IACIS Certified Forensic Computer Examiner Program
The International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists is pleased to offer the Certified Forensic Computer Examiner Program, which is open to active law enforcement personnel and others who qualify for membership in IACIS®.
IACIS provides candidates with two avenues to enroll in the CFCE Program.
1) Successfully complete the IACIS Basic Training (two-week training), which provides CFCE candidates with an opportunity to enter the next available cycle following the training event. This is a one-time offer that is included in the price of tuition for the IACIS Basic Training only. (Do not register for the CFCE program if you attend the IACIS Basic Training. Registration details will be provided at a later time.) Candidates who attend the IACIS Basic Training event will be provided with additional instructions during the training event.
2) CFCE candidates who opt to bypass the IACIS Basic Training event, or attended a previous IACIS Basic Training event, may enter the CFCE Program by completing an application and paying the required fee (listed below). This option was previously known as the “External CFCE” program. Candidates must register for this option and pay the required $750 (U.S. Dollars) fee.
CFCE candidates who do not attend the IACIS Basic CFCE Training should be aware that the CFCE program is an intense program comprised of a peer review process and concludes with an independent certification. CFCE candidates are encouraged to have formal training and experience prior to attempting the CFCE certification program, although the certification is attainable without training for candidates who have fundamental knowledge and experience in the field of computer/digital forensics.
Overview of the CFCE Program
The “CFCE Program” is a two-part process, which is classified as CFCE Peer Review and CFCE Certification. The CFCE Peer Review Subcommittee, led by the Director of Standards, assign candidates to a “coach” who mentors the candidate through a series of four (4) practical exercises (also known as problems) that are based on the CFCE competencies. Candidates are required to successfully complete the entire peer review process in order to qualify for the CFCE Certification phase. Candidates who fail the peer review process, or otherwise fail to meet deadlines and other requirements, will not qualify to enter the CFCE Certification phase.
The CFCE Certification phase of the CFCE Program requires successful completion of the peer review phase, and the candidate must be enrolled and started on the certification phase within three (3) months following the conclusion of peer review phase. The CFCE Certification phase is an independent exercise that is not led by a coach or monitor. The candidate is expected to demonstrate knowledge and skills through the practical and written examination instruments. Candidates will be provided with a forensic image of a hard drive (and potentially other media) and a written final examination that comprise the CFCE competencies. The final examination is comprised of one-hundred (100) questions dealing with a variety of fundamental computer forensic/digital evidence issues. Once again, the CFCE Certification phase is an independent exercise.
Candidates will submit a report or worksheet based on the instructions that accompany the practical exercise. In addition, candidates will complete the written final examination. The report or worksheet and final examination will be submitted to the CFCE Certification Subcommittee. An assessor will evaluate the practical exercise and written final examination, which require a score of 80% or higher on each. Failure to achieve the requisite score will result in failure, and the CFCE certification will not be awarded.
CFCE Program Important Information
The first Peer Review cycle will open on June 1, 2010 and close on October 1, 2010 (four months). The peer review program will entail a series of deadlines for the practical exercises (details to be announced at a later time). Upon successful completion of the CFCE Peer Review phase, candidates may enter the CFCE Certification phase and must begin three (3) months of the end of the peer review phase. Failure to begin by January 1, 2011 will constitute immediate dismissal from the program, and requisite fees will not be reimbursed. Upon notification by the CFCE Certification Subcommittee, candidates will have ninety (90) days to complete the practical exercise and written final examination. Candidates will be required to complete a notarized form declaring that they performed the practical exercise and written examination unaided by anyone. The form must be completed and returned to the CFCE Certification Chairman (or designee) prior to issuance of the CFCE certification.
Candidates who fail either the practical exercise or written exercise will not be re-examined immediately. Candidates must wait a minimum of (60) days, but no more than one hundred eighty (180) days, prior to attempting the CFCE Certification practical and written exercises again. IACIS will allow each candidate to be re-examined one time without charge (practical and/or written examination). The requisite fee for subsequent re-examinations will be required and posted to the IACIS website at a later time based on the fee schedule approved by the Board of Directors.
Candidates enrolled in an active certification program (peer review and/or certification) are prohibited from discussing any matters related to that certification program with anyone other than their assigned coach, assessor, regional manager, division administrator, chairman, Director of Certification, or Director of Standards. Violation of this clause may result in the candidate’s immediate dismissal from the certification program.
Cheating, plagiarism, egregious policy violations, or unethical conduct will result in immediate dismissal from the certification program and will be referred to the Ethics Committee for possible revocation of IACIS endorsed certifications.
Upon successful completion of the CFCE program in its entirety, IACIS will provide candidates with a framed certificate that will be sent to the newly certified certificant at the expense of IACIS. The certificant’s name (first and last) will be published to the IACIS website (forthcoming in 2010).
Fees
For candidates who attend the IACIS Basic Training event in 2010, the CFCE peer review and certification cycle fees are waived for the CFCE cycle that follows. Failure to enroll and/or complete the required objectives will result in dismissal from the CFCE program. If the candidate wishes to enter the next available CFCE program cycle in 2010 or beyond, applicable fees will apply ($750 U.S. Dollars).
For candidates who do NOT attend the 2010 IACIS Basic Training event, the fee for the CFCE Program is $750.00 (U.S. Dollars). Applicants must complete the online application. The application will be reviewed and approved by the IACIS Secretary. The required fee must be paid in full prior to the start of the CFCE Program. Candidates who fail to meet this requirement will not be permitted to start. Failure to pay the required fee is not grounds for an extension request. All deadlines will be enforced.
CFCE Recertification Requirement
Following the issuance of the CFCE Certification, certificants are required to complete the recertification process in the third year following the initial certification or last successful recertification, and all of the materials must be submitted by December 31st in the third year. A certificant’s CFCE status will be classified as “current” during the first three years of initial certification and following the successful completion of the recertification process. A certificant’s CFCE will be in remediation status in the fourth year following the initial certification or last successful recertification if the certificant failed to meet the recertification requirements in the third year as described above. The CFCE may be revoked if recertification requirements are not met.