Forensic Science Technicians

Forensic science technicians study physical evidence in order to solve crimes.

Technicians sometimes collect physical evidence at crime scenes. Often evidence is collected by crime scene investigators and brought to the crime lab where technicians do much of their work.

Forensic Science Technicians are in the Law, Public Safety, and Security career cluster and the Law Enforcement Services pathway.

Quick Facts

Source: Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and CareerOneStop.

Wages & Outlook

Wages

Wages vary by employer and the technician's level of education and responsibility.

Technicians who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, sick leave, paid vacation, and a retirement plan.

View the Regional Wage Comparison Chart for:

• Forensic Science Technicians

 

Employment

In Minnesota, about 19 forensic science technicians work in this very small occupation.

Major employers:

• Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies

Outlook

The number of crimes committed each year that require investigation may increase as the population grows. Growth is expected as forensic science is used to examine, solve, and prevent crime. Because most technicians work for government agencies, growth in this occupation is related to funding for their departments.

Competition for jobs should be strong because of the interest in forensic science and crime scene investigation created by television shows.

Employment Outlook for Forensic Science Technicians

	Employment		Employment Change
	2010	2020	Number	Percent
U S	13,000	15,400	2,400	18.5%

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.

On the Job

Overview

Forensic science technicians study physical evidence in order to solve crimes.


Forensic science has benefited greatly from recent scientific discoveries and technology, from the use of DNA to polygraph (lie detector) tests. However, the history of forensic science dates back at least 700 years. The first written "evidence" of the use of medical knowledge to analyze a crime was in 1248, in a Chinese book called "His Duan Yu." This translates to "the washing away of wrongs." The book discusses, among other things, how to tell drowning apart from strangulation. Today, forensic science technicians still use the natural sciences to solve crimes. However, the techniques and technology are quite sophisticated.Technicians sometimes collect physical evidence at crime scenes. Often evidence is collected by crime scene investigators and brought to the crime lab where technicians do much of their work. Typically, forensic science technicians analyze evidence submitted to the lab where they work, and perform work on request.

Physical evidence can be a weapon, a piece of clothing, a bloodstain, or drugs. Trace evidence includes less obvious items such as hair, handwriting, fibers, or glass. Proper collection and storage are important to protect the evidence. For example, technicians collect trace evidence using a pair of jeweler's tweezers. They place it in a folded paper cone, and then into a sealed envelope. They store larger items in sealed plastic bags.

Forensic science technicians examine the evidence in order to reconstruct the crime scene. They try to determine the relationships among all the evidence in order to link a suspect to the crime. Technicians test or analyze all physical evidence. Besides the evidence mentioned above, they analyze guns and tool marks. Tool mark analysis looks at marks made by objects that may have been used in a crime. In terms of guns, they analyze bullets, gunshot residue, and the paths bullets take when shot. If the weapon was left at the scene, they examine it to see if it was legally obtained and who the owner might be.

Technicians also analyze impression evidence. This may be a shoe or tire print made in soil or bite marks in food. Technicians also analyze body fluid evidence, such as bloodstains or saliva. They may look for poisons, illnesses, or drugs. Some technicians specialize in examining one or more types of evidence.

Forensic science technicians interpret lab findings to identify the physical evidence. They often confer with experts or other technicians. For example, technicians might consult a medical expert about the exact time and cause of a death. They might also consult a technician who specializes in DNA typing. DNA typing is done from body fluids. It provides a genetic map that is different for every person. Technicians try to match DNA type to a suspect.

Forensic science technicians prepare reports of their findings. They keep records of their investigation methods and lab techniques. Their records have to be detailed and correct. Technicians often have to testify in court about evidence or lab work.

Forensic science technicians are also known as criminalists.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.

• Collect and preserve physical evidence, using proper collection and storage methods.
• Reconstruct crime scene to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.
• Examine, test, or analyze physical evidence such as fibers, fingerprints, or bullets.
• Analyze fluid evidence from bloodstains or saliva.
• Examine DNA samples to see if they match other samples.
• Interpret laboratory findings to identify physical evidence and provide a link to the suspect.
• Prepare reports of findings, investigative methods, or lab techniques.
• Confer with other experts about the interpretation of evidence.
• May specialize in one or more types of evidence.
• Testify as expert witnesses on evidence or laboratory techniques in trials or hearings.

People in this career perform the following list of tasks, but the tasks are common to many occupations.

• Get information needed to do the job.
• Identify objects, actions, and events.
• Document and record information.
• Update and use job-related knowledge.
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.
• Use computers.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work.
• Communicate with people from outside the organization.
• Establish and maintain relationships.
• Make decisions and solve problems.
• Evaluate information against standards.
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings.
• Perform activities that use the whole body.
• Explain the meaning of information to others.
• Process information.
• Work for the public.
• Handle and move objects.
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials.
• Analyze data or information.
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment.

Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

Interpersonal Relationships

• Have a medium to high level of social contact. They often work closely with investigators and other experts.
• Are moderately responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Communicate daily by telephone, e-mail, and in person. They communicate less often by letters and memos.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.
• Are moderately responsible for the work done by others.

