Overview
The University of Alabama, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Criminal Justice have joined together to form the NIJ National Center on Forensics. This Center provides medico-legal learning opportunities for medical students to train as deputy medical examiners/coroners, with a special emphasis for those planning to live and work in underserved rural areas; provide forensic science and legal training to district attorneys, defense attorneys, judges, law enforcement and forensic scientists; and develop opportunities to benefit current and future practitioners in the field. These activities seek to improve the availability and level of medico/legal training and knowledge for those working in rural areas, which will thereby increase access to justice for those living in these communities.
Courses
Essentials Training
Firearm / Tool Mark
Module 1: Case Acceptance Policy
Module 2: Best Practices in Collection
Module 3: Evidence Testing
Module 4: Emerging Trends
Course Level Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- List the types of firearms evidence that are commonly accepted by laboratories and the types of evidence not commonly accepted by laboratories.
- Describe the process for collecting, packaging, and labeling firearms evidence.
- Describe the laboratory analysis process for firearms evidence.
- Identify the trends in the number of firearms cases submitted to firearms analysis labs.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 12, 2026
Registration available through December 15, 2026
Forensic Biology
Module 1: Case Acceptance Policy
Module 2: Best Practices in Collection
Module 3: Evidence Testing
Module 4: Emerging Trends
Course Level Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- List the types of biological evidence that are commonly accepted by laboratories and the types of evidence not commonly accepted by laboratories.
- Describe the process for collecting, packaging, and labeling biological evidence.
- Describe the laboratory analysis process for biological evidence.
- Identify emerging areas of analysis in Forensic Biology.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 12, 2026
Registration available through December 15, 2026
Click here to register for Essentials of Forensic Biology
Forensic Toxicology
Module 1: Overview of Forensic Toxicology
Module 2: Polydrug Use in Forensic Toxicology
Module 3: Postmortem Oral Fluid Testing in Forensic Toxicology
Module 4: Lethal Injection Cases and Forensic Toxicology Testing
Module 5: Trends in Drugs of Abuse and Driving
Course Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- List the types of toxicology evidence that are commonly accepted by laboratories
- Describe the process for collecting, packaging, labeling, and submitting toxicology evidence
- Describe the laboratory analysis process for toxicology evidence
- Identify toxicological trends related to overdoses and cases submitted to toxicology analysis laboratories
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 12, 2026
Registration available through December 15, 2026
Click here to register for Essentials of Forensic Toxicology
Drug Chemistry
Module 1: Drug Chemistry Case Acceptance Policy
Module 2: Best Practices in Collection of Drug Chemistry Evidence
Module 3: Evidence Testing in Drug Chemistry
Module 4: Emerging Trends in Drug Chemistry
Course Level Learning Objectives:
- List the types of drug chemistry evidence that are commonly accepted by laboratories and the types of evidence not commonly accepted by laboratories.
- Describe the process for collecting, packaging, and labeling drug evidence.
- Describe the laboratory analysis process for drug evidence.
- Identify emerging areas of analysis in Drug Chemistry.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 12, 2026
Registration available through December 15, 2026
Click here to register for Essentials of Drug Chemistry
Death Investigation
Module 1: Case Acceptance Policy
Module 2: Best Practices in Collection
Module 3: Evidence Testing
Course Level Learning Objectives
- Describe the purpose of and common terms around death investigation.
- Identify best practices in the collection of evidence during a death investigation.
- Identify specialists, other than the medical examiner, who may be required for completion of a postmortem examination.
- Associate types of evidence with time, cause, and manner of death.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 12, 2026
Registration available through December 15, 2026
Click here to register for Essentials of Forensic Toxicology
Breath Testing Recertification
Alabama Breath Testing Operator Recertification
Module 1: Introduction and Resources
Module 2: Legal Issues: Alcohol and the Law
Module 3: Alabama Breath Testing Program
Module 4: Administering the Breath Test
Module 5: Factors Affecting the Breath Test
Module 6: Admissibility of the Evidence
Module 7: ADFS Toxicology
Module 8: Other Important Legal Issues, Information and Program Reminders
Module 9: Re-certification Exam and Evaluation
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the Alabama Breath Testing Program. You will learn about the legal statutes and administrative codes that govern the program, as well as the step-by-step process of administering breath tests. The course will also delve into factors that can affect breath test results and discuss potential solutions. Finally, you will gain a clear understanding of what a Certificate of Analysis can be used to prove in court.
Alabama Breath Testing Operator Recertification opportunities are appropriate for employees of federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies who have previously completed the Intoximeter DMT Breath Alcohol Testing Operator Training Course. Any operator who missed two consecutive years of recertification training or failed a previous recertification course is not eligible for recertification through this web-based course. NOTE: You can only register once. Multiple registrations are not allowed.
