Valid driver’s license Physical exam Drug/alcohol test Criminal background check College degree[3] X Research source
Take care of your physical appearance. Groom yourself well. Dress professionally–in this case, as you would for a court appearance. Listen carefully. Prove your ability to collect and remember important information by paying close attention to what your interviewer says. Watch your body language. Make sure you sit and stand up straight. Maintain direct eye contact. Shake hands firmly but not aggressively. Use the right terminology. Speak in professional terms. Avoid slang that may offend people or display insensitivity to the nature of the job.
Identifying victims. Informing family of victim’s death. Researching victim’s medical history. Investigating scenes. Interviewing witnesses. Coordinating with other offices and/or contractors. Testifying in court.
POST exams test your skills in such areas as math, grammar, writing, and reading skills. [8] X Research source To apply for the Registry Examination, you must provide the ABMDI with professional references, as well as notarized proof that you have worked a minimum of 640 hours as a death investigator for a coroner or medical examiner. All 640 hours must be completed within one jurisdiction. If you move in the meantime, you must complete a total of 640 hours with your new employer. [9] X Research source Registry Examinations test your ability to investigate deaths, communicate with families and other agencies, and handle evidence, plus your knowledge of science, ethics, and law. [10] X Research source
Medical examiners are typically appointed. To be appointed, you need to be a licensed physician with a specialization in forensic pathology. Your primary purpose would be performing autopsies when needed and disclosing your conclusions to law enforcement. Coroners may be elected or appointed. [12] X Research source Depending on local laws, you may need to have the same qualifications and perform the same duties as a medical examiner. Or you may serve as more of an administrative head who contracts outside help, in which case the qualifications for your office may require less medical training. [13] X Research source
States mandating that you must be a physician: Kansas; Louisiana; Minnesota; Ohio. States demanding that you receive specialized training: Alabama; Colorado; Georgia; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Mississippi; Montana; Nebraska; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; West Virginia; Wyoming States without coroner offices: Alaska; Arizona; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Florida; Iowa; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; Oklahoma; Oregon; Rhode Island; Utah; Vermont; Virginia
Pursue courses such as biology, chemistry, physiology, anatomy, first aid, and health. Apply for Advanced Placement courses, particularly in science and math, if your school offers them. Take college prep courses and tests.
Decide a major. While some schools specifically offer “pre-med” as a major, others do not. Biology and chemistry majors are often pursued in absence of one. [19] X Research source Though a science degree will better prepare you for med school, the exact nature of your major is less important than your performance, so whatever you major in, excel at it. [20] X Research source Challenge yourself. Even if you are able to cash in an AP credit earned in high school and thus skip a required course in college, take the course anyway. Cover the material over again to prepare yourself for future courses and tests. material that may not have been covered in your high school class. Stand out as someone who is willing to skip the easy path when you apply to med school later on. [21] X Research source Get an advisor. Although you may not technically need one in your first or second year, still meet with one as soon as possible. Map out a timeline for you to follow regarding which courses to take and when, prepping for the MCATS, and improving your future resumes and applications with plenty of volunteer- and research work. [22] X Research source
You may take the MCAT three times in one testing year, four times in two back-to-back testing years, and seven times in total. Medical schools may consider your highest score, your most recent score, or your average score.
Make sure the school’s program has been approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and/or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Specializing in forensic pathology will often involve you training and working with local coroners and/or medical examiners. Use this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the job itself, from personal stories of how these professionals obtained their positions, and make connections.
You can become certified for either Clinical Pathology (CP), Anatomical Pathology (AP), or both (AP/CP).
