How to Become a Medical Examiner

A medical examiner protects the health of the public he serves. Appointed by the County Board of Supervisors, a medical examiner is a doctor who is a licensed pathologist with a certification in forensic medicine. Learn the training and experience required to become a medical examiner by reading more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Apply to an accredited medical school. Graduate from medical school and prepare for and pass the licensing exam. Further your medical studies and focus on pathology as a specialty.
2. Understand that a forensic pathologist is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy with approximately six years specialized training beyond medical school. To be certified, the doctor must pass a national exam given by the American Board of Pathology.
3. Realize the differences between a medical examiner and a coroner. A medical examiner is an appointed post that is held by a doctor who is a licensed pathologist. The duration of his appointment varies by state. Certain states allow a medical examiner to serve until he is removed or retires; other states have term limits of approximately two to four years. A coroner is an elected position which is usually held by a lay person who works with certain doctors that perform autopsies.
4. Consider the job responsibilities of the medical examiner while studying. A medical examiner must be able to investigate all types of deaths (tragic, unexplained and natural) and use forensic medicine and pathology to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. A medical examiner must be able to explain the medical conclusions to officials and next of kin and testify in a court of law.

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