2. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

3. Overview: Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Often, they specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination, performing tests on weapons or on substances such as fiber, glass, hair, tissue, and body fluids to determine their significance to the investigation. Proper collection and storage methods are important to protect the evidence. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center

4. Overview (continued): Forensic science technicians also prepare reports to document their findings and the laboratory techniques used, and they may provide information and expert opinions to investigators. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians often give testimony as expert witnesses on laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime. Some forensic science technicians work closely with other experts or technicians. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

5. Preparation: Forensic science technicians usually need to have earned a bachelor's degree to work in the field. There are also several master's degree programs, and some certificate programs that are usually offered in conjunction with a bachelor's degree program in science. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

6. Preparation (continued): Approximately 30 colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree program in forensic science; about another 25 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in a natural science with an emphasis on forensic science or criminology; a few additional schools offer a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in a specialty area, such as criminology, pathology, jurisprudence, investigation, odontology, toxicology, or forensic accounting. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

7. Preparation (continued): In the United States, forensic science programs are accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). A list of all accredited programs is available on the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

8. Day in the Life: Science technicians work under a wide variety of conditions. Most work indoors, usually in laboratories, and have regular hours. Some occasionally work irregular hours to monitor experiments that cannot be completed during regular working hours. Forensic science technicians may work anywhere, both indoor and outdoor. Some science technicians may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

9. Day in the Life: For example, forensic science technicians often are exposed to human body fluids and firearms. However, these working conditions pose little risk if proper safety procedures are followed. For forensic science technicians, collecting evidence from crime scenes can be distressing and unpleasant. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

10. Earnings: According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly earnings of forensic science technicians are about $23.97 per hour. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

11. Employment: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, forensic science technicians hold about 12,800 jobs in the United States. Forensic science technicians work primarily for State and local governments. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

12. Career Path Forecast: Jobs for forensic science technicians are expected to increase by 20 percent from 20008 to 2018, which is much faster than average. Employment growth in state and local government should be driven by the increasing application of forensic science techniques, such as DNA analysis, to examine, solve, and prevent crime. In addition to job openings created by growth, many openings should arise from the need to replace technicians who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician

13. Resources: More information about Forensic Science Technicians is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, including lists of programs, suggestions for precollege students, a free monthly careers newsletter, and a PDF summarizing the field.Forensic Science TechniciansSloan Career Cornerstone Centerprecollege studentsnewsletterPDF summarizing the field Associations:  American Academy of Forensic Sciences American Academy of Forensic Sciences  Young Forensic Scientists Forum Young Forensic Scientists Forum OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Forensic Science Technician