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Medicolegal Death Investigator Course

Medicolegal Death Investigation Online Academy is a Nationally Approved online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other training today, this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities of live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program.
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Student Reviews

Sara Soltani

5 star rating

“As a recent graduate, several Death Investigator positions were off-limits, as you need to be in the field to have certification from ABMDI, and many medical examiners will not hire you unless you have certification! I enrolled in this program, an...”

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“As a recent graduate, several Death Investigator positions were off-limits, as you need to be in the field to have certification from ABMDI, and many medical examiners will not hire you unless you have certification! I enrolled in this program, and as soon as I added it to my resumé, coroner and medical examiner's offices became more interested in my application! Definitely info packed, with everything you need to know. The best part? You take it at your own pace! The instructor is very attentive to his lines of communication with his students, and is enthusiastic about the topic. The material is informative, engaging, and made me want to learn more! 10/10 would take again!”

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MELISSA MANN

5 star rating

“If you are looking to get into forensics or are thinking of a career change you have definitely found the right program. Thanks to Darren, Tammy and their team I passed my final and have recently just passed the National ABMDI exam. I could have n...”

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“If you are looking to get into forensics or are thinking of a career change you have definitely found the right program. Thanks to Darren, Tammy and their team I passed my final and have recently just passed the National ABMDI exam. I could have never done it without this program. Thank you!”

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William Leach

5 star rating

“I am an elected coroner in Washington State and had two of my part time investigators take this course; they both passed and were impressed with the instruction. I took this course for the purpose of acquiring training hours to maintain my ABMDI c...”

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“I am an elected coroner in Washington State and had two of my part time investigators take this course; they both passed and were impressed with the instruction. I took this course for the purpose of acquiring training hours to maintain my ABMDI certification, however I was impressed with the amount of information it contained and the way the information was presented; this will be my go to basic training for future new hires. I recommend this training to any current and want-to-be death investigators. ”

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Bridget Peterson

5 star rating

“This is a great introduction to death investigation! I have been an emergency nurse for 23 years and I cannot tell you how much this program taught me ! So many concepts should be taught to ER nurses, Medics, and anyone caring for victims of crim...”

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“This is a great introduction to death investigation! I have been an emergency nurse for 23 years and I cannot tell you how much this program taught me ! So many concepts should be taught to ER nurses, Medics, and anyone caring for victims of crime ! I will recommend this program to my forensic nursing professors and students ! ”

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Naida Rutherford

5 star rating

“Thank you for a class that was comprehensive and provided real-world examples of the principles taught. ”

“Thank you for a class that was comprehensive and provided real-world examples of the principles taught. ”

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Laura Smith

5 star rating

“I thought it was very beneficial. As a small town Coroner, with few cases to gain hands-on experience, training is essential. ”

“I thought it was very beneficial. As a small town Coroner, with few cases to gain hands-on experience, training is essential. ”

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Melissa Bannon

4 star rating

“The course was very informative but at some points repetitive. The videos of doing an external body exam on an infant and the videos of people committing suicide were shown twice and I didn't think that they needed to be. I also wish there was a w...”

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“The course was very informative but at some points repetitive. The videos of doing an external body exam on an infant and the videos of people committing suicide were shown twice and I didn't think that they needed to be. I also wish there was a way to review the quizzes and answers without having to retake the quiz if you did not get 100% I tended not to get that score only because I could not remember the proof of watch animal from something that I watched a month or more ago. ”

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brady frederick

5 star rating

“Great course!! Darren and the rest of the staff were awesome, kind, and professional. I would recommend this course for those that want to begin a career in death investigation.”

“Great course!! Darren and the rest of the staff were awesome, kind, and professional. I would recommend this course for those that want to begin a career in death investigation.”

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Jose Gutierrez

5 star rating

“The course was very informative. However, I found myself going through the videos again to find or clarify information. I had to watch entire videos without being able to fast forward to the sections I need. I would help if once the video is viewe...”

