How to Become a Forensic Science Technician

The forensic scientist was made popular by television shows. These people investigate crime scenes for evidence. Their work is used to help solve a mystery: What happened at the crime scene, and how did it happen? If collecting and analyzing evidence sounds like the job for you, you might want to become a forensic science technician. Here's how you can become one.

Instructions

1. Decide if you would like being a forensic scientist or science technician. You will need to take plenty of college-level math and science courses. Once you're hired you will need to be comfortable with looking at and handling bodies, tissues and body fluids. You will also need to enjoy working in a laboratory setting as you analyze samples.

2. Get a degree in science. All forensic science technicians have four-year college degrees. Most of them hold degrees in forensic science. If your school does not offer a forensic science degree, chemistry and biology are good substitutes because they require you to take many difficult science and math courses.

3. Pad your resume with good experiences. When you are in college, get a job in a professor's laboratory. Of course a forensics laboratory would be best. It will give you experience and the opportunity to work with a professional forensic scientist. Don't be discouraged if you do not get a job in a forensics laboratory right away. Start in a general chemistry lab or something similar. As you get experience, you will more likely get into a forensics laboratory in your later years of college.

4. Search for forensic science technician jobs. You can do this by networking. Ask a forensic scientist you met during college if he has any contacts for you. You can also call your local medical examiner's office or a local private forensics laboratory.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make contacts in your local medical examiner's office by making an informal interview in which you interview a professional forensic scientist or forensic science technician. Call up the medical examiner's office, and ask to meet with someone for 20 to 30 minutes to learn more about their job. This will give you the chance to introduce yourself and make a contact. During your meeting ask a forensic science technician how he got his job. Then ask for advice, such as what kind of experiences you should have. Remember, you're only trying to make contacts. Make it known that you are interested in working there, but do not harass your new contact for a job. Make a good impression, and you'll have you're foot in the door.