How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)

Like many people who watch CSI, chances are that you may have watched the show and wondered if becoming a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) could be the right choice for you. Here, we will take a much closer look at some of the things that you should know about pursuing a career as a Crime Scene Investigator, including whether or not you need any schooling or certifications and the average salary of a CSI.

Is Any Formal Schooling Required of You to Become a CSI?

Whether or not you will need any formal schooling in order to become a CSI depends on where you will become employed. There are some law enforcement agencies that hire Crime Scene Investigators without any type of formal schooling. However, it is more common for law enforcement agencies to require you to earn a degree. You may only be required to earn a two year Associate's Degree or a four year Bachelor's Degree. Some law enforcement agencies will require a CSI to earn a degree in a certain area, while others may employ someone with a degree in several areas. Some of the most common areas that Crime Scene Investigators earn their degrees in include Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science and Criminal Justice. After you have completely your education, you will typically need to go through a training period with the law enforcement agency that you are planning to work for.

What Exactly Does a Crime Scene Investigator Do?

Although you may think that working as a CSI seems like what can be referred to as a "glamour job," it is important to keep in mind that this career is known to be a lot different than the way that it is portrayed on television. The duties that you will have as a Crime Scene Investigator mainly depends on where you become employed. However, one of the main job roles that a CSI has is to collect evidence, using various collecting methods, and package and secure it for a case. Crime Scene Investigators also play a major role in the court, where they will provide testimonies of crime scene evidence. Crime Scene Investigators are also required to provide full documentation of crime scene evidence, so it is necessary for a CSI to be able to write well. These are just some of the job duties that Crime Scene Investigators tend to take on when they become employed.

Are There Any Certifications Required For You to Become a CSI?

There are not any formal certifications that are required of you to become a CSI. You must complete any job requirements that a law enforcement agency has in order for you to become employed, such as training and education. Most law enforcement agencies do require you to work as a police officer for a certain period of time in order to gain some type of experience in this field before they will hire you as a Crime Scene Investigator. Other law enforcement agents will also typically hire people who have served in the military. It is important to find out what requirements any law enforcement agency has before applying.

What is the Average Salary of a Crime Scene Investigator?

The main thing that will determine how much money you can earn as a CSI depends on where you are employed. Crime Scene Investigators tend to earn more money in areas where there is a higher demand for them, typically within larger cities. There are many law enforcement agencies who cannot afford to pay very many Crime Scene Investigators full-time, so there is a larger job opening for part-time CSI employees. Although you might be under the belief that there is a high demand for Crime Scene Investigators, in most areas, the opposite is actually true. The amount of money that a CSI can potentially earn really does vary widely. The average annual salary for a Crime Scene Investigator tends to range from $25,000 to well over $50,000.