Physical Work Conditions

• Work indoors when analyzing evidence.
• Sometimes work outdoors when collecting evidence. They also travel to crime scenes by car, usually once a week.
• Often wear protective and disposable clothing, such as gloves and paper suits, when handling physical evidence.
• Are sometimes exposed to disease or other contaminants contained in physical evidence.
• Are exposed to hazardous conditions on a weekly basis.
• Are occasionally exposed to cramped work spaces that require getting into awkward positions. They often must crawl or kneel to gather evidence.
• Work closely to others. They often share the same work space with other technicians and analysts.

Work Performance

• Must be extremely exact in their work and be sure all details are done. Errors or omissions could impair an investigation.
• May at times repeat the same activities over and over, especially when running routine tests.
• Make decisions that affect others on a daily basis. They can make most decisions without consulting a supervisor, but may consult others for specific tests or analyses.
• Can set some tasks and goals for the day, but often get directions from investigators first.
• Are moderately aware of job pressures. Certain cases may be especially difficult.
• Abide by strict deadlines on a weekly basis.

Hours/Travel

• Usually work a 40-hour week.
• May be required to be on call to collect evidence at crime scenes. However, most work a set schedule.

Physical Demands

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

People in this career frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time, usually when analyzing evidence.
• Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for people in this career to be able to:

• See details of objects whether they are nearby or far away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for people in this career to be able to:

• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Be physically active and use muscles for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Education & Training

Preparation

To work as a forensic science technician, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or GED;
• have a bachelor's degree in science or a science-related technology; and
• complete moderate-term on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Most forensic science technicians have a bachelor's degree in applied science or technology. Some have a bachelor's degree in biology or chemistry. It is possible to work as a technician if you do not have a bachelor's degree in a life science. However, you need to take many science and math courses in college. Physics and chemistry are especially important. Courses with a laboratory component are also vital.

Work experience

A summer job in a lab is excellent preparation for working in this field.

On-the-job training

While in school, you should consider participating in an internship in a forensic science lab. This experience is very helpful for getting a job. Once on the job, you will receive additional training. The length of training varies by employer. Some labs provide up to one year of training.

Related Programs (Current training programs available)

• Forensic Chemistry.
• Forensic Science and Technology

Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)

Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.

• Biological Sciences, General
• Chemistry
• Forensic Science
• Medical Laboratory Science

Level of Education

The tables below list the level of education attained by a subset of workers in this occupation. The workers surveyed were between age 25 and 44.

Education level attained	Percentage of workers in this occupation*
Less than high school diploma	3
High school diploma or equivalent	18
Some college, no degree	24
Associate degree	12
Bachelor's degree	29
Master's degree	10
Doctoral (Ph.D.) or professional degree	4

* National data for forensic science technicians (SOC 19-4092).

Helpful High School Courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements. Forensic science technicians need a strong background in math and science. Take as many advanced classes as you can.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Criminology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Skills

People in this career need to:

Communicate

• Express ideas clearly when speaking or writing.
• Read and understand written information.
• Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.

Reason and Problem Solve

• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Develop rules or follow guidelines for arranging items.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Identify problems and review information. Develop, review, and apply solutions.
• Think of new ideas or original and creative ways to solve problems.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Use Math and Science

• Use math and science skills to solve problems.

Manage Oneself, People, Time and Things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with People

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Use several methods to teach others how to do something.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Work with Things

• Test and inspect products, services, or processes. Evaluate quality or performance.
• Determine the tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.
• Maintain equipment on a routine basis. Determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Operate and control equipment.

Perceive and Visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Knowledge

People in this career need knowledge in the following areas:

• English Language: Knowledge of the meaning, spelling, and use of the English language.
• Law, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, rules, court procedures, and the political process.
• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
• Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of protecting people, data, and property.
• Chemistry: Knowledge of the properties of substances and the changes that occur when they interact.
• Clerical: Knowledge of general office work such as filing and recording information.
• Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of computer hardware and software.
• Education and Training: Knowledge of teaching and the methods involved in learning and instruction.
• Mathematics: Knowledge of the rules and uses of numbers. Areas of knowledge include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and statistics.
• Biology: Knowledge of plants, animals, and living organisms and how they function.
• Psychology: Knowledge of people, their actions, and mental processes. This may include knowledge of how to treat emotional and behavioral problems.

