Handwriting Analysis & Forensic Document Examination Education Guide

Many people grow up wanting to fight crime. But while not all of us can become superheroes or even police officers, there are many ways people can assist in identifying, prosecuting, and convicting criminals in the field of forensic science. Because a signature is legally binding and easily forged, forensic document examiners examine writing samples to determine fraudulence or innocence.

By evaluating letter and word spacing, spelling, and grammar patterns in handwritten samples, forensic document examiners or FDEs can provide critical evidence and testimony to prove innocence or support prosecution in fraudulent crimes.

When a company or a government agency needs to prove who signed a document, a handwriting analyst or forensic document examiner is called in to confirm the validity of a signature. According to handwriting expert Teresa DeBerry, author of the “Handwriting Forensics Blog,” professionals in handwriting forensics use tools such as basic measuring instruments, microscopes, and magnification tools to confirm that a person’s handwriting is, in fact, their own.

If you are interested in detailed and meticulous work and prefer examining handwriting over blood spatters, forensic document examination may be the right field for you. These highly-trained specialists use scientific methods to determine the origin and integrity of all types of documentation. Read on to learn more about how forensic document examiners use handwriting analysis to solve crimes.

Handwriting Analysis & Forensic Document Examination Overview

Handwriting analysis and forensic document examination is the process of using scientific methods to determine the origins of documentation, both written and electronically produced. The term “handwriting analysis” is not to be confused with “graphology,” which is the process of determining a person’s psychological state or personality through the use of his or her handwriting.

Handwriting analysis and forensic document examination may also be known as “questioned document examination” (QDE), simply “document examination,” “handwriting examination,” or “diplomatics.” It is important to note that there is overlap between forensic document examiners and handwriting analysts, though some experts choose to specialize in either one discipline or the other. In most cases, QDE involves comparing an unknown writing sample with a sample from a known writer and determining whether the two samples belong to the same person.

Forensic document examiners work closely with the criminal justice system, often employed by government agencies or independent consultants. A forensic document examiner must be trained to appear as an expert witness in court and present his or her expert opinion in other venues such as depositions and reports.

• Questioned Documents, by Albert S. Osborn: This book, first published in 1910, was written by Albert S. Osborn, considered the father of handwriting analysis. Its text is available in full here.
• Forensic Document Examiner Lab Tour: Board Certified Forensic Document Examiner Emily J. Will gives a tour of the different tools that help someone examine, compare, and form their expert opinions in her career.
• Scientific Working Group for Forensic Document Examination: SWGDOC “develops standards and guidelines for forensic document examination.” Both private examiners and government employees are part of the workgroup.
• Southeastern Association of Forensic Document Examiners: What We Do: An overview of forensic document examination from the SAFDE, one of the preeminent associations of FDE’s in the U.S.
• A Simplified Guide to Forensic Document Examination: A short guide from the National Forensic Science Technology Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance covers the essential aspects of forensic document examination.

Handwriting Analysts & Forensic Document Examiners Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks career information for forensic science technicians. The title can include many types of forensic scientists, including forensic document examiners. From 2019 to 2029, the career is expected to grow at the rate of 14 percent, which is somewhat slower than the average for all occupations in the country (BLS 2021).

An increased interest in forensic sciences due to the influence of popular media means that competition for jobs in the forensic sciences will be stiff in the coming years. Advancing technology will also mean that even those forensic science technicians employed will need to be diligent with staying on top of new trends and training to remain competitive in the field.

To learn more about the current occupational outlook, here are some resources for handwriting analysts:

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Forensic Science Technicians: The Bureau of Labor Statistics collects regular information about the outlook for a career as a forensic science technician, including salary, job growth, and general duties.
• American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE): Forensic document examiners, also referred to as Questioned Document Examiners, may find it helpful to be a part of professional organizations such as this one to find career opportunities. The ASQDE site also contains information on career and professional resources.
• Southwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners: The Southwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners’ membership is not limited to those living and working in the southwest, but rather to all forensic document examiners in the U.S. However, a current member must sponsor new members.
• Individuality of Handwriting: This survey was critical in expanding the idea of the individuality of handwriting (as the title suggests), which was undoubtedly a significant step forward in the career outlook for new handwriting analysts.

