ForensicsColleges.com provides an extensive listing of careers in forensic science and related fields to help you research requirements, responsibilities, roles, and specializations within each field.
Why pursue a career in forensic science? The short answer is opportunities! Careers in forensic life science, private investigation, and information security are experiencing exponential occupational growth. By illustration, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) shows that between 2023 and 2033, openings in forensic science tech are projected to grow 14 percent nationally; private investigation and detective work, 5 percent; and information security, an astonishing 33 percent.
Compared to the national growth anticipated for all occupations at 4 percent (BLS 2024), choosing a career path in forensic science can prove a solid investment of time and resources for those who enjoy multidisciplinary careers in criminal justice and science.
Where do forensic science professionals work? Depending on rank and responsibilities, forensic scientists can be found working in laboratories or at crime scenes, private investigators in armored vehicles or insurance offices, and information security analysts behind screens and in boardrooms of private and public administrative offices.
Read on to learn how life scientists, computer scientists, nurses, artists, accountants, and other professionals use their primary areas of expertise to pursue careers in forensic science.
An arson investigator uses in-depth knowledge of fire chemistry and mechanics to investigate possible arson cases. They also gather evidence and eyewitness accounts, talk with insurance companies and provide expert testimony in court proceedings.
A certified fraud examiner (CFE) is a trained professional who investigates financial records to find fraudulent activities or other financial crimes. Job duties typical of a CFE include analyzing financial documents for signs of fraud, assisting in civil and criminal investigations, providing expert testimony in legal proceedings, generating reports, and conducting forensic audits. CFEs may find various opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
Computer or digital forensics is the study of how technology is used to commit crimes. Computer forensic specialists use computer hardware and software to recover information from machines that could be used in criminal trials.
Crime and intelligence analysts turn data into actionable insights that predict and prevent criminal activity. They work in diverse environments, including local police departments, federal agencies, and even private sector organizations. This data-driven role is the backbone of smart policing and homeland security, and while it was once a niche area, it’s become a crucial component in modern law enforcement and public safety.
Crime scene investigators spend time at crime scenes in order to collect evidence necessary in order to recreate a violent crime. Through careful documentation and evidence analysis, crime scene investigators provide proof that is the keystone of most criminal trials.
Criminalists use scientific and investigative methods to deduce how a particular crime took place. Although today’s criminalists utilize modern tools like 3-D imaging and DNA sequencing to help law enforcement, they still build upon the same foundation of this profession that dates back to the around 700 AD, when the Chinese used fingerprints to identify documents and clay sculptures.
The most common technique to protect communications from prying eyes is a process known as encryption, in which communications are scrambled through computer algorithms, making them illegible to those who are not their intended recipient. Encryption itself is much older than computers and was used to disguise communications as early as the Middle Ages. In updated form, it provides the backbone for securing digital communications in the modern age. Modern encryption protects communications, intellectual property, and wealth in the form of digital rights management and cryptocurrency.
A DNA analyst takes human tissue samples like blood, hair or semen and finds genetic code that will identify the victims and perpetrators of violent crimes. This is primarily a lab job, and DNA analysts do not spend much time at crime scenes, although they may be asked to testify in court about their findings.
A forensic accountant uses basic accounting and investigative skills to find defects in financial statements that may be indicative of criminal activity. They perform audits on financial and legal files and present their findings in trials.
Forensic anthropologists analyze and apply scientific techniques in order to diagnose posthumous death by violent force or trauma. Skin tissue, bone observation and demographics are key areas of study.
Working in a coroner’s office or medical examiner’s office could be a good job for people who are interested in science, the human body, and helping families to find out what may have caused the death of a loved one. Becoming a forensic autopsy technician is one option for those who are fascinated by human anatomy and who are not squeamish around the idea of dissecting bodies. Additionally, this career typically does not require extensive postsecondary learning.
With gun deaths nearing the 50,000 mark in the United States in 2022 alone, experts who focus on firearms are in high demand. “Forensic ballistics experts” is the term that is commonly used for people who are highly knowledgeable in the effects of guns in crimes, as well as in connecting specific firearms to specific crimes. Forensic ballistics experts are highly knowledgeable regarding the types of available firearms, calibers, and ammunition, as well as on the trace evidence left on bullets, guns, bodies, and objects by their usage.
By examining bodily fluids, bones, hair, insects, plants, and animals at a crime scene, a forensic biologist prepares a detailed analysis of their findings, which can be used in legal cases to determine the cause of a crime. Read on to learn more about the rewarding opportunities available in forensic biology careers.
Forensic chemistry involves using scientific methods to investigate physical evidence. Forensic chemists fight crimes with science by analyzing evidence collected from crime scenes and giving testimonies based on laboratory test results.
