Become a Forensic Scientist: Study Forensic Science
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Using science to help identify criminals and analyze evidence against them, forensic scientists are detectives with microscopes. From matching shell casings to a gun to using hair samples to identify a suspect, forensic scientists help determine the facts of a legal case. Forensic evidence is often center stage during criminal trials with scientists as expert witnesses.
Forensic science technicians perform scientific tests on evidence collected in connected with a crime to determine their significance to the criminal investigation. The evidence they analyze may include blood, saliva, semen, drugs and fingerprints. Most forensic scientists specialize in a single area, such as DNA analysis or firearm examination. Forensic scientists also prepare reports documenting their findings and the laboratory techniques used.
Forensics: Specialty Areas
Forensic scientists prepare reports documenting their findings and the laboratory techniques used. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians often testify as expert witnesses on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials and other evidence collected at the crime scene.
- Forensic Engineering: Crash, accident or structural-failure analysis
- Forensic Entomology: Problems relating to time of death, body decay and the population of insect larvae
- Criminalistics: Analyzing, comparing, identifying and interpreting physical evidence
- Crime Scene Investigation: Collecting and managing evidence
- Polygraph Examination: Conducting and interpreting polygraph tests
- Document Examination: Problems relating to dating and source of paper and ink documents
To learn more about a career in forensic science, read our interview with a forensic scientist.
Forensics: Workplaces
Forensic scientists generally work for state, federal or private crime laboratories. They may also work for:
- Medical examiner/coroner offices
- Hospitals
- Universities
- Toxicology laboratories
- Police departments
- Independent forensic science consultants
Forensics: Education & Training
Associate's Level
An associate's degree in criminal justice, forensic science, or one of the biological or physical sciences may be a good starting point for entry-level forensic techs.
Bachelor's Level
A bachelor's degree in one of the biological or physical sciences is strongly recommended. Most programs offer subspecialty areas of forensic study such as criminalistics, pathology or toxicology.
Graduate Level
Many forensic scientists have master's or doctorate degrees in their area of specialty; for example: forensic pathologist (MD), forensic anthropologist (PhD), forensic dentist (DDS).
Volunteer Experience
To gain the experience that employers look for, you may want to volunteer in a crime or toxicology laboratory or at a medical examiner's facility.
Forensics: Licensing & Certification
While there are no mandatory licensing requirements, most forensic scientists receive certification from one or more of the forensic specialty boards such as:
- The American Board of Criminalistics
- The American Board of Forensic Entomology
- The American Board of Forensic Document Examiners
- The American Board of Forensic Toxicology
- The National Registry in Clinical Chemistry (certifies forensic toxicologists)
- The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) which confers the title Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator
Forensics: Salary
- Experienced forensic scientists may earn $40,000 to $85,000.
- Lab directors with advanced degrees may earn more than $100,000.
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- Criminology vs. Criminalistics
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