IAI SP5 study guide
IAI SP5 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The IAI SP5 designation refers to a set of discipline-specific certification programs offered by the International Association for Identification (IAI). The IAI describes itself as "the oldest and largest forensic association in the world," and its certification program lists eight separate boards: Bloodstain Pattern, Crime Scene, Footwear, Forensic Art, Forensic Photography & Imaging, Forensic Video, Latent Print, and Tenprint Fingerprint. The IAI SP5 study guide has 8 sections and about 2,408 words.
01Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
This domain tests classification of stains by the event that produced them, the documentation that supports the classification, and the geometry used to place an impact in three dimensions. Expect questions that describe a pattern in words and ask for mechanism, directionality, or a calculated angle.
363 words, about 2 min02Crime Scene Investigation
This domain tests the sequence of scene work - secure, survey, document, collect, package, transfer - and the reasoning behind each step. Questions often present a decision point: what to do first, what to photograph before moving, or how to package a wet item.
311 words, about 2 min03Footwear Impression Evidence
This domain tests recognition, recovery, and comparison of footwear impressions - both two-dimensional residue prints and three-dimensional impressions. Questions target the recovery sequence, casting technique, and the limits of comparison language.
305 words, about 2 min04Forensic Art
Forensic Art covers composite imagery, image alteration for identification, facial reconstruction, and courtroom exhibits. The exam tests process discipline: the artist records what a witness or an image actually provides and avoids introducing features.
284 words, about 1 min05Forensic Photography and Imaging
This domain tests technical capture and image integrity: exposure control, lighting for specific evidence, scale discipline, and preservation of the original file. Expect questions about the correct light angle for a surface, or about what may and may not be done to an original image.
309 words, about 2 min06Forensic Video Analysis
This domain tests recovery and interpretation of video evidence: preserving the native file, understanding compression and frame structure, and making measurements that survive cross-examination. Recover the original recording in its native format, along with the player and codec if proprietary.
277 words, about 1 min07Latent Print Examination
This domain tests the friction-ridge examination process and the chemistry used to make latent prints visible. Questions target ACE-V, suitability decisions, and reagent choice by surface type.
289 words, about 1 min08Tenprint Fingerprint Operations
This domain tests the capture, classification, and quality control of tenprint records - the rolled and plain impressions taken at booking or enrollment - and the pattern system behind them. Each finger is rolled nail-to-nail, then plain impressions are taken simultaneously.
270 words, about 1 min