Interests

People in this career are people who tend to:

• Consider support from their employer important. They like to be treated fairly and have supervisors who will back them up. They prefer jobs where they are trained well.
• Consider recognition important. They like to work in jobs which have opportunities for them to advance, be recognized for their work, and direct and instruct others. They usually prefer jobs in which they are looked up to by others.
• Have investigative interests. They like work activities that have to do with ideas and thinking. They like to search for facts and figure out solutions to problems mentally.
• Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside.
• Have conventional interests. They like work activities that follow set procedures, routines, and standards. They like to work with data and detail. They prefer working where there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Tools & Technology for Forensic Science Technicians

Tools

Alcohol analysers Breathalyzers Benchtop centrifuges Laboratory benchtop centrifuges Binocular light compound microscopes Optical compound microscopes Biological evidence collection kits Blood collection kits Body fluid collection kits Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kits Biometric identification equipment Fingerprint recognition systems Camera lenses or filters Colored camera filters Ultraviolet UV camera lens filters Desktop computers Digital camcorders or video cameras Digital video cameras Digital cameras Direction finding compasses Navigational compasses Distance meters Electronic measuring devices Fabric or netting for entomology Insect swoop nets Fingerprint applicators or brushes Fingerprint brushes Fingerprint latent print kits Fingerprint evidence kits Flags or accessories Crime scene evidence flags Floor grade forceps or hemostats Medical hemostats Footprint lifters Electrostatic dust print lifters Gel lifters Impression casting kits Footwear covers Footwear protectors Forensic chemical workstations Cyanoacrylate fuming chambers Gas generators Portable generators Goggles UV forensic goggles Handheld thermometer Handheld digital thermometers Hazardous material protective apparel Biohazard suits Identification markers Photo markers Infrared lamps Infrared light sources Laboratory balances Electronic precision balances Laboratory hotplates Fuming hot plates Laboratory insect containers Insect collection containers Laboratory mixers Benchtop mixers Laboratory scalpels Pointed scalpels Rounded scalpels Laboratory scissors Evidence scissors Stainless steel scissors Laboratory sifting equipment Sifting screens Laboratory spatulas Stainless steel spatulas Laboratory tools Plastic evidence tweezers Stainless steel tweezers

Laboratory washing machines Glassware washers Lasers Laser trajectory kits Portable lasers Magnifiers Hand held magnifiers Inspection mirrors Measuring wheels for distance Distance measuring wheels Medical staff isolation or surgical masks Protective masks Metal detectors Microscope slides Minivans or vans Police vans Narcotic test kits Drug testing kits Nitrogen or nitrate or nitrite analyzer Gunshot residue kits Notebook computers Laptop computers Mobile data computers Personal computers Portable data input terminals Handheld evidence collection computers Postmortem fingerprint or impression materials Postmortem print spoons Power saws Reciprocating saws Protective gloves Protective latex gloves Protractors Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessories Self-contained breathing apparatus Rulers Photographic scales Safety glasses Sexual assault determination kits Sexual assault evidence collection kits Shovels Spades Specimen collectors Evidence collection containers Glass specimen jars Plastic specimen jars Spectrophotometers Steam autoclaves or sterilizers Steam sterilizers Still cameras 35 millimeter cameras Large format cameras Tape measures Crime scene tape measures Steel measuring tape Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers Thermocyclers Two way radios Portable two way radios Ultraviolet UV lamps Long-wave ultraviolet UV lamps Ultraviolet UV lights Utility knives

Technology

Analytical or scientific software DNA sequence analysis software Laboratory information management system LIMS software Charting software Microsoft Office Visio Data base user interface and query software Automated Biometric Identification System ABIS Combined DNA Index System CODIS DataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScene Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS Microsoft Access National Crime Information Center NCIC database National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN Electronic mail software IBM Lotus Notes Microsoft Outlook Graphics or photo imaging software Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software DesignWare 3D EyeWitness Eos Systems PhotoModeler Graphics software Image enhancement software Mideo Systems EZDoc Plus Midwest Information Systems PAX-it SmartDraw.com SmartDraw Legal The CAD Zone The Crime Zone Trancite Logic Systems ScenePD Visual Statement Vista FX3 CSI

Internet browser software Web browser software Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel Word processing software Corel WordPerfect software Microsoft Word

Licensing / Certification

Certification Details

Certifications are examinations that test or enhance your knowledge, experience or skills in an occupation or profession.

There are 42 certifications related to this career.

Licensing Details

No State of Minnesota license requirements are found for this career.

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and CareerOneStop.

Jobs

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Hiring Practices

Employers prefer applicants who have laboratory experience. Such experience may come from coursework or from work experience, such as internships. Forensic experience is very helpful. Some employers prefer applicants who have a master's degree in criminalistics or forensic science. Others require only a bachelor's degree.

Advancement Opportunities

Advancement depends on experience and knowledge of forensic testing. Law enforcement agencies have designated levels for promotion. Technicians begin at a trainee level and advance as they gain skills. Experienced technicians can advance to lead worker or supervisor. Some may advance to an administrative position as director of a crime lab. A master's degree in criminalistics or forensic science may be required for administrative jobs.

Job Title Examples

Crime Scene Analyst,  Crime Scene Technician,  Detective-Crime Scene Investigations,  Forensic Scientist,  Latent Fingerprint Examiner,  Crime Scene Investigator,  Evidence Technician,  Criminalist 

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Related Industries

Below are industries related to Forensic Science Technicians you may be interested in reading about. Employers in these industries typically hire Forensic Science Technicians. Click on the names to link to their industry profile.

Business Management And Support Services
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Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.