(a) Issuance. The Commission may issue an individual's forensic analyst license for forensic examinations or tests not subject to accreditation under this section.
(b) Voluntary. Licensure under this section is voluntary and is not a prerequisite for practice in any of the forensic disciplines listed in this section.
(c) The following forensic disciplines are eligible for a forensic analyst license under this section:
  (1) forensic anthropology;
  (2) document examination, including document authentication, physical comparison, and product determination;
  (3) latent print examination; and
  (4) digital/multimedia evidence (limited to computer, mobile, vehicle, call detail records (i.e., phone carrier record comparisons to mobile device), and location detail records).
(d) Application. Before being issued a forensic analyst license, an applicant shall complete and submit to the Commission a current forensic analyst license application and provide documentation that he or she has satisfied all applicable requirements set forth under this section.
(e) Minimum Education Requirements.
  (1) Document Examination Analyst. An applicant for a forensic analyst license in document examination must have a high school diploma or equivalent degree or higher (i.e., baccalaureate or advanced degree).
  (2) Forensic Anthropologist. An applicant for a forensic analyst license in forensic anthropology must be certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA), including fulfillment of any minimum education requirements required to comply with and maintain ABFA certification at the time of the candidate's application for a license.
  (3) Latent Print Analyst. An applicant for a forensic analyst license in latent print examination must have:
    (A) A baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited university;
    (B) 3 years of experience in latent print examination with an Associates of Arts or Associates or Science; or
    (C) 4 years of experience in latent print examination and 176 hours of training that includes 16 hours of testimonial training (with only a maximum of 80 conference hours accepted as training hours).
  (4) Digital/Multimedia Evidence Analyst. An applicant for a forensic analyst license in digital/multimedia evidence must have:
    (A) a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited university;
    (B) a non-law enforcement or non-military background without a baccalaureate degree, demonstrating equivalent digital skill set through Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE), Global Information Assurance Certification Certified Forensic Examination (GCFE), or Global Information Assurance Certification Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA) or equivalent non-vendor certification examination(s) with competency test(s); or
    (C) law enforcement or military experience equivalent demonstrated through forensic training through one of the following organizations: SysAdmin, Audit, Network, and Security (SANS), International Association for Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS), National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Video Association International, Inc. (LEVA), U.S. Military, Computer Analysis Response Team (CART) (FBI Training), Seized Computer Evidence Recovery Specialist (SCERS), or U.S. Secret Service.
  (5) Foreign/Non-U.S. degrees. The Commission shall recognize equivalent foreign, non-U.S. baccalaureate or advanced degrees. The Commission reserves the right to charge licensees a reasonable fee for credential evaluation services to assess how a particular foreign degree compares to a similar degree in the United States. The Commission may accept a previously obtained credential evaluation report from an applicant or licensee in fulfillment of the degree comparison assessment.
(f) Specific Coursework Requirements and Certification Requirements.
  (1) General Requirement for Statistics. An applicant for any forensic analyst license under this section must have a three-semester credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an accredited university or a program approved by the Commission.
  (2) Forensic Discipline-Specific Coursework Requirements.
    (A) Document Examination Analyst. An applicant for a forensic analyst license in document examination must have a three-semester credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an accredited university or a program approved by the Commission. No other specific college-level coursework is required.
    (B) Forensic Anthropologist. An applicant for a forensic analyst license in forensic anthropology must be certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA), including fulfillment of any specific coursework requirements required to comply with and maintain ABFA certification at the time of the candidate's application for a license.
    (C) Latent Print Analyst.
      (i) An applicant for a forensic analyst license in latent print examination who qualifies for a latent print analyst license based on the minimum education requirements forth in subsection (d)(3)(A) or (B) of this section must have a minimum of 24 semester-credit hours or equivalent in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) related coursework.
      (ii) All applicants for a forensic analyst license in latent print examination must have a three-semester credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an accredited university or a program approved by the Commission.
      (iii) IAI Certification Requirement for Unaccredited Laboratory. All licensed latent print examination analysts and applicants who are not employed by a laboratory accredited by the Commission are required to be certified by the International Association for Identification (IAI) under the IAI's Latent Print Certification program and are required to provide proof of certification upon request. Licensees are required to notify the Commission of any change in the status of their IAI certification within ten (10) business days of any changes.
    (D) Digital/Multimedia Evidence Analyst. An applicant for a forensic analyst license in digital/multimedia evidence must have a three-semester credit hour (or equivalent) college-level statistics course from an accredited university or a program approved by the Commission.
  (3) Exemptions from Specific Coursework Requirements. Previously Licensed Document Examination Analyst Exemption. An applicant for a voluntary forensic analyst license previously licensed by the Commission when licensure was mandatory for the discipline is exempt from any specific coursework requirements in this subsection.
(g) General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam Requirement.
  (1) Exam Requirement. An applicant for a forensic analyst license under this section must pass the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam administered by the Commission.
    (A) An applicant is required to take and pass the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam one time.
    (B) An applicant may take the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam no more than three times. If an applicant fails the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam three times, the applicant has thirty (30) days from the date the applicant receives notice of the failure to request special dispensation from the Commission as described in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph. Where special dispensation is granted, the applicant has 90 days from the date he or she receives notice the request for exam is granted to successfully complete the exam requirement. However, for good cause shown, the Commission or its Designee at its discretion may waive this limitation.
    (C) Requests for Exam. If an applicant fails the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam three times, the applicant must request in writing special dispensation from the Commission to take the exam more than three times. Applicants may submit a letter of support from their employing agency's director or licensing representative and any other supporting documentation supplemental to the written request.
    (D) If an applicant sits for the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam more than three times, the applicant must pay a $50 exam fee each additional time the applicant sits for the exam beyond the three initial attempts.
  (2) Credit for Pilot Exam. If an individual passes a Pilot General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam, regardless of his or her eligibility status for a voluntary or mandatory Forensic Analyst License at the time the exam is taken, the candidate has fulfilled the General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam Requirement of this subsection.
(h) Proficiency Monitoring Requirement.
Cont'd...