Recertification ensures that forensic professionals continue to reinforce their knowledge and skills through continuing education and demonstrates an individual’s ongoing competency and commitment to excellence.
Recertification requirements are the same regardless of which certification level earned. Certificants must complete recertification within 3 years of original certification date or if your certification date is prior to 1/1/2024, three years from 1/1/2024. If you received your certification prior to 1/1/2024, any professional development related to the NFSA content attended after your original certification date can be submitted towards the 60 RCs needed for recertification.
Conferences
Educational Programs
College/University Programs
Webinars
eLearning
This project should take a minimum of 3-6 months to complete on CFMP related content.
Conference Presentations
Research & Publications
Volunteer Activities
Professional membership
The recertification process is about more than just renewing your credential. It is a way to invest in your continued professional development and take your expertise to the next level.
Certification must be renewed within three years from your original certification date. If your certification date is prior to 1/1/2024, the certification must be renewed three years from 1/1/2024, or 1/1/2027.
CFM certifications are maintained through retaking the CFM certification exam or through a continuing education (CE) system. The CE system allows the CFMs to use a combination of training and work experiences related to the CFMP curriculum and that best aligns with each individual’s personnel and professional goals. Completion of this CE results in recertification credits (RC) which may be used toward recertification.
If you received CFM certification prior to 1/1/2024, any professional development completed since the date of certification that aligns with the CE system may be submitted toward the 60 RCs needed for recertification. Recertification requirements are the same regardless of the certification level.
Earn 60 recertification credits plus recertification fee.
Retake the CFM certification exam for your highest certified level.
1 hour = 1 Recertification Credit (RC)
RCs can be earned through training and work experiences related to the CFMP content. You can choose what aligns to your personal and professional goals. Training and work experiences have been categorized. There is a maximum number of RCs permitted in two of the three categories.
The content of the conference must align with the CFMP curriculum and the content categories: Leadership, Communication, Human Resources, and Laboratory Operations. A conference that is specifically focused on leadership would most likely have all the conference hours qualify as RCs. An example of a conference where all of the hours in attendance would be the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) Annual Symposium.
A more general or technical conference like American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS), International Symposium of Human Identification (ISHI), International Association for Identification (IAI), Bode Conference, etc. would likely have select hours of the conference count such as a relevant workshop or presentation. A detailed description of the workshop or presentation must be included in the recertification submission. The workshop of presentation must be related to the CFMP content categories – Leadership, Communication, Human Relations, and Laboratory Operations.
Documentation that shows attendance as well as content must be submitted. Examples include certificates provided to attendees, agendas, and syllabi.
Include a memo or letter that is signed by yourself and your supervisor that provides information about the project, the number of hours spent on it, and how it is related to the CFMP content categories – Leadership, Communication, Human Relations, and Laboratory Operations.
Information about what your presentation is about or where you volunteered and how it is related to the CFMP content categories – Leadership, Communication, Human Relations, and Laboratory Operations. Please also provide a copy of the agenda where it shows your presentation.
The CFMP recertification requirements were published on 1/1/2024. Individuals cannot be expected to know or meet the requirements for time between their original certification date and 1/1/2024. You have until 1/2/2024 to earn the 60 RCs, however, you may apply RCs dating back to the date your certification was granted.
Yes, if you received your certification prior to 1/1/2024, any professional development related to the CFMP content attended after your original certification date can be submitted towards the 60 RCs needed for recertification.
You do not need to complete 60 RCs for each level you have achieved. To maintain your certification, you need to complete 60 RCs within three years of your most recent certification. For example, if you received a CFM-I certification in 2020 and a CFM-II certification in 2023, you have 3 years from the CFM-II certification in 2023 to recertify.
If you do not maintain your certification, you would need to discontinue distinguishing yourself as a CFM-I, CFM-II, for CFM-III. To re-obtain the certification in the future, you must re-take a full course from an Authorized Provider and take the exam.
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