IAI Certification Test

[George Reis]

A concern that I have always had about the fingerprint certification test is whether it encourages examiners to guess. Even a couple of comments on this thread indicate that this may be the case. Suppose an individual finds that guessing worked on the certification test, so they begin guessing in their casework? Having not taken this certification (I am certified in forensic photography), my comment may not be valid - but based on comments that I've heard over the years, I have often wondered about this.

Test writing and test taking are interesting things. I always give a test in my workshops. But, what am I testing - the ability of someone to memorize material that may be new to them; my ability to teach; a certain level of profeciency? I've gone from short answer tests to multiple choice back to short answer. I think that in a workshop format, the short answer gives each student the opportunity to show if they understand some key concepts without having to memorize specific terms. Certification is different, however. This is because the certification is not expected to be taken by someone with limited experience or training (or immediately following a workshop), but is for experienced examiners. For that reason, the test cannot be simple. Difficult tests often encourage guessing by those unprepared. Making the comparison portion one in which guessing may be rewarded can be a dangerous thing.

I don't have an answer for this. I'm not sure that I really I'm even giving an opinion so much as just thinking with my keyboard.

George Reis
Imaging Forensics

[Gerald Clough]

One thing that should discourage guessing in the CLPE test is the penalty for a misidentification, both automatic failure and the longer period before retaking. If one attends to the rules of the test, it is clear that guessing is a poor strategy in the comparison phase.

There can be no ideal test. "Trick" latents, those with more or less subtle opportunities to miss something, aren't appropriate in a timed test but are certainly a feature of real work. Other possible alternative forms of testing require more subjective evaluation of the performance, which would result in essentially different tests being administered according to who was evaluating.

My feeling is that the idea is that, while the test is no good measure of how someone will perform in real work, it is a well-defined testing, the nature of which is understood by all and consistent, and therefore we know pretty well what someone accomplished when they cite their certification. And we know it was rather rigorous.

Of course, no certification test in any field really does any more.

[Gerry]

[quote="


Just a couple of comments Gerry, I am past Chair of the Cert Board. Your comments on the quality of the test (I am refering to the quality of the photography and not the latents themselves) concerns me. The quality control of the test is pretty good. If you received a test where the prints were out of focus, or not 1:1, you should have let your proctor know. The proctor would relay that information to the Secretary and a new test would be sent. I know this may cause some delay, but it would certainly be your right. Not to say it can't happen, but I have to say that I have proctored many exams and never once received a comment about poor photography.

The Cert. Board receives comments about the difficulty of the test, the desire to have prints verified, and that some prints are not representative of what is normally seen in their shop. However, the LP Cert. Test is test of excellence and not mere proficiency. The test was never proported to be an approximation of daily case work. I agree that most latent prints we see routinely are not as difficult as the test (thank God), most of us don't work under time pressure when it comes to identifying a print, and we should always verify our results. Unfortunately, when testing, this is not possible.[/quote]


I did notify the proctor and he obviously wasn't aware of that option because I definately would have requested a second test. I found that I used psychology more than my training and experience in the test. If the rolled print was poor quality, I figured I needed to check to fixed impressions.
How long does the board keep the actual tests? I wonder if they'd check the quality of the photographs? It is inexcusable to have poorly focused latents in a test environment.

[ramage]

I know that this is an old thread, but I just read it and totally agree with the comments made by many individuals. I just took the test and am so afraid that I did not pass and I know that I am a decent examiner. The first parts were fine, no problem at all, but the comparisons, come on. Some of those would never had been kept in casework nor even thought about it. I think that about 7 or 8 were more then justified, but the others were insane. I do think that the test makes on feel like they need to keep going and possibly guess. No one here looks at latent comparisons for 7 hours straight in a day. I feel that had I been able to put it down and walk away and look again later, I maybe could have done better. By the end of the test, I almost didn't care anymore, I had a long drive ahead of me and tons to think about. It sickens me to think I may not have done as well as I wanted. I still don't know yet, but gosh, I can can see why people are scared to take the test. They don't want to fail!!

[M Semler]

My biggest concern in taking the IAI Certification test is the large failure rate. Some of the examiners I have spoken to about this seem to be proud of the fact that 50% of those taking the IAI test fail it. To me this indicates a flawed test. From what I have read, most examiners simply run out of time during the comparison section. I agree the test should not be too easy or it is meaningless, but perhaps there is another way. As a suggestion, I think it would make sense to break the test up into two sessions, rather than subjecting applicants to a marathon seven hour endurance test. A strategy I have heard of is to do exactly that by taking the first part of the test and then using the re-test to complete the comparison part. This allows a full seven hours to complete the required comparisons.

[Pat A. Wertheim]

Has the Certification Board given us any statistics on failure rate since the time situation was changed? Just curious, but I don't think I've seen it in a year by year breakdown. I would be very interested to see that information.

