How long does it take to become a forensic scientist? You can specialise your role to suit your interests, and this means you can develop the job into something you genuinely enjoy. Finally, the role of a forensic scientist is easily customisable. A second advantage is that your work will likely be rewarding – you are going to be providing the evidence that will ultimately convict criminals, so you are actively helping to provide justice in the UK. The starting salary for a forensic scientist is relatively high, with potential for growth. What are the advantages of being a forensic scientist?īeing a forensic scientist comes with a number of advantages, the first of which is the relatively high pay. Depending on the individual field of forensic science you wish to work in, you may find that a computer sciences degree, medical science, biology, chemistry or life sciences degree to be of the most use. The best method is to choose a course that is recognised by the Chartered Society of Forensic Scientists. To train as a forensic scientist, the best advice is to either undertake a forensic science degree, or to undertake a science degree, and follow this with postgraduate study in forensic science. How do I train to be a forensic scientist?

Regardless of who employs you, you will likely find yourself working closely with the police and Crown Prosecution Service. You could find yourself directly employed by a police force in their support departments, or alternatively you may be employed directly by a laboratory in the private sector.

You may find that your role could be based in a number of places depending on your specialism, for instance you could be delivering evidence in court, working in a laboratory doing evidence analysis, or you may find yourself in the field supervising the collection of evidence in person. This could take the form of physical evidence or digital evidence. A forensic scientist is someone who analyses evidence from crime scenes.

What does a forensic scientist do