Public Safety

How to become a Crime Scene Technician

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–2 years

Typical pay

$48k–$70k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2–4 years

   Get a science or forensic degree

   Chemistry or biology carries more weight than a general criminal justice degree.

2. 2

   6–12 months

   Learn evidence handling and photography

   Documentation and chain of custody are what a defence lawyer attacks.

3. 3

   6–18 months

   Apply to a police agency or crime lab

   Competitive, with a thorough background investigation and polygraph in many agencies.

4. 4

   Certify with IAI

   Crime Scene Certification levels are the recognised professional ladder.

   ◆ IAI Certified Crime Scene Investigator

5. ✓

   Destination

   Crime Scene Technician

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