Before you dive in — start by watcing the Forensics Unfiltered podcast episode below! You’ll hear directly from forensic anthropologist and accreditation expert Meredith Tise, Ph.D., as she shares insights and guidance from the field. Once you’ve watched, dive into this blog post where we unpack the biggest takeaways and give you the tools to actually do something with them.
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Why Pursue Forensic Accreditation in the First Place?
There are many reasons labs move toward accreditation, but Meredith laid out some of the most compelling:
✅ Community & Stakeholder Expectations
- Many agencies are feeling pressure from local leadership, prosecutors, or the community to pursue accreditation.
- Accreditation can help rebuild public trust, particularly in agencies working to modernize or respond to scrutiny.
✅ Internal Motivation to Improve
- Accreditation helps standardize workflows, implement consistent quality assurance, and create a culture of accountability.
✅ Competitive Advantage
- Being accredited helps labs stand out during grant applications, hiring, and partnerships.
Why the Forensic Accreditation Process Is Worth the Work
The forensic accreditation process is more than a certificate or a fancy plaque on the wall.
It’s about safeguarding your unit, your team members, and your agency.
What Accreditation Really Does:
- Establishes consistent, defensible practices
- Highlights areas of risk before they become liabilities
- Builds confidence for prosecutors, juries, and the public
- Protects forensic specialists by documenting their decisions and methods
“It forces you to ask: where are we vulnerable?” Meredith shared.
Accreditation is a built-in quality assurance in forensic science. When done right, it supports your team, strengthens your credibility, and helps create a high-trust, high-performing unit.
What Are the First Steps Toward Accreditation?
We get it — searching “forensic accreditation process” online is like opening Pandora’s box. There’s so much information that it’s hard to know where to begin.
Meredith recommends starting here:
1. Determine Which Standards Apply
There are several options (ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17025, etc.), and choosing the right one depends on the type of forensic services your lab provides.
2. Choose an Accrediting Body
In the U.S., this typically means selecting ANAB or A2LA. Understanding the strengths, specialties, and requirements of each is crucial.
3. Assign a Quality Assurance Lead
This person becomes the central hub of your accreditation effort. Meredith’s journey began in this very role, with no prior experience — and she’s now a forensic quality assurance pro.
Grab This Free Resource to Get You Started!
Download: A Quick Guide to Forensic Accreditation
If you’re still wrapping your head around the process, our free guide, A Quick Guide to Forensic Accreditation, breaks it all down simply:
- How to choose the right standard and accrediting body
- The top 5 documents you should prepare
- 15+ resources to organize your lab documentation
- Quality control considerations you shouldn’t overlook
👉 Download the free guide here and kickstart your accreditation roadmap today.
What Does a Quality Assurance Program Actually Look Like?
Many forensic supervisors step into this role with little training in quality assurance (QA). That’s normal — but it also means there’s a steep learning curve.
Meredith shared what her QA program includes:
Key Components of a Forensic QA Program
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for every unit
- Training Records and competency testing
- Audits and corrective/preventive action documentation
- Personnel records with qualifications, job descriptions, and continuing education
- Management reviews and customer feedback tracking
Each component plays a role in showing assessors that your lab is structured, compliant, and committed to continuous improvement.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
The forensic accreditation process is rarely smooth. But knowing what to expect — and how others have navigated similar problems — can make all the difference.
⚠️ Challenge: No Existing Infrastructure
Smaller or non-traditional forensic units (like crime scene or latent print teams) may not have existing documentation or SOPs.
Solution: Start small. Focus on high-priority procedures and build from there. Look to other accredited agencies as templates.
⚠️ Challenge: Resistance to Change
Some staff may be hesitant to adopt new systems or may fear the “burden” of compliance.
Solution: Bring staff into the process. Let them help create SOPs and identify improvements. Focus on the why behind the changes.
⚠️ Challenge: Lack of Dedicated Resources
Often, one person wears multiple hats — supervisor, technician, QA coordinator.
Solution: Prioritize time. Dedicate 1–2 hours per week just for accreditation tasks. Over time, this creates real progress.
When Forensic Documentation Goes Wrong
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: documentation.
It’s the Achilles heel of many forensic units. Not because people are lazy, but because it often feels overwhelming and inconsistent.
Common Issues:
- Case notes are too vague or nonexistent
- Important observations aren’t recorded in real-time
- Reports don’t clearly outline what was processed and how
- Older staff weren’t trained or forced to adapt to current standards
“We found scene notes that literally just said: ‘Went to the scene.’”
In the forensic accreditation process, that doesn’t fly. Your notes must show your thought process, methods, and findings — whether or not there was a positive result.
Actionable Fix:
Use the OSAC documentation standard as your baseline. Train your team to:
- Record all observations at the scene
- Clearly state what was collected
- Detail the methods used (with specificity)
- Log all outcomes, even if no evidence was found
Consistency is key.
