Membership in the IAI provides important benefits for forensic investigation professionals:

• The IAI represents its members to the public, and it serves as the focal point for public information concerning the forensic identification profession.
• The IAI provides educational opportunities for its members.
• The IAI promotes accuracy, precision, and specificity in the forensic identification sciences.
• The IAI's membership requirements ensure that only qualified individuals are admitted as members. Consequently, IAI membership substantiates professional competency and is widely recognized by courts and other domains as an indicator of status in the area of forensic science.
• The IAI authorizes the use of the IAI logo for use on professional documents such as letterheads and business cards.
• The IAI grants annual awards that recognize significant contributions to the profession. One such award is the John A. Dondero Award, the most prestigious the IAI bestows on members nominated for their contributions to the forensic sciences. Another is the Good of the Association Award, a tribute to members who are nominated for their contributions, over time, to the IAI's endeavors.
• The Journal of Forensic Identification (JFI), an internationally recognized bimonthly scientific journal provided to all IAI members. The JFI includes articles by international authorities on original investigations, experiments, testing, and reviews in all branches of forensic identification.
• Training and educational seminars offered throughout the year at many sites.
• The IAI's annual International Educational Conference, presented at a different site each year.
• Personal contact with the most up-to-date, talented forensic identification specialists in the world through conferences, workshops, and seminars.
• Information on the latest decisions and other late-breaking items (often too new for scientific review or IAI endorsement), posted regularly to the IAI's web site.
• Employment announcements.
• An annually updated Membership Directory.

As an IAI member, you will also belong to the discipline section of your choice. Through membership in this section, you will have many unique opportunities to discuss prevailing forensic identification matters with your professional colleagues within the discipline. In addition, you will have ample opportunity through the International Educational Conference and numerous educational seminars to participate in processional programs with colleagues outside of your forensic specialty.

In 1988 the IAI established the Robert L. Johnson Foundation to provide research/educational grants and scholarships to help promote the advancement of forensic identification as a profession.

To qualify for "Active Membership" status, an individual must be employed by a local, county, state or federal unit of government subdivision thereof and actively involved in forensic science. Examples that involvement might include law enforcement officers who conduct crime scene investigations, laboratory analysts technicians, medical examiners their staff others whose job involves the sciences.

"Distinguished Membership" is open to current IAI members who meet certain criteria. For more information, please see section 2.09 of the by-laws published in the annual IAI Membership Directory (available only to members). (Download Application for Distinguished Membership)

Individuals not qualified for "Active Membership" may qualify for "Associate Membership." That category includes those employed in some aspect of forensic science outside of government, vendors to the forensic sciences and students, to name a few.

"Associate Members" have all the rights and privileges of an "Active Member" but can not hold presidential or vice-presidential offices.

"Student Membership" is a category of membership available to full-time college students at an accredited college with a major in a law enforcement and/or a forensic science related field. To be considered as an applicant for Student Membership a person must be a full-time student defined as taking 12 or more semester credits or the equivalent in quarter credits. In addition, the applicant must include a letter from their educational institution certifying their student status and credit load as outlined above. (Download Scholarship Application Form)

Following are the forensic disciplines recognized by the IAI. Job positions and titles may vary so they are not listed as examples.

• Bloodstain Pattern Identification
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Firearms/Tool Mark Examination
• Footwear and Tire Track Examination
• Forensic Art
• Forensic Laboratory Analysis
• Forensic Photography and Electronic Digital Imaging
• General Forensic Disciplines
• Latent Prints/Fingerprint Identification/AFIS
• Forensic Podiatry
• Questioned Documents
• Digital Evidence
• Forensic Odontology
• Tenprint Fingerprint
• Forensic Anthropology

To apply for membership, send for a membership application form at the address below, or click here to download a membership form. You will need the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software to download the form.

Download membership application (103k)
This version is a blank membership application form which you can fill out by hand and mail.

For further details of membership requirements and rights and privileges of types of membership, contact:

Joseph Polski
Chief Operations Officer
International Association for Identification
2535 Pilot Knob Road, Suite 117
Mendota Heights, MN 55120-1120
USA
Voice: (651) 681-8566
Fax: (651) 681-8443
Email: iaisecty@theiai.org