Forensic dentistry is a profession that stands at the intersection of dentistry and law. Forensic odontology is the study of teeth and the mouth as it applies to both civil and criminal law. Forensic odontologists may aid investigators in identifying both victims and perpetrators of crimes. Forensic odontology is also helpful in identifying victims of non-criminal incidents such as disasters.
The field of document examination was first developed in the early twentieth century to identify forgery and establish the authenticity of documents. Forensic document examiners, sometimes also called questioned document examiners, are scientists who utilize the scientific method of questioned document examination to examine documents. Forensic document examiners may work in various settings, including state, county, and municipal crime labs, as well as federal agencies that operate their own questioned document units.
While the field of engineering is primarily tasked with designing and constructing reliable structures and designs that will operate safely, failures can still occur. Even with extensive structural and product testing, the most meticulous designs can still falter during and after construction or in the manufacturing stages.
Forensic entomologists are experts in the fields of criminal justice and science who, using their knowledge of how insects aid in bodily decomposition, can determine the time and source of death.
Forensic investigators share many responsibilities and competencies with detectives: conducting interviews, securing crime scenes, analyzing public and private records, and writing detailed investigative reports.
A medical examiner is a government employee that investigates human bodies that have died under unusual or unnatural circumstances. They are able to perform autopsies and post-mortem exams, but may more often perform administrative duties.
Forensic nurses learn how to identify and treat victims of violent acts such as abuse and rape. Forensic nurses are also trained on how to gather and present evidence of these actions in court.
If you already are working as a registered nurse and have an interest in protecting the welfare and health of others, you may want to consider training to become a forensic nurse examiner. As such, you will continue to work in nursing, but will learn to recognize and document the signs of abuse and violence that could be used to prosecute a criminal in a courtroom.
Forensic nurse practitioners (NPs) combine their expertise in nursing, forensics, and law, to play a crucial role in safeguarding the well-being of their patients while ensuring justice is served. They work in any setting where NPs are typically employed including primary care, mental health, women’s health, pediatrics, and acute care. Their specialized forensic knowledge, along with trauma-informed practices, helps ensure patients get the care they need at a very difficult time in their lives.
Forensic pathologists conducts autopsies and post-mortem examinations on individuals whose deaths may have been caused by unnatural circumstances. They also work closely with law enforcement officials and legal teams to provide expert opinions on their findings.
Forensic psychiatry is a profession that stands at the intersection of psychiatry and law. A forensic psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has training in both mental health and the law. The expertise of a forensic psychiatrist may be sought to address issues such as violence, criminal responsibility, competence to stand trial in both civil and criminal courts, child custody issues, psychic injury, mental disability, malpractice, involuntary treatment, ethics and human rights, and juvenile justice and rehabilitation.
The study of forensic psychology specializes in how criminals and their victims behave and how it affects them emotionally and mentally. Forensic psychologists are often asked to present findings in court, especially in cases where mental illness could be a cause of violent acts.
Forensic science is the general study of how science can be used for legal purposes. Forensic scientists range from biological researchers to psychologists and have many specialized skills.
While it’s true that high-tech digital instruments sharpen the accuracy and validity of witness testimonies, paper and pencil facial sketches still play a significant role in criminal investigations.
The primary role of a forensic technician is to collect and analyze physical evidence. This can consist of biological material, as well as glass, hair, fingerprints, fabric, bullets, various chemicals, and anything else that can help identify what happened during a crime.
When it comes to portrayal in television, the nitty-gritty details of careers in forensic toxicology often end up on the cutting room floor. Read on to get a realistic glance at the typical responsibilities, specialties, salaries, and career paths for forensic toxicologists.
In the deeply interconnected world of the twenty-first century, the secure flow of information is a vital aspect of daily economic activity. The Information Age ushered in a new era in which information security is as large a concern as the security of mass-produced goods. Given the sheer scale and complexity of human activities in the present era, a new industry developed in response to the need to protect vital information.
A police officer is a person whose occupation involves enforcing the law and investigating criminal activity. They may work in various settings and circumstances to maintain public safety and security. Police officers may ultimately work in municipal police departments and state and federal-level government agencies. Becoming an officer is somewhat similar to working in the nursing and mental health counseling professions in that these occupations often open up many employment and career possibilities.
For those considering working at the intersection of the legal and medical fields in a dynamic, high-growth career, this guide provides a detailed discussion of the career outlook, salary prospects, and pathway to becoming a legal nurse consultant.
A pathology assistant is able to do most of the work of a pathologist except for diagnosis of a post-mortem patient. Pathology assistants collect samples, perform autopsies and do clerical work in pathology labs.
Penetration testers are cybersecurity professionals launching planned computer systems attacks to identify and assess security vulnerabilities. These ethical hackers are the secret service, club bouncers, and counterintelligence agents in the network security industry.