How to become a fingerprint technician

Professional Certification for Fingerprint Analysts

Experience requirements include at least two years of full-time experience in recording, classifying, filing and searching tenprints. Education requirements include, at a minimum, an associate’s degree or at least 60 semester hours of college credit.

In this field, you examine and process fingerprints on behalf of law enforcement or national security agencies to match fingerprints to evidence found at crime scenes. You can also operate and monitor biometric scanning systems for security purposes.

To become a fingerprint analyst, a bachelor’s degree in a program such as forensic science is typically needed. It is recommended that aspiring fingerprint analysts study a broad range of subjects while in school, including topics like chemistry, biology, and criminal justice.

For example, it comes as no surprise that the BLS reports California as the top-paying state in the nation for crime scene investigators, with an annual, mean salary of $87,200. Other states that come out on top for average pay include: Illinois: $82,130. Massachusetts: $76,950.

Required Education

An associate’s degree in one of these programs can be completed in two years, and a bachelor’s degree qualifying you for an entry-level position as an evidence technician can often be completed in four years.

To become a Forensic Scientist, one must possess at least a 4-year bachelor’s degree in Forensic Sciences or related field with the relevant work experience of 1 to 2 years. If you intend to go for further qualifications, a professional certification takes about 1 year or more.

Education, Training & Certifications

Education: Evidence technician jobs most often require at least a bachelor’s degree related to the work to be performed, such as chemistry, biology, or forensic science.

Protective equipment may include gloves, goggles/face masks, booties, and jumpsuits; a hair covering or hairnet is needed to prevent hair from getting mixed up in crime scene evidence. In areas with a chemical contamination risk, a CSI may wear an encapsulated suit with a breathing apparatus.

TRIAL TECHNICIAN SKILLS

When hiring a trial technician, also called a trial presentation specialist or hot-seat operator, to facilitate your presentation during trial it is helpful to know what services should be expected from them.