The Forensic DNA Certification (FDC) is taken by DNA analysts who work in a forensic science service provider. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, worked explanations for sample questions, a study plan, and a plain summary of the format, fees, eligibility and retake rules published by the American Board of Criminalistics.
The FDC has 75 questions and costs $250[1][2] (American Board of Criminalistics, verified Oct 25, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 75 questions plus 15 pilot questions[1] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Passing score | Not disclosed[3] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $250 exam sitting fee + $75 application fee[2] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Wait 60 days; max 3 attempts per 24 months, 6 total[4] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Validity | 5 years[5] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | In person at specified testing sites; no remote proctoring[6] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Bachelor's in natural/forensic science; working at an FSSP in DNA analysis; ≥1 year authorized for DNA casework[7] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release | Within 30 days of the exam[4] | American Board of Criminalistics · Oct 25, 2026 |
According to American Board of Criminalistics, “The examination consists of 75 questions, plus 15 pilot questions.”[1]
The FDC is offered by the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC). It is meant for people who do DNA casework in a forensic science service provider (FSSP), and it is delivered in person at specified testing sites. There is no remote proctoring.
To apply, you need a bachelor's degree in a natural or forensic science, and you must be working at an FSSP in DNA analysis. You must also have been authorized by that FSSP to perform DNA casework for a minimum of 1 year, full-time or equivalent.
The exam has 75 questions plus 15 pilot questions. The exam sitting fee is $250, and there is a $75 application fee. The ABC does not disclose the passing score, so there is no number to aim for. Aim for solid understanding across every content area instead. Results should arrive within 30 days of your exam date.
If you do not pass, you must wait 60 days before another attempt. You can sit the same exam no more than 3 times within 24 months, and no more than 6 times in total. Once earned, the certification is valid for 5 years.
Fees, seat offerings and policies can change, so check the ABC website before you apply. Our practice questions are written by us with AI tools. They are not real exam questions and do not predict what will appear on your exam.
The content areas below are copied from the official FDC content outline published by American Board of Criminalistics. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Communication[8] | FDC Report Writing & Documentation Practise how findings are recorded, written up and explained so that notes and reports are accurate, complete and clear. |
| Process (DNA)[8] | FDC DNA Analysis Techniques Work through the steps of DNA analysis in order, and be able to say what could go wrong at each step. |
| Quality Assurance/Quality Control[8] | FDC Quality Assurance & Accreditation Practise quality systems, accreditation requirements, controls, proficiency testing and corrective action. |
| Science & Math[8] | FDC Statistical Analysis & Population Gene... Practise the statistics and population genetics behind interpreting a DNA profile, and be able to explain the reasoning in words. |
Prepare for the FDC - Forensic DNA Certification exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: Which control confirms that the PCR amplification process worked correctly?
Answer: B. Positive amplification control
Explanation:
The correct answer is the positive amplification control. It contains a known DNA template, so if the PCR worked, the expected profile appears. If it fails, you know the amplification itself, not your sample, was the problem.
The negative amplification control is wrong because it holds no template and is there to show contamination, not successful amplification. The reagent blank is wrong because it follows the sample through extraction to show whether reagents or handling introduced DNA. The internal size standard is wrong because it is used to size fragments in each injection, and it says nothing about whether the target loci amplified.
Rule to remember: ask what each control is designed to detect. A positive control shows the process can work, and negative controls and blanks show contamination.
Question: Which statement about electronic documentation in Forensic DNA Certification practice is MOST accurate?
Answer: B. Electronic documentation must meet the same standards as paper records
Explanation:
The correct answer is that electronic documentation must meet the same standards as paper records. A record is judged on whether it is accurate, complete, attributable and secure, not on the medium it is kept in.
The claim that electronic records are less valid than paper is wrong, because a properly controlled electronic record carries the same weight. The claim that electronic records do not require backup is wrong, since a record that can be lost is not secure. The claim that any storage format is acceptable is wrong, because storage must keep the record intact, protected from unauthorized change and retrievable.
Rule to remember: the standard follows the record, not the format. Whatever you would require of a paper file, you require of an electronic one, plus controls for access and backup.
Question: What is the PRIMARY reason for regulatory compliance in the Forensic DNA Certification profession?
Answer: B. To protect public safety, ensure quality, and maintain professional integrity
Explanation:
The correct answer is that regulatory compliance exists to protect public safety, ensure quality and maintain professional integrity. Rules in a forensic setting are there so that courts, the people affected and the public can rely on the results.
Avoiding penalties and fines only is wrong because penalties are a consequence of non-compliance, not the purpose of the rules. Creating additional paperwork is wrong because documentation is a means of showing that work was done properly, not a goal in itself. Justifying higher service fees is wrong because compliance is about the reliability of the work, not about pricing.
Rule to remember: when a question asks for the primary reason behind a standard, choose the answer about protecting the integrity of the work and the people who depend on it, not the answer about cost or convenience.
Start with the official material. Read the ABC certification scheme for the Forensic DNA Certification and the content areas it lists, then mark the areas where you feel least certain. Because the passing score is not disclosed, treat every area as worth covering rather than aiming for a target mark.
Next, work through our practice sets one topic at a time. After each set, review every question you missed and every one you guessed right. Write one sentence in your own words for each, stating the rule behind the answer. That is more useful than re-reading the answer key.
Give extra time to the sets that match your weaker areas, such as statistical analysis and population genetics if your daily work is mostly bench-side, or laboratory procedures and quality assurance if your work is mostly interpretation. Return to missed questions after a few days and see whether you can explain them without looking.
In the final days, switch from learning new material to review. Reread your own notes, redo the questions you missed, and check the ABC website for current details on your testing site, since the exam is in person only. Remember that our questions are practice material written by us, not real exam items.
You need a bachelor's degree in a natural or forensic science and must be working at a forensic science service provider in DNA analysis. You must also have been authorized by that provider to perform DNA casework for a minimum of 1 year, full-time or equivalent. Confirm current details with the American Board of Criminalistics.
The exam consists of 75 questions plus 15 pilot questions. The ABC publishes this on its Forensic DNA page. It does not say here how the pilot questions are marked within the exam, so prepare for all content areas rather than trying to guess which items count.
The passing score is not disclosed. The ABC says that, for confidentiality reasons, passing scores are not provided to the test taker. Because there is no published target, study across every content area and use practice sets to find weak spots, not to chase a number.
The exam sitting fee is $250 per examination, and there is a $75 application fee. Fees can change, so check the ABC seat requests and offerings page before you apply, and ask your employer whether it covers any of the cost.
Yes, but you must wait 60 days between attempts. You cannot take the same exam more than 3 times within 24 months, or more than 6 times in total. Use the wait to review the areas you found hardest, then check the ABC application process page for current rules.
No. ABC examinations are offered only in person at specified testing locations, and there is no remote proctoring. Results should arrive within 30 days of your exam date. Check the ABC website for seat offerings and locations well before you plan to sit.
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