Yes! CFCE applicants must have successfully completed 72 hours of training in the field of computer/digital forensics that is comparable to the IACIS CFCE core competencies (Please review the CFCE Course Competencies). The two-week IACIS Basic Computer Forensics Examiner training satisfies these requirements. For applicants that have not completed the IACIS BCFE, successful completion of comparable training is required and IACIS reserves the right to approve or deny training submissions. Applicants that have not attended the IACIS BCFE training must submit proof of course completion by scanning applicable certificates of completion, diplomas, or other similar records for IACIS review. Applicants not meeting the training requirement will not be allowed to participate in the CFCE Certification Program. In this event any registration fees will be reimbursed to the applicant, minus any applicable background check fees.
No. In July of 2010, the membership of IACIS voted to open the CFCE Certification Program to the general public. Applicants are required to complete the registration process, and some applicants may be required to undergo a background check.
If you have questions about membership, please check our website for more information or send an email to the IACIS Secretary at secretary@iacis.com.
If you attend the IACIS BCFE training event, enrollment for the CFCE Certification Program is made during the BCFE event. In this instance the fee for enrolling in the CFCE is waived for the CFCE Program cycle that immediately follows the training event (does not apply to subsequent cycles). Applicants that do not attend the BCFE training event may sign up through the IACIS website during the specified enrollment periods. Click here for the Application Process Walk Through.
IACIS provides candidates with two methods to enroll in the CFCE Program.
1) Successful completion of the two-week IACIS Basic Computer Forensic Examiner (BCFE) training course entitles CFCE candidates to enter the first available CFCE cycle following the BCFE training event. This is a one-time offer that is included in the tuition price of the IACIS BCFE training course. (If you plan to attend the IACIS Basic Computer Forensic Examiner training course, do not register for the CFCE Certification Program. Registration details will be provided during the BCFE event.)
2) For those that do not wish to or cannot attend the BCFE training event, the CFCE Certification Program is available upon registration and payment of the $750 registration fee. Applicants for the CFCE Certification Program may be required to undergo a background check as a part of the registration process.
The Peer Review phase is open for a period of four (4) months. Candidates must complete all of the practical exercises during that time period. Once the peer review phase has been completed, candidates have up to seven days to enter the CFCE Certification phase. Candidates entering the CFCE Certification phase have a maximum of 44 total days to complete the certification phase, up to 3o days for the Practical and up to 14 days for the Final.
Yes. Complete the registration process and pay the requisite fee.
Yes. A background check is performed on all certification applicants unless one of the following exemptions exist:
- The applicant is a full-time employee of a law enforcement or government organization who has undergone a background investigation by the employing organization, and the employing organization provides a letter confirming the applicant has undergone a background investigation with no disqualifying information discovered that would prevent their employment with the law enforcement or government organization; or
- The applicant has a government clearance or security rating that is verifiable by IACIS. The applicant must provide proof of the clearance or security rating or provide a point of contact within their employing organization for verification purposes. If the applicant cannot provide proof of the clearance or security rating, a background check will be performed.
IACIS does not conduct background checks. PrescribeHire has been contracted by IACIS to perform background screening. Once the applicant completes the IACIS CFCE Program registration, IACIS will set up a background request. The applicant will receive an email and the background check will be performed once the applicant completes the online forms. IACIS will review the background results and determine if the candidate meets the requisite criteria.
NOTE: IACIS will NOT authorize a background check to be performed on the applicant until the requisite fee is paid in full. If any applicant fails the background check, IACIS will reimburse the CFCE Program fee in full minus the background fee. To inquire about the fees, please send an email to treasurer@iacis.com.
No. As long as you enter the next available CFCE program cycle immediately following the training event, the certification fee is waived. If you fail to enter or otherwise fail the certification program and wish to enter the CFCE at a later time, candidates must pay the requisite registration fee.
Yes. Complete the application, meet the training requirements, successfully complete the background check (if applicable) and pay the requisite fee.
Although the traditional form of training is not provided in the CFCE Certification Program, candidates are mentored by IACIS coaches while participating in the Peer Review phase of the CFCE Certification Program. Applicants must have completed the IACIS BCFE course or submit proof of comparable training equating to a minimum of 72 hours (see above). To reiterate, while the Peer Review phase provides candidates with feedback and guidance relevant to the core competencies, coaches do NOT teach, instruct, or deliver formal training.
Yes. Please visit our recertification page for more details.
There are seven (7) competency areas addressed in the CFCE Certification program. Please visit the CFCE Certification Competencies webpage for more details as the list below represents the primary categories.
• Pre-Examination Procedures and Legal Issues
• Computer Fundamentals
• Partitioning Schemes
• Windows File Systems
• Data Recovery
• Windows Artifacts
• Presentation of Findings
The CFCE certification phase is an independent process by which candidates must examine some form of electronic media and answer a series of questions based on the electronic media examined. Candidates must also complete a comprehensive written examination that encompasses all of the CFCE core competencies. Candidates must achieve a score of 80% on the practical and written exercises. Candidates must also submit a notarized document attesting that the work completed was independent and unassisted.
The peer review phase of the CFCE program involves a series of practical exercises that incorporate the CFCE core competencies. Candidates are assigned to a coach that will mentor the candidate while reviewing the candidate’s submissions for each practical exercise (aka: problems). Candidates must pass each aspect of a practical exercise to advance to the next practical exercise. In addition, candidates must pass all of the practical exercises in the order assigned to successfully complete the peer review phase and advance to the certification phase.
The CFCE is a certification program derived from a series of technical computer/digital forensics competencies. IACIS offers the “CFCE Program” to prospective candidates who wish to attain the CFCE certification. The CFCE program is comprised of a peer review phase and certification phase. The peer review phase is a mentored process whereby candidates are presented with a series of practical forensic problems. Candidates are required to successfully address each of the practical problems, apply the appropriate forensic techniques where appropriate, and submit reports or assessment documents after completing each practical exercise. Once the peer review phase has been successfully completed within the specified time constraints, candidates may enter the CFCE certification phase. The CFCE certification phase consists of a practical exercise and comprehensive written final examination designed to test the candidate’s ability to demonstrate and apply sound forensic techniques. Upon successful completion of this phase, the candidate is awarded the coveted Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) Certification.
The CFCE Certification Program begins on March 1st and September 1st of each year. Registration begins a few months in advance of the program’s start date and closes 4 to 6 weeks in advance of the start date. Early registration is highly encouraged as IACIS limits the number of candidate enrollment to ensure adequate IACIS staffing is available.
Two certification cycles are held each year, beginning in March and September. Payment is due before the respective certification program begins. Failure to pay the requisite registration fees prior to the start of the certification cycle you wish to attend may result in your enrollment being denied.
All CFCE candidates are assigned a coach during the peer review phase. All candidates are treated equally and receive the same services. However, during the certification phase candidates are no longer assigned a coach and must work independently.
