To meet the increasing demand for forensic sciences services by all elements of the civil and criminal justice system, while ensuring the continued competence of forensic science professionals, certification research planning committees were established in six forensic science disciplines -- toxicology, odontology, physical anthropology, psychiatry, questioned document examination, and criminalistics. These committees were organized to accomplish three primary goals: study the ramification of establishing certification programs for the forensic sciences profession, structure the mechanism and create implementation plans for each of the six disciplines included in the project, and field test the resultant plans. During the 4 years of the research program, five of the disciplines, all but criminalistics, achieved operational status as certifying bodies. Individually structured certification programs were developed and implemented. A certification program is pending for criminalistics. Relevant committee reports, study results, bulletins, and other material are appended. (Author abstract modified)