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“The course was very informative. However, I found myself going through the videos again to find or clarify information. I had to watch entire videos without being able to fast forward to the sections I need. I would help if once the video is viewed we had the capability to rewind and fast forward.”

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Jennifer Forrester

5 star rating

“Thank you Darren and everyone at DIT Academy for creating this training and giving people like me who want to enter the death investigation field, a way to do that without knowing someone in the business already. This training is beyond incredible...”

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“Thank you Darren and everyone at DIT Academy for creating this training and giving people like me who want to enter the death investigation field, a way to do that without knowing someone in the business already. This training is beyond incredible! I have done a lot of research, reading, and training in my own before completing the course but I learned so much more and gained invaluable resources. Thank you again to the entire DITA Team!!”

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Natalie Jones

4 star rating

“It was a good course that covers the basics. Was hoping to gain a little more knowledge on actually processing a scene. ”

“It was a good course that covers the basics. Was hoping to gain a little more knowledge on actually processing a scene. ”

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Douglas Padilla

5 star rating

“Very well constructed course. Hopefully can take some more in the future.”

“Very well constructed course. Hopefully can take some more in the future.”

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Pricing options

Price includes all manuals, eTexts, and downloadable reference material.

More Information

The MLDI Online Academy is offered several times per year. Students will enroll in advance and all start at the same time.

  • TOPICS COVERED

    Scene Management
    Scene Investigation
    Evidence Collection
    Scene Documentation
    Basic Anatomy
    Collecting Fluids
    Specific Death Types
    Personal Development
    Death in Differing Cultures
    and much, much, more.

  • SCHOOL DESIGN

    Video Training
    Additional Reading
    Downloadable Material
    Topic and Section Testing
    Instructor Interactions
    Certificate of Completion
    Long Term Access
    Certification Exam

  • WHY THIS SCHOOL

    Nationally Approved
    40+ hours of Training
    ABMDI Education Credits
    Investigation Specific
    Hybrid Content LE/C
    Downloadable Material
    Access to Instructors
    Taught by working professionals
    Open to non-working students

FAQ

  • I’m not currently in this field, can I still take the course?

    Yes. This course is open to students who are wanting to enter the field of death investigation as well as working professionals. It is our goal to help you prepare for the job you are wanting by providing nationally accepted training.

  • What is the difference in the Academy sessions? I noticed that there are two or more being offered.

    The only difference is the start date and session groups. The best way we found to distinguish between courses was to have a session number, That number relates to the month and year of the course start. #0122 January #0322 March. However, the content is the same.

  • How long do I have access to the course?

    You will have access to the course material for six months. This, however, does not take into account natural disasters or a major interruption in business.

  • What courses are the instructors live and interactive in?

    This course is designed in such a way that one or more instructors will be live two or more times throughout the first six weeks. These are not tied to any particular course or set of courses, but rather at regular intervals during the first six weeks.

  • Do we get a certificate at the end?

    The Medicolegal Death Investigator course is an all-inclusive course. So, each student will receive a certificate at the end of all coursework.

  • How do I become certified after taking the course?

    After you have completed the course you will be given an option to take the certification examination. This is an optional online exam given by a third-party testing company and taken at a proctor exam location such as a college or library.

  • What if I want to talk to someone before I register?

    If you have other questions, please email us at [email protected]

  • What is the refund/exchange policy?

    Students will receive a full refund of tuition to the online MDI training program prior to the start of the course. However, if a student has begun the course, the following refund policy will be in place. Should a student cancel enrollment after the three (3) business day cancelation period, the school will provide a fair and equitable refund formula. The refund formula is as follows: Online Tuition: 10% completion is a 90% Refund 25% completion is a 75% Refund *No refund will be given after 30 days or if completion is 50% or more* Multiple payments for the same course: In case the participant made extra payment (same course bought multiple times) for the same course, a refund will be issued upon request. There will be a 3.7% transaction cost charged by credit card processor per transaction.

