Initial Evaluation – Level I

INITIAL EVALUATION- APPLICATION FOR LEVEL I

This level of certification is aimed at independent medico-legal practitioners in the field of forensic anthropology. For this level of accreditation, the following documents are required:

  1. Proof of a Masters degree in biological or forensic anthropology or related field AND proof of an MD or PhD degree in biological or forensic anthropology or a related field
  2. Short CV AND a full narrative on the training related to forensic anthropology
  3. Proof of continuing education in forensic anthropology, for example workshops or relevant research
  4. Two case reports (translated in English; the cases can be de-identified prior to sending)
  5. List of cases (minimum of 20 forensic anthropology cases as an expert)
  6. Evidence of at least 5 years of experience in case work

The complete documentation (1-6) should be e-mailed to this address by explicitly putting in the subject of the email FASE certification application. Please note that failure to provide the required documents in the correct format may result in delays or rejection of the application.

If approved, the candidate will be invited for a practical and theoretical examination.

Criteria for Case Reports (point 4)
Please note that the reports should ideally be based on real cases. However, recognizing that forensic anthropologists work in different contexts where full forensic casework may not always be possible or where legal limitations on case sharing exist, we now allow the submission of mock cases reports. The report should reflect forensic anthropological methods and reasoning.


1. Real Cases (Preferred)

  • Candidates should submit reports based on actual forensic anthropology cases they have worked on.
  • At least one of the two reports must involve the analysis of a complete or partially complete skeleton.
  • Cases involving only human/non-human bone identification will not be accepted as part of the submission.


2. Mock Cases (Accepted When Necessary)

  • Candidates who primarily handle fragmentary remains, species differentiation, or other limited forensic anthropology tasks and do not have real case reports demonstrating their full expertise may submit mock cases instead.
  • These cases should be designed to replicate real forensic casework, applying standard forensic anthropology methodologies and reporting structures. The skeletons chosen may be of archaeological or anatomical collection origin (available to the applicant), but the analysis should be conducted as if it were a real forensic case, following standards for recent remains. The background scenario (e.g., a skeleton found in the woods by mushroom pickers with no presumed identity) can be freely determined by the candidate.

The reports should demonstrate a comprehensive application of forensic anthropology methods and principles (related to biological profile reconstruction, reporting of identification features, trauma assessment, and forensic reporting).

Clarification on Evidence of Experience Submission (point 6)
This evidence/report should clearly state the period of experience, specifying the start and end dates, as well as the name of the institution(s) or organization(s) where the experience was obtained. In addition, a description of the tasks performed, roles held, and relevant responsibilities should be provided.
It is preferred that the documentation be presented in the form of an official letter, preferably co-signed by the head of the department or another responsible authority within the institution.

Honoris causa certification

The Honoris Causa application process has been officially removed for 2025, with no further submissions/nominations being accepted for the upcoming years.

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