Many people have seen crime scene investigators on TV, but CSI can be very different in real life. If you're interested in working as a crime scene investigator, we've got everything you need to know below.
What Is a Crime Scene Investigator?
A crime scene investigator is a type of forensic scientist who goes to crime scenes to find, collect, and analyze evidence.
Most of the time, a crime scene investigator works only at the crime scene and passes the evidence over to forensic science technicians who work in a laboratory setting.
However, in some cases, a crime scene investigator may work both at the crime scene and in the lab.
Crime Scene Investigator Job Duties
The job duties of a crime scene investigator can vary depending on if the investigator works solely on crime scenes or in a lab as well.
At a crime scene, the job duties of a crime scene investigator may include:
- analyzing and reconstructing crime scenes
- determining what evidence should be collected and how to collect it
- documenting evidence, including the location and position of the evidence
- finding and collecting evidence, which may include bodily fluids, fingerprints, and weapons
- photographing evidence and the overall crime scene
- preserving evidence for transfer to the laboratory
If crime scene investigators also work in a lab, their job duties may include:
- analyzing evidence through biological, chemical, and microscopic analyses
- consulting with other forensic experts
- testing for DNA or fingerprint matches
Crime scene investigators may work a variety of hours because they must always be available to collect evidence from a crime scene.
What Education Is Required to Become a Crime Scene Investigator?
There isn't a set educational requirement to become a crime scene investigator, but most places prefer to hire candidates with bachelor's degrees.
In some areas, you may need to go through the police academy to work as a crime scene investigator.
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree is a four-year degree. Most crime scene technicians need to have at least a bachelor's degree, though some may get by with a two-year associate degree.
Some colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in forensic science. These programs prepare students to work as crime scene investigators and forensic technicians.
Forensic science programs are accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Science's Forensic Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). You can find a full list of accredited programs at AAFS.org.
If you aren't able to find a forensic science program, you can also look into natural science programs with majors like biology or physical science.
Police Academy
Sometimes, crime scene investigators are considered a part of the police department and therefore must go through the police academy.
Students in the police academy usually have some amount of college education, although it isn't always required. However, you will need a foundation in life sciences to work as a crime scene investigator.
The police academy trains students in multiple areas of law enforcement. Students will need to understand the law and how it works.
Police academies can have varying lengths, but most take about six to eight months to complete.
Crime Scene Investigator Certification
While certification is generally not a requirement to work as a crime scene investigator, it looks good on your resume and can offer an opportunity for further education.
There are a few different certifications that crime scene investigators can earn.
American College of Forensic Examiners Institute
The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute is an independent, private organization of forensic examiners. It offers a Certified Criminal Investigator certification.
To earn this certification, students must pass an exam that covers a variety of fields within forensic science, including crime scene investigation and other types of investigations.
To qualify for this exam, students must:
- be at least 21 years old
- have an associate degree or higher
- have at least seven years of forensic experience
- have no felony convictions on their criminal record
International Association for Identification
The International Association for Identification is the oldest and largest professional forensic association in the world.
It offers three different certification options for crime scene investigators:
- Certified Crime Scene Investigator
- Certified Crime Scene Analyst
- Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst
Each of these certifications requires applicants to pass a certification exam. Each certification also requires varying amounts of experience and education.
Certification holders must renew their certification every five years.
International Crime Scene Investigators Association
The International Crime Scene Investigators Association (ICSIA) is an online community dedicated to offering a space for crime scene investigators to discuss crime scene processing.
It offers a crime scene investigator certification. Students must pass a 100-question comprehensive exam as well as a written crime scene test.
Other requirements for certification through the ICSIA include the following:
- have at least two years of experience in crime scene processing
- have completed at least 50 hours of crime scene processing courses
- submit digital photos of a macro photography assessment
- submit digital photos of a night crime scene
- submit three crime scene cases the student personally worked on
Become a Crime Scene Investigator
To become a crime scene investigator, you will likely need a bachelor's degree in forensic or biological sciences. You may also need to attend police training.
Working as a crime scene investigator can be a unique career path. Start your training today.