  • What if I don't complete the course in 6-months?

    If you have not completed your course within the 6-month access period and would like to renew or extend the time you can do that for $300 which will extend your access for another 180 days. You will need to email the request for an extension and work with student support to get that done.

Pricing options

Price includes all manuals, eTexts, and downloadable reference material.

Course curriculum

  • 01

    Section 1: Overview of the Medicolegal Death Investigator Course

    • First thing first!

    • Welcome - Course Design and Layout

    • Getting started the right way.

    • Content Integrity, Refund Policy, Extension Policy, and ABMDI Statement

    • Content and Copyright Notice Acknowledgment

    • Join the Private Facebook Community
  • 02

    Section 2: Medicolegal Death Investigations

    • Section Introduction

    • Three Phases of a Death Investigation (4 minutes)

    • Medicolegal Death Investigation and Authority (7minutes)

    • Quiz: Medicolegal Death Investigation and Authority

    • Interacting with other agencies (10 minutes)

    • Interacting with families (8 minutes)

    • Quiz:Professional Interactions

    • Bonus eBook - Interview and Interrogation- getting information you want

    • NIJ Publication - Death Investigation Procedures

    • NIJ Publication - Mass Fatality Incidents

  • 03

    Section 3: Establishing Decedent Identification

    • Establishing Decedent Identity (19 minutes)

    • Case Reviews of Unidentified Persons (13 minutes)

    • Unidentified Person Case Review - Tattoos and Social Media (10 minutes)

    • Quiz: Establishing Decedent Identity

  • 04

    Section 4: Death Notification Practices

    • Proper Death Notification Procedures Part 1 (19 minutes)

    • Proper Death Notification Procedures Part 2 (15 minutes)

    • Death Notification - We regret to inform you (5 minutes)

    • Quiz: Proper Death Notification Practices

    • Introduction to Special Notifications (1 minute)

    • Specialized Notifications - Homicide (6 minutes)

    • Specialized Notifications - Suicide (7 minutes)

    • Specialized Notifications - Child Death (2 minutes)

    • Specialized Notifications - In Group Deaths (4 minutes)

    • Specialized Notifications - In Custody Deaths (2 minutes)

    • Specialized Notifications - Medical Errors, Workplace, and Mass Casualty Deaths (10 minutes)

    • Death notification: Breaking the bad news
  • 05

    Section 5: 12 Critical Mistakes Made at Death Scenes

    • Introduction to Critical Mistakes at Death Scenes

    • #1 - Improper Response and Arrival to the Scene

    • #2 - Failing to Protect the Crime Scene

    • #3 - Not Handling Suspicious Deaths and Homicides

    • #4 - Responding with a Preconceived Notion

    • #5 - Failing to Take Sufficient Number of Photographs

    • #6 - Failing to Manage the Crime Scene Process

    • #7 - Failing to Properly Evaluate Evidence

    • #8 - Failing to Properly Assess the Scene

    • #9 - Failing to Evaluate Victimology

    • #10 - Failing to Conduct an Efficient Area Canvass

    • #11 - Failing to Work Together as a Team

    • #12 - Command and Administrative Staff Interfering

    • Concluding Comments

    • Quiz: 12 Critical Mistakes Made at a Death Scene
  • 06

    Section 6: Scene Management and Documentation

    • Section Introduction- Scene Management and Documentation

    • Scene Arrival and Security (22 minutes)

    • Intial Scene Walk Through (9 minutes)

    • The Investigative Triangle (6 minutes)

    • Quiz: Scene Arrival and Management

    • Documenting the Scene - Photographs, Sketching, and Notes (26 minutes)

    • Crime Scene Sketching Methods and Use

    • Crime Scene Sketching Methods and Use (Downloadable)

    • Quiz: Documenting the Scene

    • Classification of Evidence

    • Physical v. Non-Physical Evidence

    • Known v. Unknown Evidence

    • Introduction to Blood Spatter (10 minutes)