As for the failure rate, I believe there are several factors at work there. Let me first say by way of explanation that I found the test easy, but maybe I was lucky in the way I approached it. When I began teaching my class on fingerprint comparison techniques, I found a lot of students had bad comparison habits through lack of proper training. Many of those had had to train themselves how to compare fingerprints. I also observed that a lot of students went into the test without a strategy and were not able to utilize their time efficiently. For a number of years, students from my classes who took the certification test after the class all passed it. That 100% pass rate did not stand up after a while, but when I began talking to those former students who had failed the test, I found there were extenuating factors. For example, one very good examiner who worked on the night shift failed the test after working all night, staying up the morning, and taking the test that afternoon. No big surprise there -- I would dare anybody who works a day shift to stay up and begin the test at midnight. A couple of students failed it because they had a cold or flu and thought by clearing their heads with medication they could do okay. "Don't operate heavy equipment" translates to "Don't operate a magnifier and ridge counters."

The point is that I honestly believe most people who fail the test are good examiners who have counterproductive habits ingrained in the way they work or who go into the test helter skelter without an organized strategy. Of course, there are some I know who are excellent examiners who are simply so slow and methodical that the time limit is the killer. And I have known some who could pass the test if only they didn't know it was a test, but they freeze up at the thought of a "test." I have met a few in the business who will never pass the test because they have no desire to be good. It's just a job and they need a paycheck. And I have met one or two whose vision or image perception was such that they should have never gone into this line of work to start with.

I do not agree with making the test "easy" just to certify a larger group of people. But I do believe that if you study time efficient techniques for maximizing your effectiveness, if you work out a good test taking strategy, and if you take a number of practice tests to familiarize yourself with the procedure, the test will be a lot easier than if you don't do those things. Give me a day or two to work out a longer post and I will come back with comments on work habits, test strategy, and how to put together practice tests.

[ramage]

What is so discouraging is the fact that a lot of the people that fail are good examiners, but there is a huge amount of pressure in the fact that most agencies are now requiring you to take this test. You must pass. I was trained by a VERY good agency for over a year and I feel like my comparison habits are fairly good, so I'm at a loss as to what to do.
If you run out of time does that mean you aren't good at what you do?? I'm concerned with that. I have no problem with taking a test that is more challenging then a run of the mill test, but when you add in latents that barely have 4 characteristics and require it be done in 6 hours flat (Assuming you took 1 hour on the first part and an hour for breaks in between), it makes it almost impossible for some people.

[Andrew Schriever]

I thought that the test was fair, and the photos were good quality. Really the only probelm that I had with the test was the inked print classification portion. I dont really feel that is something that should be tested in a latent print examiner certification test in this day and age.

Having a strategy is key, so is taking the time to analyze the latent prints before you ever pick up the knowns. I spent 45 minutes or so sorting the latents into fingers, palms, and unknown piles. Then I arranged them from difficulty, easiest on top and hardest on bottom. I spent a decent amount of time looking at the latents, finding focus groups, trying to determine finger #, etc.

Then I picked up a latent and examined it again to get it fresh in my mind. I picked up the knowns and flipped through them looking for likely candidates without a magnifier. If I didn't find the print after flipping through the stack of knowns twice, I put it down and moved onto the next latent.

From talking with a couple examiners that had trouble with the test I found one common theme; they all got focused on a print they thought should be easy to find and when they couldn't find it they got frusturated. I can't stress it enough that, if you can't find a print after a couple scans through the knowns, move on to the next latent.

One of the latents, in my test, that I thought should be very easy ended up being one of the hardest ones to find. Again, dont get focused and frusturated on one print.

[Steve Everist]

We've had seven examiners take the test over the last 4 years or so. None of them had a problem with the time, although one examiner who had more ID's than the minimum, made (I think) a clerical mistake. That examiner has since re-taken the test and passed. I think one examiner ran up against the time about 6 or 7 years ago, then finished it on the second try.

I guess that's an "official" failure rate of 20% (8 examiners, 10 attempts, 2 failures (one time, one clerical?) in the past 6-7 years. I don't know of any attempts within the office prior to 1998.

Our most recent examiner to take the test finished it in a few hours, although I know there was one print not called. He had recently had an RSW course, and he was doing it with a focus on preparation for the test. I'm sure that helped not only in practicing the quality of latents, but also a system for managing working on the test.

I think an examiner whose primary job is to work latent prints should not have a problem completing the test in time, however those that may look at a few latents per week will likely struggle.

My biggest beef with the testing is that it's all outcome-based, and there isn't anything to focus on the method to achieve the outcome (documentation of ACE perhaps).

[ramage]

How many years of experience did everyone have when the test was taken?

[Steve Everist]

Pretty much all of us were in the 3-6 years range.

[Kathy Saviers]

Like Andrew, I thought the photgraphs were clear enough, in fact, much better than some of the real-life latent prints I have had to work with. I took my test in 1985, so things have changed a lot.

