Careers in Forensics

To become a forensic scientist, you usually need a bachelor's degree in a natural science such as chemistry or biology, or a degree in forensic science, followed by on-the-job training in a crime laboratory.[1] An associate's degree is enough for some positions, and some crime scene roles are filled by sworn police officers.[1]

Forensic science covers a wide range of jobs, from crime scene investigators and lab analysts to medical examiners, toxicologists, digital examiners, and anthropologists.[6] Each role has its own schooling and, in many cases, a voluntary certification exam that shows an employer you can do the work.

For the groundwork first, see how forensic science works and the specialists who work a case.

How to become a forensic scientist

Forensic science technicians typically need at least a bachelor's degree, and the fields of study that fit best are physical science, biology, or forensic science.[1] A forensic science program often lets you concentrate on one area, such as toxicology, pathology, or DNA.[1]

Once hired, most technicians go through moderate-term on-the-job training before they handle casework on their own.[1] Some crime scene investigators who work for police departments are sworn officers who also completed a police academy.[1] To run independent casework, a technician may have to pass a proficiency exam through the state or an accrediting body.[1]

Crime scene investigators and lab technicians

Crime scene technicians collect and document evidence at the scene. They photograph what they find, record where each item was located, and package evidence so its chain of custody holds up in court.[1] Laboratory technicians take that evidence and run chemical, biological, and microscopic tests on it.[1]

This is the most common way into the field. You can read about specific methods on the techniques A to Z page.

How DNA evidence is analyzed

A DNA analyst works in the lab, turning a swab of blood, saliva, or skin cells into a profile that can include or exclude a suspect.[2] The workflow moves from extraction (pulling DNA out of the sample), to quantitation (measuring how much is there), to amplification by PCR (copying tiny amounts millions of times), and then to typing at a set of standard locations called STR loci.[2]

The FBI chose specific STR loci as the standard for CODIS, the national DNA database, so labs across the country can compare profiles.[2] DNA analysts usually hold a degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related science, and many earn certification in forensic DNA or molecular biology.[4]

What a medical examiner does

A medical examiner is a physician, which makes this the longest path into forensic work.[3] It runs through medical school for an MD or DO, then a residency in pathology accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, then a fellowship in forensic pathology, and finally board certification in the subspecialty.[3]

Medical examiners determine the cause and manner of death and perform autopsies. A related role, the medicolegal death investigator, works the death scene itself and reports to the medical examiner or coroner. There is no single required degree for that job, though forensic science, natural science, anthropology, and nursing backgrounds all help.[5]

Toxicologists, digital examiners, and anthropologists

Forensic toxicologists test blood and urine for drugs, alcohol, and poisons, and they usually study chemistry, pharmacology, or toxicology. Many hold certification from the American Board of Forensic Toxicology.

Digital and multimedia examiners recover data from phones, computers, and other devices. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences recognizes this as one of its formal disciplines, and the work usually calls for a computer science or cybersecurity background.[6] Forensic anthropologists identify skeletal remains and estimate age, sex, and signs of trauma, which normally requires a graduate degree in anthropology.

Certifications for forensic scientists

Certification is voluntary in most of the field, but it signals to a lab that you have met a set standard.[4] The American Board of Criminalistics certifies criminalists and lab analysts through peer-reviewed exams in areas like drug chemistry and forensic DNA.[4] The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators certifies death investigators by exam and recertifies every five years.[5] Medical examiners are board certified in forensic pathology.[3]

Other boards cover specific specialties, including the American Board of Forensic Toxicology and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. Many of these boards are themselves accredited by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board.[5]

Pay and job outlook for forensic science technicians

The median annual wage for forensic science technicians was $67,440 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.[1] There were about 20,700 of these jobs that year.[1]

Employment is projected to grow 13 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 2,900 openings a year over the decade.[1] Pay and openings vary widely by state and by the type of lab.

Sources

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Forensic Science Technicians, Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 data).
2. National Institute of Justice, DNA Evidence: Basics of Analyzing.
3. American Board of Pathology, Forensic Pathology subspecialty certification.
4. American Board of Criminalistics.
5. American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI).
6. American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Careers in Forensic Science.