Is a Degree Required to Be a Crime Lab Technician?
Crime lab technicians handle, preserve and analyze DNA, blood, hair, fibers, shell casings and other crime scene evidence. By testing these materials, laboratory technicians assist law enforcement investigators in solving homicides, sexual assaults and other crimes. Like other forensic science jobs, becoming a crime lab technician requires a college degree.
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Degree Requirements
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Although specific education requirements may vary across crime labs and other laboratory facilities, becoming a crime lab technician generally requires a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the natural sciences. Chemistry is the best overall major for aspiring crime lab workers, according to Florida State University criminologist Dale Nute. If you are interested in DNA analysis, Nute advises taking courses in biology and biochemistry.
Coursework Advice
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The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors advises future crime laboratory technicians to earn a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, forensic science or molecular biology. In addition, the society suggests taking elective courses in criminal justice, criminal procedure, criminal law and statistics. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences further advises taking English composition courses, noting that forensic professionals need excellent written communication skills to present complex scientific information in a way a lay audience can understand.
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Warning
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The growing popularity of crime lab work and other forensic science careers has fueled growth in college and university degree programs in forensic science. The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors website advises students to ensure a degree program in which they are interested is heavily weighted in science coursework, including classes in chemistry, organic chemistry and other sciences. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences notes that the content and quality of a college degree program are more important than the degree's title.
Considerations
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In addition to a degree, the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors reports that most crime labs require on-the-job training for new technicians and scientists. Often, this poses a major challenge for most labs because of their high caseloads and the demands on staff members' time. Training a new forensic scientist or crime lab analyst is an intensive process, requiring up to two years of work, according to ASCLD, which advises students to be committed to a crime lab career and to prepare themselves for the rigor of a training program.
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References
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