What Kind of School Is Needed to Become a Medical Examiner?
Medical examiners are involved in examining the remains of deceased individuals in order to determine the cause of death. In some cases they may be called upon to determine whether death caused by injury was accidental in nature, or intentional. In order to work as a medical examiner an individual must typically be a medical doctor with advanced studies in pathology.
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College
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According to the state of Virginia's Career Guide for Medical Examiners, candidates must complete high school and obtain an undergraduate degree from an accredited college. Although there is no required undergraduate degree, most individuals who are interested in pursuing a career as a medical examiner choose to major in a pre-medical field such as biology, chemistry, or physics.
Medical School
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According to Education-Portal.com, an individual who is interested in becoming a medical examiner must earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from an accredited medical school. Following medical school the candidate must become certified as a pathologist.
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Time Frame
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It typically takes four years to obtain an undergraduate degree from a traditional college or university. It usually takes an additional four years to complete medical school. According to the state of Virginia, becoming certified in pathology takes between four and five years of training followed by one year of residency or fellowship. Certification is awarded following the successful completion of a certification examination administered by the American Board of Pathology.
Types
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According to the state of Virginia's Career Guide for Medical Examiners, there are two types of educational courses of study that medical examiner candidates may pursue following medical school. A candidate my choose a five-year course of study in anatomic and clinical pathology plus a one-year forensic pathology residency. A candidate may also choose a four-year course of study in anatomic pathology plus one year of practical, supervised experience in forensic pathology, including performing autopsies and investigating deaths.
Benefits
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According to PayScale.com, forensic pathologists who are employed by governmental agencies may earn between $50,000 and $154,000 per year as of May 2010. DegreeDirectory.com places the average income of a forensic pathologist working as a medical examiner at between $75,000 and $200,000. DegreeDirectory.com notes that pathologists working in the private sector typically earn more than those working for governmental agencies.
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References
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