Membership
How to become a member
To qualify for membership, a candidate must be a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and must be a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.). The candidate must have appropriate engineering education and experience in practice, including actual experience in forensic engineering. In addition, the candidate must provide acceptable detailed references from attorneys, senior claims managers or NAFE members who are personally familiar with his or her forensic practice and experience.
Membership levels
The levels of membership in the Academy are Member, Senior Member and Fellow, dependent upon experience and recommendations. At all levels, candidature for membership requires demonstration of actual experience in forensic engineering,including testimony under oath subject to cross examination. Recommendations are required from practicing attorneys or senior claims managers familiar with the candidate’s forensic experience. Copies of current professional engineering registrations, NSPE and technical membership are required.
For those persons interested in forensic engineering who are ineligible for membership in NAFE, the following affiliations are available: Correspondent, International Affiliate and Student Affiliate.
Member's benefits
The services that NAFE members receive include:
- Listing in the NAFE Directory, which is available to major bar associations, insurance groups, engineering societies and others.
- A copy of the NAFE Directory.
- A subscription to The Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, which publishes papers by NAFE Members on a variety of issues of concern to practicing forensic engineers.
- The NAFE Newsletter and special mailings with current information of particular interest to forensic engineers.
- Special (low cost) insurance program for forensic engineers available to NAFE members.
- Information on NAFE seminars, held at least semi-annually. NAFE seminars provide an opportunity to meet directly with other forensic engineering practitioners and receive counsel and advice from Academy officers, and members.
- Access to the NAFE1 Yahoo Discussion Group which was formed by the members of NAFE to exchange forensic engineering information. The goal of the NAFE1 Yahoo Discussion group is to improve and advance the practice of Forensic Engineering. The NAFE1 Yahoo Discussion group is for education and technical information exchange by NAFE members only and is limited to matters of Forensic Engineering practice.
How students can join NAFE
Many students and their parents have contacted the NAFE with questions about Forensic Engineering. The following attempts to answer some of those questions:
To effectively function as a forensic engineer one first needs to be an engineer. i.e.; completing formal education to obtain an accredited engineering degree then completing the required licensing examinations, which in the USA is the Professional Engineering (PE) license, which is usually attained after 4-5 years of engineering practice.
It is also necessary to have further experience in engineering practice and possibly advanced education sufficient to establish credibility as an expert in a specialized field of engineering to the satisfaction of prospective clients as well as those who will judge your experience in the legal system.
An engineering degree, plus actual practice experience in a basic engineering discipline, and a Professional Engineering license is the first step. Only when that is accomplished is the engineer likely to be deemed of sufficient qualification to be accepted as an expert and be recognized as a forensic engineer.
If you are interested in this field the NAFE publishes peer reviewed journals on various engineering matters that were adjudicated. These journals may be purchased and may give you the insight to help you in your decision. You may visit the "Journal" section of this website to browse the various titles of the published journals