- Forensics & Investigative
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Specialized Training
- Overview
- ALERRT Level 1
- Applied Verbal De-escalation Tactics
- Applied Verbal De-escalation Tactics: Train-the-Trainer
- Basic School Resource Officer
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- Effective Policing: Autism Response
- Effective Policing: Foundations of Trust
- Field Training Officer
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- About
National Forensic Academy
About the Academy
The National Forensic Academy (NFA) is the premier training for law enforcement, criminal investigators and crime scene investigators. The academy is Tennessee POST-certified and is nationally renowned for excellence in training and technical assistance.
Participants can expect an intensive 10-week training program designed to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies in evidence identification, collection and preservation. The goal is to prepare crime scene investigators to improve the process of evidence recovery and submission.
Participants receive expert instruction and work in state-of-the-art training facilities. Our Outdoor Forensic Training Center is an educational facility developed with the guidance of Dr. Bill Bass, who originated the nationally recognized Body Farm. The center mirrors the Body Farm, allowing participants to experience human decomposition, skeletal remains recovery, cadaver searches and entomology related to human remains.
- Autopsy
- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
- Bombs, Booby Traps and Threats at the Scene
- Bone Trauma
- Bone Scatter Search
- Burned Bone
- Child Fatality
- Computer Sketching and Mapping, and Total Station
- Courtroom Testimony
- Crime Scene Management
- Criminal Investigative Analysis
- Death Investigation
- DNA
- Firearms and Toolmark Identification
- Footwear and Tire Impressions
- Forensic Anthropology
- Forensic Entomology
- Forensic Fire Investigation
- Forensic Odontology
- Forensic Osteology
- Human Remains Recovery
- Latent Fingerprint Processing
- Manners of Death
- Photography (Digital and Videotaping)
- Post-blast Investigation
- Postmortem Fingerprinting
- Serial Number Restoration
- Shooting Incident Reconstruction
- Time Since Death
- Trace Evidence
- Wound Pattern Interpretation
The NFA is recognized by the International Association for Identification (IAI) as providing the necessary training required for crime scene certification. In addition, LEIC offers Crime Scene Certification as an alternative to IAI certification.
Admission to the NFA is highly competitive, and there is a waitlist of applicants for future sessions.
Requirements for admission:
- Candidates must be employed by a law enforcement agency.
- A recommendation letter from a chief, sheriff or agency head.
- Participants must remain in residence in Knoxville for the full 10 weeks. Generally, participants are free to go home on weekends.
Each participant is expected to be:
- An investigator or crime scene technician employed by a law enforcement department.
- Computer literate.
- Able to participate in group activities.
- Prepared to work outdoors in the elements and with human cadavers.
If you are interested in a particular session, please contact Tim Schade at (865) 946-3236 or Jason Jones at (865) 946-3235 to confirm availability for the session.
>> Complete an Online Application
Participants must complete and submit an NFA application. Once the selection committee has screened applicants, you will be informed if you have been selected. Accepted participants will receive an acceptance packet via email.
Participants are encouraged to apply 60 days in advance of the session start date.
Classes are normally held at the following schedule:
- January–March
- April–June
- September–November
- Commuter rate: $8,500 (does not include housing)
- Non-commuter rate: $12,000 (includes housing)
- Municipal and county law enforcement agencies in Tennessee’s distressed, at-risk or rural counties can request to have registration fees funded through LEIC’s DARRT Initiative.
Rates are per person. Prices include course fees, curriculum, housing (excluding commuters), equipment and uniform shirts. During the 10-week program, students are housed in fully furnished luxury apartments, with full kitchens, washer and dryers, cable TV, internet and other amenities, 10-15 minutes away from our location.
Transportation to our location and meals are not covered in the cost. We highly recommend participants have a vehicle for off-site training exercises during the 10-week academy.
All rates are subject to change without notice until you receive confirmation of enrollment.
International Participants
The above rates apply to those employed in the U.S. only. For international participant rates, contact tim.schade@tennessee.edu or jason.jones@tennessee.edu.
Everyone who successfully completes the NFA will receive:
- NFA Diploma
- Shooting Scene Incident Reconstruction Certificate
- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Certificate
- Membership in the International Association for Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA): BPA instructors will sponsor successful participants for membership in the IAPBA.
- UT LEIC/NFA Crime Scene Certification
- Certified Crime Scene Investigator
- Certified Senior Crime Scene Investigator
International Association for Identification (IAI) Certification: The NFA is recognized by the IAI as providing the necessary training required for their crime scene certifications.
- Certified Crime Scene Investigator
- Certified Crime Scene Analyst
- Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst
Certification exams are proctored during the 10-week NFA schedule, and all study materials are available in the NFA library.
Individuals who wish to take these certification exams must meet all the experience requirements for the respective certification levels and pay a $300 (IAI members) or ($400 non-members) non-refundable application fee to the IAI.
For more information about IAI crime scene certifications, please visit their website.
For more information, contact our office at (865) 946-3201 or leic@tennessee.edu.
