ECT Programme | United Kingdom Association of Fire Investigators

Evidence Collection Technician

The Evidence CollectionTechnician Program is designed to verify an applicant's fundamental knowledge as measured against core job performance requirements of established professional qualifications standards and standard industry practices related to evidence collection on fire scenes. This measurement is not all inclusive of the incorporated professional standards sited but lays the foundation for measuring the holder’s fundamental ability to perform specific evidence collection tasks related to fire scene investigation at an acceptable level as measured against published acceptable practices.

The applicant must provide documentation of meeting minimum requirements including experience, training, and education. Upon approval they must successfully pass a comprehensive examination

REQUIREMENTS

EXPERIENCE:
A minimum of 18 months of general experience in a fire investigation related industry.

A minimum of seven fire scene examinations in which forensic evidence was collected. The applicant is responsible for submitting general supporting documents that include the location of the examination, the date of the examination, and the particular type(s) of evidence collected.

TRAINING EDUCATION: Minimum of 29 hrs of tested training.

Mandatory classes from CFITrainer.Net:
Ethics Module (3 hours)
Scientific Method Module (3 hours)
NFPA 1033 and Your Career (2 Hours)*
The Practical Application of the Relationship Between NFPA 1033 and NFPA 921 (2 hrs)*
Documenting the Event Module (4 hours)
Introduction to Evidence Module (4 hours)
Physical Evidence at the Fire Scene (4 hours)
Evidence Examination: What happens at the Lab (4 hours)
DNA (3 hours)

* Replaces CFITrainer.Net - Fire and Explosion Investigations: Utilizing NFPA 1033 and 921 (4 hours)

COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION:

Applicants must pass all critical elements and achieve a minimum score of 70% on each of the 10 components of the practical testing to be deemed to have successfully challenged the exam.

Practical examinations are scheduled periodically throughout the year and will be listed under IAAI Training.

All the information can be found on the IAAI website LINK

IAAI-ECT Designation RENEWAL:

All holders of this professional designation will be required to renew their application every three years based on the date of initial approval or renewal. Applicants applying for renewal of this professional designation must provide documentation of continued meeting of minimum program requirements, including an additional 18 months of general work experience during the preceding three years; specific work experience to include a minimum of 12 fire scene examinations where evidence was collected during the preceding three years, and 24 hours of tested training and education accumulated during the preceding three years, as established by the IAAI Training and Education Committee and approved by the IAAI Board of Directors.

A separate Fire Investigation Technician designation (IAAI-FIT) is available through IAAI for those who have not met the points and/or testimony requirement of the IAAI-CFI program.

A separate Certified Fire Investigator program (IAAI-CFI) is available through IAAI for those who are active as expert witnesses and have greater work experience.