GET GOING WITH THE PROCESS OF BECOMING AN MUFON CERTIFIED FIELD INVESTIGATOR!
MUFON Field Investigators are the heart and soul of our organization. To become a MUFON Field Investigator you must be at least 18-years of age, be able to acceptably pass a personal background check, and be willing to execute and agree to a MUFON non-disclosure agreement.
Below you will find the process steps associated with becoming a MUFON Field Investigator. All candidates should follow these steps in order.
1 - BECOME A MEMBER
The first step to become a Field Investigator is to join or renew your membership with MUFON. Only members in good standing may achieve Field Investigator status.
2 - TALK TO YOUR STATE, PROVINCIAL, OR NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Click on the “Find My State, Provincial, or National Director” button below to obtain contact information for your state, province, or country. You can email your director and let them know of your interest in becoming a Field Investigator. This will give you a chance to ask questions, allow the director to get to know you, and detail what skills you will bring to the role.
If you are unable to contact your local State Director please contact Steve Hudgeons, Director of Investigations at [email protected] .
If you are located outside of the United States contact Robert Spearing, Director of Investigations for International at [email protected] .
3 - GET YOUR COPY OF THE MUFON FIELD INVESTIGATOR MANUAL
Purchase a hard copy of the MUFON Field Investigator manual or subscribe to the online version by visiting the MUFON Store (NOTE: the online version is NOT downloadable).
To ensure that only competent investigators conduct witness interviews, on-site investigations, or formal contacts with public agencies and others, structured Field Investigator training is essential. The MUFON Field Investigator Manual is the basic reference for investigations and training. All trainees must possess their own original, current manual or have a current subscription to the online version. Trainees must become completely familiar with its contents.
4 - STUDY THE FIELD INVESTIGATOR MANUAL
Before engaging in an actual investigation the Field Investigator Trainee needs a thorough grounding in the following areas:
° Investigative Ethics: The Trainee must understand and adhere to the tenet of anonymity. This means withholding witness identifiers from persons who are not part of the investigation or its evaluation and from persons outside of MUFON.
° Interviewing Methods: Preparation, controlling the setting, obtaining complete accounts, recognizing sensory perceptions, analyzing witness body language, active listening, interpreting the oral account, and drawing conclusions.
° Collateral Contacts: Knowledge of contacts to make to potentially resolve the report as a misconception, determine the person’s reliability as a witness, or identify others who may have witnessed and reported the same event.
° Technical Background: Working knowledge of weather anomalies, astronomy, conventional aircraft (especially lighting configurations), satellites, photographic equipment and methods, and soil sciences.
5 - TAKE THE FIELD INVESTIGATOR CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION ON MUFON UNIVERSITY
In order to become a Field Investigator Trainee, every member must achieve a score of at least 80% or greater on the MUFON Field Investigator’s Exam. The purpose of administering the exam is to evaluate the individual’s practical knowledge of the investigative process. The exam consists of one hundred questions concerning light and optics, sound, electromagnetic properties, measurements, physical traces, photography, radio and radar, celestial objects, and atmosphere.
NOTE – You must be a MUFON Certified Field Investigator to have full access to courses on MUFON University. Initially you will only have access to the Examination. If purchased, you will also have access to the Training Course or Online Manual.
Once you have been approved as an investigator trainee, you will then have access to the remainder of courses at MU including courses. These courses will provide you with valuable information about MUFON, ufology, policies and procedures, case management, investigative techniques, and much more. Courses are constantly being added which will help with your personal development as a MUFON Certified Field Investigator.
Field Investigator and Volunteer Onboarding courses are available and should be completed by every trainee after passing the certification exam.
6 - FIELD INVESTIGATOR BADGE PHOTOS & PAPERWORK
After passing the Examination sign and USPS mail the originals of the required paperwork to MUFON Headquarters. Include your name and MUFON membership number.
Email a color head-shoulders photo to [email protected] – include your name, MUFON membership number, and a short statement advising that you have sent the original paperwork by USPS mail.
The approval process will not progress any further until all the required paperwork and photo have been received and approved by headquarters. Detailed instructions regarding the required paperwork as well as the required forms are provided on MUFON University when you take the examination..
MUFON will conduct a background check on all Field Investigator Applicants. If MUFON determines the background check is not acceptable to MUFON, the Field Investigator Trainee designation will not be issued to the applicant.
7 - MENTOR WITH A LICENSED MUFON FIELD INVESTIGATOR
Once you pass your exam and have your paperwork and background check approved, you will be designated a Field Investigator Trainee. You must then contact your Sate, Provincial, or National Director for further instructions. Typically they will have you work with an experienced field investigator on several field investigations before allowing you to attempt an investigation on your own. The Director will monitor your progress and will decide whether to advance you from trainee to investigator. Advancement to certified investigator is entirely at the discretion of the State Director or their designated appointee.
