Licensees

The Forensic Analyst and Technician Licensing Program: who must be licensed, in which disciplines, and how to read the licensee database.

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About the licensing program

A forensic analyst is 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.

Licensing is required by law

As of January 1, 2019, Texas law requires all forensic analysts to be licensed.

Disciplines that require a license

A forensic analyst or technician license is required in these disciplines.

  • Forensic biology
  • Toxicology
  • Seized drugs
  • Materials / trace
  • Firearms / toolmarks

Voluntary licensing programs

  • Forensic anthropology
  • Forensic document analysis

Offered in addition to mandatory licensure for analysts practicing in accredited disciplines. Voluntary programs in digital evidence and friction ridge will be added in 2023.

Licensing rules

Both are published in the Texas Administrative Code.

Reading the licensee database

  • Licensed disciplines and categories of licensure

    A forensic analyst's or technician's licensed discipline or category of licensure is designated from their Proficiency Monitoring Certification Form, according to the specific forensic discipline in which they actively perform forensic casework, or are currently authorized or currently in a training program to become authorized to perform supervised or independent forensic casework. Proficiency Monitoring Certification Forms are available from each licensee's profile in the licensee database.

    Stakeholders should be aware that the designated discipline or category may not match the scope of activities the analyst was signed off to perform at the time of the forensic analysis or testimony in a case, because the analyst may still be in a training program to become authorized for certain aspects of that discipline or category. An analyst is responsible for keeping their testimony within the limits of what they are signed off to perform.

  • Accuracy of biographical and employment information

    The employing laboratory shown is based on information confirmed in the licensee's application or provided by the licensee as an update to their employment status.

    Analysts must tell the Commission when their employment status or employing laboratory changes. The same applies to other biographical information, such as a change of surname.

  • Criminal matters only

    The Commission's jurisdiction is limited to criminal matters and does not extend to civil or administrative proceedings.

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 is not listed in this database.

See Texas Administrative Code § 651.203(d)

Find a licensee

Look up a forensic analyst's or technician's license and Proficiency Monitoring Certification Forms.

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