What training does a handwriting expert have to have in order to testify in a court of law?
Until recent years, the only document examiners have been former government employees. Opportunities for the private practitioner were next to null. Very few colleges nationwide offer any extent of document examination and only rudimentary at best as introductory courses in criminal justice degrees. The only form of training that was available during pre WWII (1939) was self taught. This form launched the likes of renowned handwriting experts as Osborn, Hagan, Ames, Stein and others. Correspondence courses have also provided a degree of training but without the hands on experience and side by side training. The most effective and widely accepted form of training to date is the apprenticeship. All professional organizations for document examiners require at least a two year apprenticeship with a full time qualified examiner. Apprenticeship is the form of training I have primarily studied in. Actually, a handwriting experts’ training is ongoing and continues throughout life as they atten
