Apply for membership

The members and officers of the ASQDE encourage eligible forensic document examiners, specialists and trainees to consider membership in the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners.

Membership is also open now to university students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program.

Qualified applicants from the United States and Canada initially join as Provisional or Associate Members. FDE trainees may apply as Affiliate Members.

Practicing document examiners or specialists who reside in a country other than the United States or Canada must apply for Corresponding Membership. 

All professional level ASQDE member candidates must possess a baccalaureate and/or post-graduate degree from a recognized institute of higher learning, in addition to the qualifications described for each level of membership. 

Only Regular Members and Life Members are entitled to vote and hold office in the ASQDE.

Questions about membership? Contact the ASQDE Membership Chair.​

Bylaws of the ASQDE

All Society members are required to adhere to the provisions of the Bylaws, including the Code of Ethics (Article IX). 

Please review the Bylaws before applying.

Why Join the ASQDE?

The purpose of the ASQDE is to foster education, sponsor scientific research, exchange experiences and provide instruction in the field of forensic document examination. It attempts to promote justice in matters that involve disputed documents.

Here are some of the benefits of ASQDE membership:

• Enhancement of professional status and credibility as an FDE and expert witness.
• Discounted meeting registration fee, Haas database DVD, and other ASQDE-exclusive items.
• Access to conference proceedings from prior years. Invited guests to annual conferences will only have access to proceedings for the year they attend. 
• Use of the referral page on the ASQDE website to promote your practice and visibility to potential clients as a qualified ASQDE member.

Annual Dues

Annual dues for the coming year are due by January 1. 

Dues are charged according to the New World Bank's country classifications by income level, so there are three tiers of dues, based on the ASQDE member's country of residence:

Tier 1: $200 per year USD
Tier 2: $150 per year USD
Tier 3: $50 per year USD

View the list of countries with the Tier designation and annual dues amount.

University Student members, regardless of country of origin, will pay $25 per year in dues. 

Applicants for membership will pay a $50 nonrefundable application fee ($10 for university students) that is fully applicable to the first year's dues once the member has been voted in at the annual general meeting held each summer. The first year's dues will also include an additional pro-rated amount to cover the final quarter of the year the member has been accepted. 

Membership Categories

UNIVERSITY STUDENT

University students pursuing a baccalaureate degree OR a graduate degree in a field of study acceptable to the Membership & Credentials Committee are welcome to join the ASQDE to learn more about the field, attend the annual conference, and network with practicing forensic document examiners. 

​To apply, candidates must be currently enrolled in and provide proof of enrollment prior to acceptance as a member and annually thereafter to maintain membership. A $10 application fee is required, and is applicable to the annual $25 dues, once membership is approved.

University Student Membership may be maintained for one full calendar year following the year of graduation.

AFFILIATE

Affiliate Membership is the professional entry-level class, leading toward Provisional or Regular membership in the Society. 

​To apply, candidates must meet the educational requirement and:

• be presently in, or have completed, a two-year training or apprenticeship program under the supervision of a recognized Practicing Document Examiner or Associate; and/or
• be presently in the process of gaining two years post-training or post-apprenticeship experience as a Practicing Document Examiner or Associate.

After two years of post-training apprenticeship is complete, the Affiliate Member will apply for Provisional Member status.

PROVISIONAL

Provisional candidates must meet the qualifications of the Affiliate Member, and:

• Have training or qualifications that have been reviewed and received the unanimous endorsement of the Membership and Credentials Committee.
• Must have submitted or presented at least one technical paper, acceptable to the ASQDE Membership and Credentials Committee at an Annual General Meeting of the Society within the previous three years. This technical paper must reflect original work conducted by the applicant and must be in a format suitable for publication in the Journal of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners.

The Society recognizes the current version of the SWGDOC Training Standard as containing the basic requirements for its Provisional and Corresponding Members when considering their membership application.

Provisional members undergo testing before they can be promoted to Regular Membership.  Provisional Members who have successfully undergone written and practical testing by the ABFDE, may be eligible for a waiver of the written and practical tests administered by the ASQDE. Applicants for Regular Membership who are granted a waiver must complete an acceptable research project.​

REGULAR

To be considered for Regular membership, a practicing document examiner who has been a Provisional Member for at least two years must successfully pass written, practical and oral examinations conducted by the Evaluation and Examinations Committee. 

Applicants for Regular Membership who  have successfully undergone written and practical testing by the ABFDE may be eligible for a waiver of the written and practical tests administered by the ASQDE. If so, they must complete an acceptable research project.

Current Provisional Members must apply for Regular Member status by completing the online form available in the Member Log In tab.  

CORRESPONDING

Corresponding Membership is offered only to practicing document examiners or specialists who reside in a country other than the United States or Canada. 

Applicants for Corresponding Membership must meet the educational requirement as well as all the qualifications for Provisional Membership. 

In addition, applicants must  have attended at least one ASQDE AGM within three years prior to being voted on by the Membership for approval of their request to become a Corresponding Member.

ASSOCIATE

Associate Members are non-FDE specialists, actively engaged in the forensic examination of documents (as described in the ASQDE bylaws) except that the examiner does not make examinations of documents for the determination of authorship. 

Associate Member candidates must meet all the same requirements as for Provisional Membership. 

LIFE OR LIFE CORRESPONDING

​A person who has been a Regular Member for at least 20 years and is over 65 years
of age, or a person who has been a Regular Member for at least 30 years may be elected a Life Member by Special Resolution.

A person who has been a Corresponding Member for at least 20 years and is over 65 years of age, or a person who has been a Corresponding Member for at least 30 years may be elected a Life Corresponding Member by Special Resolution.

Qualifying members must apply by May 31 by completing the online form found in the Member Log In tab.

HONORARY

Honorary members of the ASQDE are those individuals who have made unique contributions to the ASQDE or the field of forensic document examination. Such members are nominated and voted on by ASQDE members at the Annual General Meeting. 

How to apply

​Applications must be submitted online through the ASQDE Membership Application form.

You cannot save the application in progress, so check the guidelines below for what to have ready before you apply.

A $50 non-refundable application fee is due when the application is submitted. The fee is applicable to the first year's ASQDE dues.

EDUCATION

All classes of membership (except undergraduates applying for a University Student membership) require proof of a four-year college/university degree.

You must upload an image of your diploma and provide the details in the application. After you submit your application, you must have an official transcript mailed to the ASQDE.

​University Students will be asked to provide proof of current enrollment, both at the time of application and at the time the membership is approved at the annual general meeting.

TRAINING

Provide the beginning and completion dates of your training, and the name and contact information of your primary trainer. If you are still in training, you will apply for Affiliate Membership.

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

List your current job title and duties.

TESTIMONY

List where you testified as a document examiner, including any were you were opposed by another FDE.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

If you previously attended an ASQDE conference and/or submitted a paper or poster, provide the year and details. If you submitted a paper that was published in the Journal of the ASQDE, please provide details.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND CERTIFICATIONS

List any and all professional organizations with which you are affiliated. If you are certified by the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners, upload a scan of your certification certificate.  

SPONSORS / REFERENCES

Provide the names and contact information of at least two sponsors. We prefer that at least one be a current Regular or Life ASQDE member. 

Email for Membership questions