Top Employers for Forensic Document Examiners

Because forensic document examination and analysis are essential to criminal investigations, the top employers for forensic document examiners are law enforcement and criminal investigation agencies. An FDE might be employed by a local police force or sheriff’s department, but can also work alongside private investigators and criminal attorneys, as well as prosecutors.

Forensic document examination is often used in cases of financial fraud and other white-collar crimes. This means that FDEs can often find employment working with forensic accountants and other fraud investigators. Some forensic document examiners are also certified fraud examiners.

Finally, an experienced forensic document examiner may also choose to strike out independently as an independent consultant. This is one way to diversify one’s workload since this type of consulting means that the examiner is free to consult for several different cases and agencies. FDEs may find the schedule and work more satisfying as a consultant once they have been properly trained and earned the requisite experience.

To read more from about a day in the life of a handwriting analyst, to search for open positions, and learn about specialized federal law enforcement units here are some resources:

• Andrea McNichol has made her mark as a handwriting expert: This Los Angeles Times profile of a prominent handwriting analyst offers a professional overview of where exactly this career can lead, including high-profile cases. Note that even the LA Times uses the term “graphologist” incorrectly here, though.
• ASQDE Employment Page: The American Society of Questioned Document Examiners keeps an active employment page where employers can post vacancies, and qualified forensic document examiners can post their resumes. As of May 2021, every employment opportunity listed is for a law enforcement position with the U.S. Secret Service in Washington D.C.
• The Questioned Documents Unit – FBI: Forensic document examiners that work for the FBI’s Questioned Documents Unit (QDU) provide specialized training to federal, state, and local forensic document examiners. The QDU keeps track of legal and investigative information and provides guidelines for law enforcement to standardize their forensic investigation work. The QDU runs tests on submitted digital evidence such as shoe prints, tire tracks, and bank robbery notes.

Forensic Document Examiner Salary

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a forensic science technician is $60,590 (BLS 2021). While the lowest paid 10 percent earn $36,630 or less and the top 10 percent earn $100,910 or more, it is important to recognize that these figures include all forensic technicians, not only handwriting analysts and forensic document examiners.

Self-reported data from Indeed.com (June 2021) is similar to the BLS figures, showing the average annual salary for forensic investigators was $68,010, based on 45 self-reported salaries.

As with any profession, the salary that one can expect to earn as a forensic document examiner will depend mainly on that individual’s experience and training and the employer and location of the job. Keep reading for more details on desirable training, certifications, and geographies for forensic document examiners and handwriting analysts.

To learn more about salary data for handwriting analysts by region, here are some websites that list federal and self-reported salary data:

• TED: The Economics Daily: Information and charts regarding the latest occupational trends, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Indeed.com: A job listing site that tracks real data from job postings for forensic document examiners and hundreds of other occupations and careers.

Best Locations for Handwriting Analysts & Forensic Document Examiners

Handwriting analysts and forensic document examiners are necessary for many levels of law enforcement and, therefore, should be able to find work in virtually any geography. However, the fact remains that those law enforcement agencies in larger, more densely populated areas will likely have more demand and resources for these types of consultants.

Further, for those examiners looking to work alongside forensic accountants, the larger companies that employ forensic accountants generally have offices in all major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. It is worth noting that foreign agencies outside of the U.S. may need forensic document examiners as well.

Suppose salary is a primary deciding factor in finding a job. In that case, interested applicants should remember that geographic areas with higher living costs will offer higher median salaries, although that may not correlate to a higher standard of living.

For example, the top-paying state for forensic science technicians is California, which employs 2,270 forensic science technicians and pays an annual average annual salary of $88,090 (BLS May 2020).

