ETC Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the ETC exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 ETC Exam Format at a Glance
📚 ETC Topics to Study (38)
✍️ Sample ETC Questions & Answers
1. Cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming is primarily used to develop latent prints on which type of surface?
Cyanoacrylate fuming causes superglue vapors to polymerize on the amino acids, fatty acids, and proteins in latent print residue on non-porous surfaces.
2. Which packaging material is CONTRAINDICATED for storing arson evidence containing volatile accelerants?
Plastic bags allow volatile accelerants to permeate through the bag walls, causing loss of evidence and potential cross-contamination.
3. When evidence is transferred between jurisdictions, what additional documentation is typically required?
Inter-jurisdictional transfers require inter-agency transfer forms, authorization letters, and updated chain of custody entries to ensure legal continuity across different agencies.
4. When an evidence technician receives evidence from a first responder who did not properly package it, what should the technician do?
The technician should accept the evidence, thoroughly document the improper packaging as received, and then repackage it correctly, creating a transparent record of the packaging issue.
5. How should trace evidence such as loose fibers or hair be packaged at the crime scene to prevent loss?
Paper envelopes and druggist folds allow moisture to escape (preventing mold) while securely containing small loose particles without static buildup that plastic bags can cause.
6. Paint transfer evidence from a hit-and-run scene is best characterized using which combination of analytical methods?
FTIR identifies the organic binder and pigment chemistry of paint layers, while SEM-EDX provides elemental composition of inorganic pigments, together allowing detailed layer-by-layer comparisons.