Specialized Forensic Science Education to Work in Forensics

Read about the types of forensic science education to decide which one corresponds best to your own professional goals.

Associate's Level Forensic Science Education

An associate's degree in criminal justice, forensic science, or one of the physical sciences is the entry-level degree for a forensic science career. With an associate's degree, you can find jobs as a forensic technician.

Bachelor's Level Forensic Science Education

For ambitious forensic scientists who want to make a difference, a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry or physics is strongly recommended. Most programs require that you specialize in a specific area of forensics, such as criminalistics, pathology or toxicology.

Graduate Level Forensic Science Education

Many forensic scientists have a master's or doctoral degree in their specialty area, for example, forensic pathology (MD), forensic anthropology (PhD) or forensic dentistry (DDS). Forensic psychologists generally have at least a master's degree. But the most ambitious people in this field continue their research and get a doctoral degree. People with advanced degrees are the ones who find the most in-demand jobs.

Volunteer Experience in Forensic Science

If you'll be looking for an entry-level job when you get out of school, consider volunteering in a crime or toxicology laboratory, or at a medical examiner's facility, to gain the experience that employers look for.

There are no mandatory licensing requirements once you finish your forensic science education but most forensic scientists receive certification from one or more of the many forensic specialty boards, depending on their specialties:

• 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 of Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator

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• What You'll Learn at the Best Criminal Justice Schools