Diplomate - General Qualifications

Applicants must be persons of good moral character, high integrity, and good repute and must possess high ethical and professional standing.

Only permanent residents of the United States of America and its territories and possessions, or of Canada and its territories are eligible for Certification.

Education

Applicants must possess an earned Doctorate of Philosophy or Doctor of Science degree in one of the natural sciences, from an institution acceptable to the Board (Acceptable institutions are those accredited by Regional Accrediting Commissions recognized by USOE, those whose pertinent education programs, e.g., in chemistry, were at the time accredited by national accrediting agencies recognized by USOE and other institutions in the discretion of the Board).

Applicants must have adequate undergraduate and graduate education in biology, chemistry, and pharmacology or toxicology. (An example of adequate undergraduate education in chemistry is satisfactory completion of at least 32 semester hours or 48 quarter hours of college level studies in chemistry including accredited courses in inorganic, organic, analytical and physical chemistry).

Professional Experience

Applicants must possess at least three (3) years of full-time professional experience (or the part-time equivalent thereof in forensic toxicology, acceptable to the Board and acquired subsequent to receipt of the doctorate degree, in one or more of the following categories: (1) postdoctoral education/training in toxicology or closely related disciplines, (2) practice, (3) research, (4) teaching, (5) administration.

At least one (1) year of the professional experience must have been acquired during the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of application.

Applicants are required to document a record of appropriate professional activities in forensic toxicology, in keeping with the concept that "Forensic Toxicology is the study and practice of the application of toxicology to the purposes of the law."

Applicants must be engaged in the practice of forensic toxicology at the time of application for Certification.

Examinations Applicants who meet the requirements in Sections 1, 2, and 3 above will be admitted to comprehensive written examinations based upon broad principles of toxicology, and are required to achieve passing grades.

Applicants remain eligible to undergo examination within two (2) years after admission to the examination. Two attempts at the examination are permitted during this two year period.

The Procedures for Application and Certification are given separately.

General Provisions Concerning Certification

The right to deny Certification is reserved.

Certificates of Qualification in Forensic Toxicology are valid for five (5) years, and are renewable, according to standards and under conditions established by the Board, at an appropriate fee.

Persons holding a valid Certificate of Qualification issued by the Board are entitled to use the designation "Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology" and the initials "DABFT" whenever professionally appropriate.

Certificates issued by the Board are not transferable. They remain the property of the Board, but every person to whom a Certificate has been properly issued is entitled to its continued possession unless and until such Certificate is revoked.

Certificates may be suspended or revoked for appropriate cause, under an elaborate system of safeguards for the diplomates concerned.