Course Level Learning Objectives:
- Describe legal statues and administrative codes of the Alabama Breath Testing Program.
- Describe the Alabama Breath Testing Program.
- Describe the process for administering breath tests.
- Identify the factors affecting breath tests and solutions for the presenting issues.
- Summarize what a Certification of Analysis can prove in court.
Target Audience: Alabama Breath Testing Operator Recertification learning opportunities are appropriate for law enforcement personnel.
Permit No. required in registration. If you’re unsure of your permit number please look it up by clicking on the following link,
Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, AL.
NOTE: You can only register once. Multiple registrations are not allowed.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 12, 2026
Registration available through December 15, 2026
Course available through December 31, 2026
Click here to register for Alabama Breath Testing Operator Recertification
Other Courses
Oral Fluid Testing in DUID Investigations
Module 1: Identification of when to collect Oral Fluid Samples for Roadside Screening or Confirmation Testing
Module 2: State Statues for Roadside Screening and Confirmation Testing Using Oral Fluid
Module 3: Roadside Screening of Oral Fluid Using Dräger DrugTest 5000
Module 4: Roadside Screening of Oral Fluid Using Abbott SoToxa™ Mobile Test System
Module 5: Collection of Oral Fluid Evidentiary Sample Using Quantisal™ Oral Fluid Collection Device
Module 6: Submission of Oral Fluid Evidentiary Sample Collected using Quantisal™ Oral Fluid Collection Device
Roadside Oral Fluid Testing is an on-demand six-module self-paced course.
Law enforcement officers face the challenge of keeping motorists safe when irresponsible drivers get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs that cannot be detected using a breathalyzer. New roadside screening instruments have been developed to detect these drugs in oral fluid samples and can be performed by certified officers similar to using a breathalyzer to detect alcohol in breath. This course describes two roadside instruments for testing oral fluid and also describes a method for collecting an additional oral fluid sample to be sent to the lab for confirmation testing. Officers completing this course will be prepared to take a certification exam, which will qualify them to administer these tests and collections. Officers will view lectures and video demonstrations of using the instruments and collection devices. The course is presented by Curt E. Harper, Ph.D., F-ABFT, Chief Toxicologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Course Level Learning Objectives:
- Describe the differences between using oral fluid for roadside screening and using oral fluid for evidentiary testing.
- List the screening devices used for roadside screen collection of oral fluids and collection devices used for evidentiary collection of oral fluid.
- Describe your state statues that allow for the use of oral fluid for roadside screening or evidentiary testing.
- Describe the process for collecting and testing a sample for the purpose of roadside screening using an Abbott SoToxa or Draeger DT5000
- Describe the process for collecting oral fluid using Quantisal™ Oral Fluid Collection Device.
- Describe the process for submitting an evidentiary sample to the lab.
Target Audience: Roadside Oral Fluid Testing learning opportunities are appropriate for law enforcement personnel. Continuing education credits will be offered.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 12, 2026
Registration available through December 15, 2026
Course available through December 31, 2026
Click here to register for Oral Fluid Testing in DUID Investigations
From DNA to Toxicology: A Multidisciplinary Approach to DFSA Cases
- Coming Soon
Registration
Register Online
You will be redirected to an external websiteYou will be taken to our online registration area. The screen will look different from this part of our website and will open in a new window. You will click on the year that you wish to register for. If you are registering more than one person, each person must have an individual email address to utilize the online registration system.
Register by Phone
Call our registration office directlyOur Registration Services Office is open Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. To register by phone or for inquiries regarding your registration, please call 205-348-3000.
Review each track to learn more about the courses offered and timing of each course.
Registration Communication
Confirmation of registration will be sent after 5 p.m. on the day of registration. The email will come from registration_services@ua.edu.
Registration Fees
As of now, these online courses are offered free-of-charge to participants.
Special Accommodation Requests
The University of Alabama is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for accommodation of physical and/or dietary needs should be made at least 30 calendar days in advance of the program date. Please email your request to professionaldevelopment@ua.edu.
Need our STAARS Vendor Number? Please use VC000118827 for UA Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.
Cancellation Policy
A cancellation charge of 100% of the registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within seven (7) days of the start of this session. Refunds will not be granted after the program has begun. The University of Alabama reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or combine class sections, to limit registration, or to change instructors. Contact the Registration Services department at 205-348-3000 or registration_services@ua.edu to cancel your registration. View the OTIDE Cancellation Policy.