How long does it take to become a forensic scientist technician?

Generally in my experience a forensic scientist can either be a technician or an analyst. A technician is generally going to have a B.S. in the science they are working in (chemistry or biology). Beyond that it is generally on the job training. The technician will work in the lab setting up and running the tests. An analyst may also set up and run tests; however, they also can analyze the data and write reports. Again most places only require you to have a B.S. but as the field grows, M.S. degrees are becoming more desirable and can assist in finding a job. Some labs will hire analysts right out of school and provide on the job training, other labs may require you to have technician experience or start as a technician.

Hello. I am a Crime Laboratory Technician for the Baltimore Police. As stated before, the minimum that many agencies look for is a Bachelor degree in Biology, Chemistry or Forensic Science. That can be obtained with a 4 year degree. There ae many schools with BS to MS programs They let you get your Bachelors and Masters within 5 years. Now that's the education part.

When it comes to actually getting a job within a law enforcement agency that takes patience. Many have a waiting list of applicants and could take at least a year to get an interview because of the number of candidates.

Here's a tip to get you ahead. Attend a college /university that the agency recruits. For example, in Baltimore City, the Forensic Dept. recruits highly from Towson University, University of Baltimore and Stevenson University. These schools also have teachers that work at the Police Dept. so you get to learn what is expected on the job as well as get the scoop on job openings!

I have a BS in Biology and a MS in Forensic Science w/ a DNA concentration. I attended Stevenson for grad school and one of my teachers was the Chief of the Crim Lab Division for the Baltimore Police. He gave us great interviewing points and with him knowing how I worked in class I was able to secure an interview with my first year of grad school. I have been with the department for 3.5 years.

Hi Alma

While I have not recruited specifically for Forensic Science Technicians, I have found that the best way to find out about any career is to go online and ask. There is information out there that will tell you what people do in certain careers, other sites that might describe a typical day in the role, jobsites with openings and job descriptions as well as salary ranges for the positions, etc. YouTube may have videos explaining the same. If you look at multiple sites, look for consistencies in what they say. This should help you feel more comfortable that the information you are reading is accurate.

I used Google and typed in your question. Here is what I found so far to get you started.

Hope this helps. Feel free to reach back out.

Carol

Forensic Science Technicians - Bureau of Labor Statistics

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and...science/forensic-science-technicians.htm

Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and ... Typical Entry-LeveEducation, Bachelor's degree. Work Experience in a Related Occupation, None. On-the-job Training, Moderate-term on-the-job training ... what evidence should be collected and how; Take photographs of the crime scene and ...

On-the-job Training‎: ‎Moderate-term on-the-job ...

Job Outlook, 2016-26‎: ‎17% (Much faster than ...

Typical Entry-Level Education‎: ‎Bachelor's degr...

Number of Jobs, 2016‎: ‎15,400

Forensic Science Technician Education and Training Requirements

https://study.com/forensic_science_technician.html

Learn about the education and preparation needed to become a forensic science technician. Get a quick view of the educational requirements as well as details ...