Child Forensic Interviewing Certificate

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown has become the first and only university in the country to offer child forensic interviewing certification as part of an undergraduate course. The program was developed in partnership with the National Association of Certified Child Forensic Interviewers (NACCFI), whose chairman and executive board have identified UPJ's class as a pilot model they hope other institutions will follow.

The course teaches students the entry-level core knowledge competencies for effective child forensic interviewing, based on the interview protocol used by Child Advocacy Centers and endorsed as best practice by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC). Students learn and practice the tasks and functions identified as critical to effective work in this field.

At the end of the course, students complete a certification exam administered by NACCFI. Through an agreement between the instructor and NACCFI's director, the exam fee (normally $325) has been waived for all participants. Successful completion qualifies students to apply for the Registered Child Forensic Interviewer (RCFI) credential, and efforts are underway to secure a waiver of the $35 application fee as well.

The program is especially valuable for Criminal Justice majors, as well as Sociology and Psychology majors pursuing careers in human services.

The inaugural class recently completed its final session, and a group photo was taken to mark the occasion — NACCFI plans to feature the class on its website as an example for other institutions considering similar partnerships.