American College of Forensic Examiners

Anyone have information on this organization? http://www.acfei.com/index.php

They offer pretty inexpensive online courses in all kinds of forensic areas. They even have some certifications that can be obtained as well. I am very curious as to how legit all these courses and certs are and how any of them might be applicable to getting college credit as well.

 

I found this thread on this org if anyone is interested. I must have typed in the name wrong the first time. Sorry for the duplicate post. Still an interesting site for sure. I do agree with michael gates though. If there are equivalent FREE courses then why take ones that you have to pay for even if they are inexpensive.

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?t=28207&highlight=acfei

 

The ACFEI has the same legitimacy as any other professional association. Whether membership in this organization or a certification earned through this organization carries any weight can only be determined by talking with members. It looks like an interesting organization anyway.

 

Just a FYI, but the Navy has developed a partnership with this agency and assist sailors with achieving CHS certification.

 

Here is an article on their certifications from the Summer 2008 issue of "The Forensic Examiner" which is ACFEI's magazine.

My wife has a master's degree in forensic science and doesn't know too much about it other than we have a handful of issues of the magazine sitting around the house. The two certification agencies she heard a lot about from her professors were the International Association for Identification and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences

I do know that the magazine makes for an interesting read.

 

I am interested in the Certificate on Homeland Security but I just have to question the weight that this carries. In other words if a potential employer sees this on a resume would it make a difference? Especially when applying for a job that is security related. Hmmm....

 

This organization was recently discussed on another forum:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/forensic-science/message/12289


A sister organization of ACFEI
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/16/eveningnews/consumer/main593790.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories


Here are some articles as reference regarding the history of the organization, its predecessor org (ACFE), and it's founder:

MacDonald, Elizabeth, "The Making of an Expert Witness: It's in the
Credentials," Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition, 02/08/99, v. 233, no.
26, p. B1

Hansen, Mark, "See the Cat? See the Credentials? Psychologist's Scam Gets
His Pet 'Board-Certified'," in American Bar Association Journal E-Report,
October 25, 2002. (Re: American Psychotherapy Association, an affiliate of
the ACFE)

Golding, Stephen L., "The Voir Dire of Forensic Experts: Issues of
Qualification and Training - Sheepskins for Sale: Shortcut to Slaughter?",
presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston,
8/22/99. (Re: American Psychological Specialties Association, another
subsidiary of the ACFE).

Hansen, Mark, "Expertise to Go," American Bar Association Journal, No. 86,
pp. 44-52, February 2000. Abstract: "In a hurry? Then order your forensic
expert witness credentials--if you have the bucks--from entrepreneur Robert
O'Block. But are they legitimate? Earning credentials as a forensic expert
witness can be relatively easy, if you apply to the American College of
Forensic Examiners. Critics charge the group is basically a certification
mill offering "checkbook" credentials. The organization is the brainchild
of entrepreneur Robert O'Block, who makes a six-figure income as its head."

Henderson, Carol, "Admissibility and Use of Expert Evidence in the
Courtroom," American Bar Association Scientific Evidence Review Monograph
No. 6, 2003, pp. 7-8