The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) is delighted to formally announce the introduction of a Certificate of Professional Competency scheme for CSIs.
CSFS aims to work with Police Forces aross the country on the implementation of a three year programme to assess and manage competence and professional development of its CSIs. As part of this initiative three years' membership is funded: a great way to show investment in employees and allow everyone to benefit from the implementation of ISO 17020.
The structure of the competence assessment can be viewed here: Accreditation and Competence. The process is the same for everyone, the practical assessment is tailored to assess your competence to carry out your role. The aim is to demonstrate the skills you have and identify areas where the Force, as a whole, should be supporting your development. The process will take 3 years with a full reassessment in year 4. By that time everyone should be in a position to work towards attaining Chartered Forensic Practitioner status.
The diagram below is an overview of the 3 year programme.
PDP = Personal Develpment Plan.
Initially all participants are enrolled as Affiliate members, with the aim that by the end of the first three years everyone will have been accepted as a Professional member. The full list of benefits for all levels of CSFS membership is available on the membership area of the website. Those who are already Professional members will maintain the enhanced benefits and get the benefit of their membership being funded for the 3 years.
Professional members of CSFS are eligible to use the post nominal MCSFS and benefit from greater access to peer reviewed journals, all of which can assist with self learning and professional development. Post nominals are recognised in court as a mark of rofessionalism. Please visit membership area of our website to see the full list of benefits.
The subject specific and general papers consist of 25 multiple choice questions and last 30 minutes. Both are sat online using a system called Classmarker. Approximately one month before the practical assessment a link will be sent via email to activate and the programme will guide the taker through. The questions are chosen at random from a bank of questions, they will be asked in a random order and the answers will also be listed differently each time the test is activated. Therefore no two tests will look exactly the same. Below is a test link to trial the style of the question to get a feel for what these assessments will look like.
Click on the links and give them a go - the trial can be done as many times as you wish and the system automatcally gives feedback.
Take our online test (general MCQs)
Take our online test (CSI Subject Specific MCQs)
The Society is dedicated to maintaining its level of Professionalism by using only experienced assessors that have worked extensively in other Forces. Professional members of the Society are welcome to apply to be an assessor at any time.
If you have any questions about the Competency assessment please contact cpc@csofs.org