IAI SP4 case studies

The IAI SP4 is one of the specialty certification exams offered by the International Association for Identification, aimed at practitioners who work crime scenes and want independent, third-party recognition of their competence beyond an entry-level certification. Candidates typically come from law enforcement agencies, medical examiner and coroner offices, and forensic laboratories, and often already hold a basic crime scene certification before pursuing SP4. The exam samples the full arc of scene work: initial response and documentation, forensic photography and imaging, latent print and impression evidence, collection, packaging and chain of custody, biological and trace evidence handling, fingerprint classification and comparison methodology, and the legal, ethical and quality assurance standards that govern admissibility and laboratory practice. Expect scenario-driven multiple-choice items that test judgment rather than memorized definitions - how you sequence a scene, choose a lighting or packaging method, or respond when documentation is incomplete. The IAI SP4 case studies are 5 cases and about 2,787 words.