What is the Accreditation Initiative

The ASCLD Accreditation Initiative (AAI) was established to partner with domestic, publicly funded labs and units that have committed, through an agreement, to pursue accreditation. The AAI is comprised of laboratory directors, quality assurance managers and technical subject matter experts that have been trained and certified as Assessors by an accrediting organization and have served in the role as an Assessor for an accreditation program. The AAI is designed to work in a mentoring and advisory capacity with a laboratory as the laboratory takes critical steps to achieve International accreditation.

Accreditation Roadmap

  • Overview of ASCLD Program

  • Application for Assistance

  • Notice of Acceptance

  • Mentor Assigned

  • Accreditation Program Review

  • Laboratory Training

  • Mentor Visit and Analysis

  • Mentor Prepares Lab for Internal Audit

  • Lab Internal Audit

  • Mentor Preassessment

  • Lab Application Submitted

  • Assessment and Results

  • ACCREDITATION ACHIEVED!

  • ASCLD Surveys Lab

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Check out the Accreditation Toolkit

ASCLD Accreditation Toolkit

The Accreditation Initiative has been funded through the following: The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE), led by RTI International, is supported through a Cooperative Agreement from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (awards 2016-MU-BX-K110 and 2011-DN-BX-K564). The FTCoE supports the implementation of new forensic technology and best practices by end users and is dedicated to elevating the status of forensic science through advancing technology, sharing knowledge, and addressing challenges. The FTCoE bridges the gap between the scientific and the justice communities.