    • Identifying Evidence and Chain of Custody (26 minutes)

    • Securing the most important piece of evidence- The Body (6 minutes)

    • Quiz: Evidence and Chain of Custody

    • Evidence Packaging

    • Scene Sketch Assignment Explanation

    • Create a Scene Sketch

  • 07

    Section 7: Determining Time of Death

    • Determining Time of Death Part 1 (33 minutes)

    • Determining Time of Death Part 2 (25 minutes)

    • Stages of post mortem changes

    • Forensic Entomology

    • Body Temperature - Algor Mortis

    • Eyeball Changes

    • Quiz: Determining Time of Death

  • 08

    Section 8: Defining Cause, Manner, and Mechanism of Death

    • Cause and Manner Section Intro

    • Defining Cause, Manner, and Mechanism of Death (5 minutes)

    • Implications in Cause and Manner Rulings ( 15 minutes)

    • Implications in Time of Death Rulings (10 minutes)

    • Canton Ohio Firefighter Suicide - Implication Example

    • Daniel Kerrigan - Homicide Ruling Implications

    • Quiz: Defining Cause, Manner, and Mechanism of Death
  • 09

    Section 9: External Body Exam and Documentation

    • Section introduction

    • External Body Exam and Documentation Part 1 (14 minutes)

    • External Body Exam and Documentation Part 2 (13 minutes)

    • Documenting BPA Prior to Moving the Body (3 minutes)

    • External Body Exam Demonstration of an Adult (8 minutes)

    • External Body Exam Demonstration of an infant (10 minutes)

    • Collecting Hair and Fiber Evidence (4 minutes)

    • Thermal Injuries

    • Post Mortem Changes Time Line

    • Surgical Artifacts

    • Resuscitative Artifacts

    • Forensic Body Exam Charts

    • Rule of 9's Burn Documentation

    • Obtaining and Documenting Post-Mortem Body Temperature (7 minutes)

    • Quiz: External Body and Documentation

    • Introduction to Toxicology Fluid Draws

    • Fluid Draw Demonstrations (11 minutes)

    • Quiz: Drawing Fluids for Toxicology

  • 10

    Section 10: Forensic and Scientific Knowledge

    • Introduction to Forensic and Scientific Knowledge Section

    • Understanding Basic Anatomy and Physiology (11 Minutes)

    • Basic Anatomy Charts and Diagrams

    • Bonus eBook - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN BODY

    • Medical Terminology

    • Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

    • Quiz: Human Anatomy and Physiology

    • Introduction to Understanding the Sciences Used in Death Investigation.

    • Understanding the Sciences Used in Death Investigation Part 1 (15 minutes)

    • Understanding the Sciences Used in Death Investigation Part 2 (15 minutes)

    • Anthropology (12 minutes)

    • Facial Approximations

    • Forensic Entomology (7 minutes)

    • Forensic Botany (1 minute)

    • Forensic Odontology (5 minutes)

    • Quiz: Sciences Used in Death Investigation
  • 11

    Section 11: Forensic Overview of Cutting and Stabbing Injuries

    • Cutting and Stabbing Introduction

    • Forensic Overview of Cutting and Stabbing Injury Part 1 (16 minutes)

    • Forensic Overview of Cutting and Stabbing Injury Part 2 (15 minutes)

    • Forensic Overview of Cutting and Stabbing Injury Part 3 (20 minutes)

    • Forensic Overview of Cutting and Stabbing Injury Part 4 (20 minutes)

    • Forensic Overview of Cutting and Stabbing Injury Part 5 (15 minutes)

    • Quiz: Forensic Overview of Cutting and Stabbing Injury

    • Blunt and Sharp Force Injury Classifications

    • NIJ Report - Characterization of Weapons Used in Stabbing/Slashing Attacks

  • 12

    Section 12: Forensic Overview of Gun Shot Wounds

    • Introduction of Gun Shot Injury Investigation

    • Gun Shot Injury - Scene Investigation (20 minutes)