To estimate living expenses such as housing, groceries, and utilities in a particular state, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) offers a cost of living data series. California is the top-paying state for forensic science tech. California is also the fourth most expensive state to live in according to MERIC. There are other areas where a lower average salary for forensic science technicians also comes with more affordable living costs.

To research cost-of-living and employment levels in a particular area, here are some sites offering data and interviews from forensic document examiners:

• O-Net Online: Forensic Science Technicians: O-Net is powered by BLS statistics and allows you to examine the difference in salary, employment rate, and other factors according to geographic location.
• Guide for the development of forensic document examination capacity: This guide from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a thorough examination of forensic document examination techniques, skills, and training required for countries to create their own forensic document examination programs to improve security around the world.
• Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory Questioned Document Section: The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation here provides a public list of their expected training and expertise for questioned document examiners in their employ, which includes a 2-3 year training program and comprehensive background check.
• Forensic document examination – the science today: This transcript recounts a lecture by Dr. Audrey Giles of the Giles Document Laboratory in the UK, where document examiners are in demand.

How to Become a Handwriting Analyst & Forensic Document Examiner

Unlike some careers, no one set path leads to work as a handwriting analyst of forensic document examination. As of 2021, there is no terminal degree for forensic document examination, although a few forensic science programs with a specialization in forensic document analysis exist. Applicants to entry-level forensic document examination positions have at minimum a bachelor’s degree that includes coursework in laboratory and fieldwork settings.

Undergraduate Forensic Science and Criminal Justice Degrees

Because forensic document examination does require the scientific process and a high degree of attention to detail, an undergraduate degree in some type of natural science or criminal justice can be helpful.

Buffalo State SUNY (State University of New York) offers an undergraduate forensic science degree program awarding a bachelor of science in chemistry. This 120-126 credit hour program is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) and trains graduates for entry-level jobs in federal, state, and local law enforcement and corporate laboratories. Tuition for this program costs $3,535 per semester for full-time in-state students and $8,490 per semester for out-of-state students.

Forensic Document Analysis Certificate Programs

Some colleges and universities offer certificate programs specifically in forensic document examination, which may be worth exploring for those who are unable to find hands-on training or simply want to add to their resume.

The University of Baltimore offers a 12-credit forensic document examination certificate program. This program is ideal for bachelor’s degree holders who hold a degree in a discipline not related to forensic science or working in crime scene investigation and need continuing education credits to advance or qualify for certain positions.

Students in this program learn how to use state-of-the-art equipment to examine documents and present their findings in legal settings. Tuition for this program is $326 per credit for in-state residents and $1,032 per credit for out-of-state residents.

Graduate Degrees in Forensic Documentation Examination

Many FDEs choose to pursue graduate-level education online in criminal justice or forensics. Graduates from these programs pursue a specialization in specific areas of forensic science and are offered on-campus or online to meet the needs of working professionals.

Oklahoma State University offers a masters of science in forensic sciences with a forensic documentation examination specialty. This entirely online program is 39-credits and requires job-related experience in forensic science to be eligible for admission. This program is offered in a non-thesis track, meaning students must complete apprenticeship or journeyman programs instead of a research-based terminal project.

Tuition reciprocity agreements are provided with several neighboring states meaning students who live in certain states can qualify for in-state tuition even if they aren’t residents of Oklahoma. Tuition for in-state residents is $230.45 per credit hour and $876.40 per credit for out-of-state residents.

Handwriting Analyst Certification

After earning a degree or some experience in the field, forensic document examiners may choose to pursue optional certification. FDEs may seek certification from the Board of Forensic Document Examiners (BFDE) or the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE).

Here are two certification organizations that offer certification related to forensic document examiners.

• American Board of Forensic Document Examiners: The ABFDE was established in 1977 and is an accredited professional certification board. Eligibility or certification from the ABFDE is required for many federal agency jobs.
• Board of Forensic Document Examiners: The BFDE offers certification for forensic document examiners. Applicants are subjected to a written examination as well as a performance examination prior to becoming certified.