[happy711]

I'm in high school and thinking of being a forensic scientist. It looks interesting and if its anything like CSI that would be cool. Is it really a dream job?

[mjl]

Yes, if you like looking through a microscope all day. The show CSI is exactly that, a SHOW. It is not what you see on TV. Most don't even go out in "the field" to examinate... mostly done in a lab. My father in law is a cop and he says its nothing but a scientist hired by the police to do the lab work.

So basically if you want to do what's on the CSI show, become an actor.

[Clough]

I don't know that I would call it the perfect or dream job. That all depends on how you think and feel. However, below is some information that might help you in making your determination at this point in exploring the possibility of becoming one.

From the following site: Become a Forensic Scientist

Become a Forensic Scientist

Using science to help identify criminals and analyze evidence against them, forensic scientists are detectives with microscopes. From matching shell casings to a gun to using hair samples to identify a suspect, forensic scientists help determine the facts of a legal case. Forensic evidence is often center stage during criminal trials with scientists as expert witnesses.

Forensic science technicians perform scientific tests on evidence collected in connected with a crime to determine their significance to the criminal investigation. The evidence they analyze may include blood, saliva, semen, drugs and fingerprints. Most forensic scientists specialize in a single area, such as DNA analysis or firearm examination. Forensic scientists also prepare reports documenting their findings and the laboratory techniques used.

Forensics: Specialty Areas



Forensic scientists prepare reports documenting their findings and the laboratory techniques used. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians often testify as expert witnesses, on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the crime scene.

• Forensic Engineering: Crash, accident, or structural failure analysis
• Forensic Entomology: Problems relating to time of death, body decay and the population of insect larvae
• Criminalistics: Analyzing, comparing, identifying and interpreting physical evidence
• Crime Scene Investigation: Collecting and managing evidence
• Polygraph Examination: Conducting and interpreting polygraph tests
• Document Examination: Problems relating to dating and source of paper and ink documents

Forensics: Workplaces



Forensic scientists generally work for state, federal or private crime laboratories. They may also work for:

• Medical examiner/coroner offices
• Hospitals
• Universities
• Toxicology laboratories
• Police departments
• Independent forensic science consultants

Forensics: Education & Training

Bachelor's Level

A bachelor's degree in one of the biological or physical sciences is strongly recommended. Most programs offer subspecialty areas of forensic study such as criminalistics, pathology, or toxicology.
Associate's Level

An associate's degree in criminal justice, forensic science, or one of the biological or physical sciences may be a good starting point for entry-level forensic techs.
Graduate Level

Many forensic scientists have master's or doctorate degrees in their area of specialty e.g.: forensic pathologist (MD), forensic anthropologist (PhD), forensic dentist (DDS).
Volunteer Experience

To gain the experience that employers look for, you may want to volunteer in a crime or toxicology laboratory or at a medical examiner's facility.

Forensics: Licensing & Certification



While there are no mandatory licensing requirements, most forensic scientists receive certification from one or more of the forensic specialty boards such as:

• The American Board of Criminalistics
• The American Board of Forensic Entomology
• The American Board of Forensic Document Examiners
• The American Board of Forensic Toxicology
• The National Registry in Clinical Chemistry (certifies forensic toxicologists)
• The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) which confers the title Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator

Forensics: Salary

• Experienced forensic scientists may earn $40,000 to $85,000.
• Lab directors with advanced degrees may earn more than $100,000.

[oneguyinohio]

I don't want to discourage you at all if you are interested, but just want to point out that the show may attract a lot of people into the field with the wrong perception of what it is truly like. That could cause a glut of job applicants.

If you are interested, you might be able to make arrangements with your local police department to talk to someone in their lab. At the least, they could direct you to the lab they use. Depending on the size of the area, many smaller departments contract with larger departments for the services.

Consider you own tendencies of how you might deal with various types of cases they might handle. A lot might be bullistics or chemical identification, but then there might be times when cases come up that are very emotional to deal with. Each person might handle that differently as far as how it affects their mental state. It also would potentially make a difference where you are in life, as to how you identify with each situation.