    • Range of Fire and Trajectory (20 minutes)

    • Gun Shot Wound Interpretation (20 minutes)

    • Documenting Injury and Summary (20 minutes)

    • Gun Shot Injury

    • Gun Diagrams
  • 13

    Checking in - Half Way Point

    • Checking in - Half way Point

    • Check Out Academy Swag

  • 14

    Section 13: Investigating Suicide and Self-Harm Death

    • Introduction and summary (2 minutes)

    • Suicide by Methods and Groups (7 minutes)

    • What is Suicide and Degrees of Certainty (18 minutes)

    • Quiz: What is Suicide

    • Scene Evaluations as it Relates to Suicides (20 minutes)

    • Quiz: Scene Evaluation

    • Staged and Altered Scenes (18 minutes)

    • Quiz: Staged and Altered Scenes

    • Understanding Victimology and How it is Used in Suicide Investigations (25 minutes)

    • Child and Adolescent Suicide (12 minutes)

    • Quiz: Victimology and Child Suicide

    • Suicide by Carbon Monoxide and Gases (8 minutes)

    • Suicide by Overdose (12 minutes)

    • Cutting and Stabbing Suicide (10 minutes)

    • Quiz: Suicide by Method
  • 15

    Section 14: Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene

    • Section Intro Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene

    • Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene Part 1 (28 minutes)

    • Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene Part 2 (20 minutes)

    • Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene Part 3 (25 minutes)

    • Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene Part 4 (18 minutes)

    • Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene Part 5 (26 minutes)

    • Quiz: Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene

    • Case Review 1

    • Case Review 2

    • Bonus eBook * Autoerotic Fatalities - Interpreting and Scene

    • Autoerotic Fatalities: Interview Questions to Consider

    • Downloadable -Autoerotic Fatalities: Interview Questions to Consider
  • 16

    Section 15: Asphyxial Death and Classification

    • Section Introduction

    • Defining Asphyxial Death an Classification (2 minutes)

    • Mechanical Asphyxiation - Hanging (15 minutes)

    • Ligature and Manual Strangulation (9 minutes)

    • Smothering, Gagging, Choking, and Drowning (6 minutes)

    • Inert Gas Asphyxiation (7 minutes)

    • Environmental Asphyxiation (11 minutes)

    • Pathological Asphyxiation (7 minutes)

    • Quiz: Asphyxial Death

  • 17

    Section 16: Infant and Child Death

    • Section Intro Infant and Child Death

    • Why Infant Death Investigation Training is Important (20 minutes)

    • Multidisciplinary Approach to Infant Death Investigation (5 minutes)

    • SIDS v. SUIDI (6 minutes)

    • Quiz: The Importance of Infant Death Investigation Training

    • Investigator Mental Health - Part One (18 minutes)

    • Investigator Mental Health Part Two (16 minutes)

    • Quiz: When a Child Dies

    • Initial Arrival on Scene (20 minutes)

    • Quiz: Scene Arrival

    • Communication with Family (14 minutes)

    • Understanding Developmental Milestones (8 minutes)

    • Quiz: Development Milestones and Aging Marks and Bruising

    • Understanding Abusive Head Trauma - Shaken Baby Syndrome (9 minutes)

    • Child Abuse and Infanticide (7 minutes)

    • Injuries and Post-Mortem Changes (22 minutes)

    • Infant Injury Examples (12 minutes)

    • Quiz: External Body Exam and Documenting Injuries

    • Gathering Information at the Scene (18 minutes)

    • Witness Statements (6minutes)

    • Care Giver Rolls and Scene Reenactments (14 minutes)

    • Quiz: Scene and Witness Statements

    • Identifying and Collecting Evidence Part-One (18 minutes)

    • Identifying and Collecting Evidence Part-Two (6 minutes)

    • Quiz: Identifying and Collecting Evidence

    • Death by Age Groups (15 minutes)

