ADA)
  • In final stages of application for American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval.

ACFEI certifications
The ACFEI, www.acfei.com, is a great place to find more information about several forensic science and justice-related certification programs.

The forensic nursing profession is growing rapidly, and its members are gaining the respect they deserve as trained professionals and expert witnesses. The Certified Forensic Nurse (CFN) program is the industry standard for comprehensive forensic nursing certification.

Forensic consultants are playing increasingly important roles in both civil and criminal trials. The Certified Forensic Consultant (CFC) program sets standards for education and experience, and it provides training on being an effective and ethical expert witness.

Medical investigators often play a crucial role in investigations. The Certified Medical Investigator (CMI) program offers five levels of certification for medical investigators, and it has high professional standards.

Forensic accounting is one of the fastest-growing fields in the accounting profession. The Certified Forensic Accountant (Cr.FA) program offers extensive real-world training and a rigorous examination.