The test had three sections with a time limit for each one. If there was time left over from one section, it could not be used on another. I only had four hours to take the comparison section of the test. I had a strategy like Andrew's. I sorted the fingers from the palms in both the latent prints and the rolled cards. Then, I started on the easy latent prints. At the end of the first hour, I had six individualizations. At the end of the second hour, I had nine. At the end of the third hour, I had eleven. At three hours and 45 mintues, I found number twelve and used the last 15 minutes to double-check that I didn't make any clerical errors.

I had been in the business for about ten years when I took the test but had many duties: darkroom, property room, processing evidence, classifying print cards, some crime scenes and latent print comparisons. So, I really wasn't ready to take the test in the first three years of employee because I hadn't looked at that many latent prints.

I proctored a test for one person who had looked at a LOT of latent prints during her three years of employment and she finished the comparison section, getting her twelve individualizations in 1 hour, ten minutes. Later, I proctored two tests at one time to one person who looked at latent prints every day and one who looked at latent prints about four or five times a month. Predictably, the first person completed the comparison section in about three hours. The second person only got three individualizations in four hours.

Strategy, experience, training and ability are all parts of taking the test. As Pat wrote, people have to break their time-wasting habits, too. My best suggestions are to talk to other folks who have taken the test to find out their strategies and to practice playing "beat the clock" with latent print exercises. Also, your mind set needs to be different: "These are guaranteed idents, all I have to do is find them. This is not casework where there are no guarantees."

Fear of failure is a great deterrent to taking the test. But, being prepared for the test by practicing ahead of time and finding the best strategy for being efficient will really help to pass the test.

Kathy Saviers

[ramage]

Well, my strategy was as such, please tell me if you would have done something different. I first completed the written portions of the test, that took me about an hour to get 2 portions completed and checked. Then, I opened the comparisons. I separated them fingers, palms, etc, and did the same with the cards. Within the first hour, I completed 5-6 identifications. After that I, I completed another 2-3 in the next hour. Once I had 8-9, I hit a brick wall. By this time, 3-4 hours had gone by. I was left with 6-7 prints that I just kept going back and forth between. After 5 hours, I felt like I was just drained and I needed time away, however, I knew that I couldn't because I had to leave at a certain time etc etc. So, the longer I looked the more disconnected I became. Any suggestions???

[g.]

ramage,

I don't know your background, but FYI, my colleague and I are teaching a course in Fort Collins, CO Apr. 23-27. The course is essentially designed to increase speed and efficiency and we have dozens of practice cert tests to get your eye and brain ready for the cert test retake (if you didn't pass) (and from your previous posts, I was not sure if you know the results yet).

In any event, other posters on this thread have referred to this class. There is one coming up, and there are still at least 10 slots open, but it is filling fast. We are expecting a big contingent from Colorado as well.

Anyway just a suggestion if your agency would be willing to pay for the training, the course has helped many folks. It certainly helped me (I took it from Pat Wertheim back when he was teaching it), which is why it was important to me to continue to offer this class and these training materials.

Good luck and perhaps we will get a chance to meet you! Email me if you are interested in more info...

g.

[Kathy Saviers]

I have heard great things about that class. If you can get the time off, you should go.

My suggestions will be too long to put in one post, so I am going to break them down. I probably won't get them all done today either.

First thing: Plan when you want to take the test. Understand the application process takes a month or two. You send in your application to the IAI and they review it and send a copy to your State Division to review. The State Division has to mail back information. This can take a while. Once your application is approved, you have 90 days in which to take the test. You don't want that 90-day window falling over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. You are far too busy with other things. You may want to time it so that window doesn't fall over your vacation or your college finals or your son's wedding or a time at the office when a lot of people are on vacation so you have to work overtime. You want to take the test when things in your life are calm.

Second thing: Get a good night's sleep before the test. I know - easier said than done. The stress level is high but a bad night before the test won't make it any easier. Eat a good breakfast. Don't make it too heavy that you get sluggish after eating it.

Third thing: You pick the place to take the test. Most of the proctors will/should drive to you. You shouldn't be required to drive 100 miles to take the test in the next hour. Pick your office if your desk, chair and light is familiar and comfortable to you. However, do not pick your office if it is noisy or your co-workers will try to interrupt you or cause you stress. If you are not a 24/7 office, pick a Saturday when no one else is there. Don't be forced to use the conference room if the light isn't good or the chair isn't comfortable. If you are more comfortable at your home desk and have a good light there, make arrangements to take the test at home. You do not have control over the location of the SAT, GMAT or GRE tests. It is stressful because you are in an unfamilar room, in an uncomfortable chair, and in a room full of strangers. Reduce your stress by controlling your environment for the IAI test.

That's all for now. I will get to the actual test part in a bit. In the meantime, I hope other examiners will contribute suggestions.

Kathy Saviers