    • Childhood Suicide (7minutes)

    • Quiz: Differing Causes of Death

    • SUDI-Guidlines

    • Coroner and ME Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting

    • SUIDI Scene Form

    • SUIDI Additional Scene Forms

    • Child Forensic Body Charts (downloadable)

    • Placed - Found Placards (downloadable)

    • eBook: Overcoming Defense Expert Testimony in Abusive Head Trauma Cases
  • 18

    Section 17: Principles of Report Writing

    • Section Intro Principles of Report Writing

    • Practical importance of investigative reports (5 minutes)

    • Characteristics of an effective final report (6 minutes)

    • Field Notes (8minutes)

    • 7 tips for improving your spelling and grammar (6 minutes)

    • Principles of Investigative Report Writing Part 1 (14 minutes)

    • Principles of Investigative Report Writing Part 2 (13 minutes)

    • Report Writing in Death Cases

    • How to write organized and concise reports

    • Quiz: Principles of Investigative Report Writing

    • Example of a report that needs work

    • Scene Narrative Assignment Explanation

    • Scene Investigation Narrative

  • 19

    Section 18: Court Room Preparation and Testimony

    • Section Intro. Court Room Preparation and Testimony

    • Court Room Preparation and Testimony Part 1 (12 minutes)

    • Court Room Preparation and Testimony Part 2 (10 minutes)

    • NJCLES Effective Courtroom Testimony (9minutes)

    • Credibility – How credible do you appear

    • Quiz: Court Room Preparation and Testimony
  • 20

    Section 19: Professionalism and Ethics

    • Professionalism and Ethics Section Introduction

    • Professional and Ethical Conduct (22 minutes)

    • Attributes of a Successful Investigator (17 minutes)

    • Ethics in Investigation and Law Enforcement

    • Quiz: Professionalism and Ethics
  • 21

    Section 20: Preparedness Mindset for Investigators - it's not an emergency if you have a plan

    • Mental Preparation Introduction (2 minutes)

    • Every Case - Every Time (15 minutes)

    • Mental Preparation (19 minutes)

    • Quiz: Its not an emergency if you have a plan

    • Leadership v. Management (15 minutes)

    • Managing the Investigation (10 minutes)

    • Quiz: Leadership and Scene Management
  • 22

    Section 21: Cultural Diversity and Death Investigation

    • Section Intro Cultural Diversity and Death Investigation

    • Cultural Diversity and Death Investigation Video 1 (21 minutes)

    • Cultural Diversity and Death Investigation Video 2 ( 22 minutes)

    • Quiz: Cultural Diversity and Death Investigation

    • Cultural Diversity and Death Investigation Video 3 (32 minutes)

    • Quiz: Cultural Diversity and Death Investigation

    • Cultural Diversity Guide Book
  • 23

    Section 22: Managing Conflict in the Workplace

    • Section Introduction

    • Basic Principles of Conflict (11 minutes)

    • Five Primary Causes of Conflict (19 minutes)

    • Knowing When Conflict is Out of Line (14 minutes)

    • Quiz: Principles and Causes of Conflict

    • How Conflict is Resolved ( 14 minutes)

    • Qualities of a Peacemaker (20 minutes)

    • Quiz: Resolving Conflict

  • 24

    Section 23: Job Related Stress - Secondary Traumatic Stress

    • Section Intro

    • Job Related Stress Part 1-4 (30 minutes)

    • Job Related Stress Part 2-4 (30 minutes)

    • Job Related Stress Part 3-4 (25 minutes)

    • Job Related Stress Part 4-4 (25 minutes)

    • Quiz: Job Related Stress

    • Breaking the Grip of Compassion Fatigue
  • 25

    Section 24: Final Summary and What's Next

    • Congratulations, What's next?

    • Final Examination

    • Final Exam Verification

  • 26

    Section 25: Certification Exam Application Process

    • Certification Exam Application Process

    • Exam Application Process

    • Law Enforcement CLEE Request