Texas Forensic Science Commission Forensic Analyst and Technician Licensing Program
As of January 1, 2019, Texas law requires all forensic analysts to be licensed. The term "forensic analyst" refers to any person who, on behalf of an accredited laboratory, technically reviews or performs a forensic analysis or draws conclusions from or interprets a forensic analysis for a court or crime laboratory. A forensic analyst or technician license is required in the following disciplines:
- Forensic biology;
- Toxicology;
- Seized drugs;
- Materials/trace;
- Firearms/toolmarks.
The Commission’s administrative rules governing forensic licensure are published in Tex. Admin. Code Chapter 651, Subchapter C. Specific requirements (by forensic discipline) are published in § 651.207 of the Texas Administrative Code.
NOTE REGARDING LICENSEE DISCIPLINES/CATEGORIES OF LICENSURE: Please note that a forensic analyst or technician’s licensed discipline or category of licensure is designated based on the analyst or technician’s Proficiency Monitoring Certification Form in accordance with the specific forensic discipline in which the Forensic Analyst or Forensic Technician actively performs forensic casework or is currently authorized or is currently participating in a training program to become authorized to perform supervised or independent forensic casework. Proficiency Monitoring Certification Forms are accessible from the individual licensee’s profile in the licensee database. Stakeholders should be aware that the designated forensic analyst and technician licensed discipline or category of licensure may not necessarily correspond with the scope of activities the analyst is signed off to perform at the time of forensic analysis/testimony in the case, because the analyst may still be participating in a training program to be authorized to perform certain aspects to reach that level of the discipline or license category. An analyst is responsible for ensuring their testimony stays within the limits of what they are signed off to perform.
In addition to mandatory licensure for analysts practicing in accredited disciplines, the Commission offers voluntary licensing programs for forensic anthropologists and forensic document analysts. Voluntary programs in digital evidence and friction ridge will be added in 2023.
ACCURACY OF DATABASE BIOGRAPHICAL AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION: The employing laboratory information provided in the database is based on information either confirmed in a licensee’s application or provided by the licensee as an update to their employment status. Analysts are required to provide the Commission with an update when the analyst's employment status and/or employing laboratory changes. The same is true for changes in other biographical information, such as surname, etc.
CRIMINAL MATTERS ONLY: The Commission’s jurisdiction is limited to criminal matters and does not extend to civil or administrative proceedings. For questions regarding the information provided or for general questions regarding licensee status, please email licensing@fsc.texas.gov.
FEDERAL FORENSIC ANALYSTS: An analyst or technician who performs forensic analysis on behalf of a publicly funded laboratory or law enforcement entity operating under the authority of the United States Government is deemed licensed to perform forensic analysis in Texas and therefore not listed in this database. See Texas Administrative Code § 651.203(d).