The Power of Peer-Led Change: Meredith’s “Notebook Committee”
One of the smartest strategies Meredith implemented? Creating a Notebook Committee.
What It Is:
- A working group of shift reps
- Made up of non-supervisors doing the work every day
- Tasked with refining and standardizing documentation
Why It Worked:
- Bypassed top-down resistance
- Encouraged ownership from staff
- Gave real-time feedback on changes
- Built team-wide accountability
“It gave the team a say in how changes were made. That’s huge for buy-in.”
You don’t have to roll out changes alone. Start by inviting your team into the process.
The Human Side of Resistance
Change is hard. Especially for professionals with 15, 20, even 30 years of experience. They aren’t trying to be difficult. They just weren’t trained with this level of documentation.
Meredith gets that. And you should too.
How to Ease the Pushback:
- Acknowledge the discomfort. Say it out loud. It builds trust.
- Show the value. Emphasize how documentation protects them personally.
- Involve them early. Ask their opinions on changes.
- Give support, not ultimatums.
Sometimes it’s not about the change itself. It’s about how it’s introduced.
Accreditation = A Risk Assessment Strategy
Think of the forensic accreditation process as one giant risk audit.
Every policy you write, every procedure you document, every note you take — it all creates a safety net for your team.
Key Areas of Risk Accreditation Addresses:
- Proficiency testing and blind verification
- Testimony monitoring and courtroom prep
- Scene documentation consistency
- Chain of custody clarity
- Equipment maintenance and calibration
“The process makes you stop and ask: what are we missing?”
And that’s the point. It’s not about perfection. It’s about awareness, then action.
Forensic Supervisor Pro Tip: Culture Matters
You can’t spreadsheet your way to accreditation.
The forensic supervisor plays a critical role in setting the tone, encouraging growth, and building a culture where accountability isn’t punishment — it’s pride.
Your Leadership Focus:
- Empower staff to participate in process changes
- Model transparency and consistent documentation yourself
- Encourage cross-shift communication and peer review
- Celebrate small wins during big transitions
Need support in this area? That’s where our Forensic Supervisor Success Summit comes in. We deep-dive into helping you create a drama-free, unified forensic team with less conflict and more productive conversations.
With the All-Access Pass, you’ll gain immediate access to Meredith’s presentation, “Writing Emails with More Finesse,” along with 27 other expert-led sessions covering forensic supervision, leadership strategies, and unit efficiency. Don’t miss out—secure your access today!
Bonus: Who Is Meredith Tise?
Dr. Meredith Tise is a forensic anthropologist, accreditation assessor, and CEO behind Suncoast Forensics. She brings unmatched real-world experience to the field, having helped multiple agencies navigate the forensic accreditation process with empathy and effectiveness.
She’s also:
- A returning speaker at our Forensic Supervisor Success Summit
- Instructor of our eCourse: Preparing for the Forensic Accreditation Process
- Host of regional and national anthropology trainings through Suncoast Forensics
You can connect with her via email at meredith@suncoastforensics.com or follow her on social at @suncoastforensics.
Ready to Go Further? Get the Full Roadmap
If you’re serious about getting accredited but don’t know where to begin — or you’re worried about doing it all wrong — we’ve got you covered.
eCourse: Preparing for the Forensic Accreditation Process
This self-paced course walks you through every single step:
- Selecting the right accrediting body and standard
- Gathering all required supplies and documents
- Identifying gaps in your program
- Building an actionable plan to pass your first assessment
Created by Dr. Meredith Tise, who’s now a Forensic Quality Assurance Coordinator and ANAB Technical Assessor, this course is packed with insights that can save you months of research and frustration.
🗂️ Learn more and enroll here: Preparing for the Forensic Accreditation Process
“We’ve been working on accreditation for a while now… I’m glad I took this webinar. I’ll be back.” — Brian O., Forensic Lab Manager
Tips for Forensic Supervisors Leading Accreditation
Whether you’re brand-new or deep in the trenches, here are a few tried-and-true best practices:
1. Document Everything
If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen — and assessors will want proof for every policy, training session, and action taken.
2. Lean on Your Team
You don’t have to do it all alone. Assign staff members specific documents or responsibilities to lighten your load.
3. Plan Backward
Start with your target accreditation date, then build a monthly timeline with mini-deadlines for SOPs, audits, reviews, and training.
4. Ask for Help
Reach out to other accredited agencies. Join QA forums, LinkedIn groups, or our private community.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
There’s no denying it — pursuing accreditation is tough. But the payoff in professionalism, quality assurance, and agency reputation is worth it.
Whether you’re taking your first step or preparing for your final assessment, know this: you’re not alone.
With free tools like our Quick Guide to Forensic Accreditation and in-depth support from Meredith’s eCourse, your lab can confidently move forward — without spinning your wheels.
