AFDE's annual educational symposiums meet the challenge of providing continuing education, enabling document examiners to keep abreast of the latest developments within the field, review the newest research, and expand their knowledge in general or specific directions. The Association's motto is: Professionals who share knowledge increase their own skills.

AFDE has an excellent testing program for admittance to the Association and for Board Certification. We believe in testing because it offers members a valuable credential. For this reason, we do not offer a waiver through grandfathering based on longevity, professional standing or contributions to the field. AFDE is proud to say that our Board Certification Program is the only one in the profession that is not totally in-house. Members of the judiciary and a lay jury are involved in the evaluation process. The Board Certification Program is open to anyone who meets the prerequisites.

The Journal of Forensic Document Examination was the first major publication in the field devoted exclusively to document examination and legal issues relating to our profession. Our journal has received international recognition and has been a valuable addition to the field since its inception in 1987. It is available by subscription. It can be found in university law school libraries and is included in Westlaw's journals and law reviews database.

AFDE's association with the International Graphonomics Society [IGS] provides a valuable resource for research. IGS and the members of IGS are internationally recognized in academia for valuable contributions to the knowledge of graphic behavior and motor control as it is applied to forensic science, biophysics, education, neuropsychology, experimental psychology, paleography, pattern recognition and other facets of handwriting and drawing. A joint conference of AFDE and IGS was held in London, Ontario [Canada] in 1995. AFDE co-sponsored the 9th Biennial Conference of the International Graphonomics Society which was held in Singapore in June 1999. AFDE sponsors research projects and members often conduct in-depth studies regarding handwriting and motor control. Some of the projects have been conducted in cooperation with scientists and have been published and presented at national and international seminars.

AFDE membership is comprised of document examiners in private practice and law enforcement, as well as students and persons in allied professions. Our admittance testing of document examiners limits membership to those persons willing to subject themselves to peer review. We believe this maintains quality of membership. Our allied professionals are an invaluable resource of information for our members and we provide them with another avenue to apply their skills.