When a cold murder case from 1978 was reopened in 2008, the careful work of a crime technician reignited the investigation. Laura Casey, a senior technician in Omaha, matched prints collected decades earlier against the FBI’s fingerprint database, leading to a breakthrough in under five hours—and, ultimately, justice.1
As you can see, crime scene technicians serve an important role in the criminal justice system. Today, their skills are further enhanced with advanced technology. If you are detail-oriented and find purpose in supporting justice behind the scenes, a career as a crime scene technician could be the right fit.
This guide explains how to become a crime scene technician, including the credentials and hands-on training you will need. A program like the MS in Forensic Science, Investigation, and Technology at Alliant International University can also strengthen your foundation.
What is a Crime Scene Technician?
A crime scene technician’s work lays the foundation for everything that follows in an investigation.
So, what does a crime scene technician do? Put simply, they document crime scenes in exhaustive detail, through:
- Photography
- Sketching
- Mapping everything from blood splatters to broken glass
- Collecting fingerprints, weapons, trace fibers, and digital devices
Perhaps most importantly, they ensure that every piece of evidence is correctly labeled and handled to avoid contamination. A single misstep (like misplaced packaging or incomplete notes) can make evidence inadmissible in court.
The role of a crime scene technician also goes beyond procedure. Technicians often work in challenging environments, dealing with emotionally heavy scenes that involve trauma. However, they must remain calm and precise, even under emotional weight or pressure. Many also assist with reconstructing events, helping investigators understand how a crime unfolded.
Understanding the difference between a crime scene technician vs. crime scene investigator role can help clarify your focus—whether you are more interested in hands-on evidence collection or in the broader investigative process. At the core of a crime scene technician’s responsibility is objectivity: to preserve the facts, free from bias. In doing so, they make justice possible.
How to Become a Crime Scene Technician in 5 Steps
Now that you have a clearer picture of what a crime scene technician does, the next step is understanding how to get there.
Step 1: Educational Requirements for Crime Scene Technicians
Most careers in crime scene investigation begin with a formal education. At a minimum, aspiring technicians typically earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forensic science, criminal justice, or a related field. These programs introduce students to the fundamentals of criminal law and lab protocol—essential building blocks for fieldwork.
That said, as investigative techniques evolve, the baseline for entry is shifting. Increasingly, agencies may seek candidates who can process a scene and interpret complex data while collaborating across departments. This is where graduate-level training can help you stand out.
A program like the Master of Science in Forensic Science, Investigation, and Technology at Alliant can go deeper in preparing for the role. You will not only learn to document evidence, but also to understand its full investigative context.
Step 2: Developing the Necessary Skills to Succeed
While education introduces the tools of the trade, you must balance them with judgment and presence of mind.
Crime scene technicians are often the first to make sense of a crime. This makes attention to detail one of the most essential traits for crime scene technicians.2
Technicians also work closely with law enforcement, forensic analysts, and even attorneys. Their work informs the entire chain of inquiry during an investigation. Because of this, their communication skills must be thorough and courtroom-ready.
Critical thinking and situational awareness are just as important. Technicians must interpret a crime scene in real time and decide how to handle tasks without contaminating the evidence or compromising its integrity. This demands an intuitive understanding of cause and effect, spatial reasoning, and often, working backwards from the visible aftermath to the invisible event.
Lastly, specialized scientific knowledge is required to be a crime scene technician, as you will handle advanced tools like UV lights and 3D scanners.
Step 3: Gaining Hands-On Experience through Internships and Training
While textbook knowledge is helpful, it cannot teach you how to work under pressure. This is why crime scene technician internships often place students in police departments, coroner’s offices, or forensic labs. In these environments, you might:
- Assist with evidence cataloging
- Shadow experienced technicians at active scenes
- Learn chain-of-custody procedures firsthand
You may even participate in mock investigations designed to simulate real-world crime scene experience in some programs. These experiences help teach you the rhythm of the job: when to act fast, when to slow down, what to touch and not touch, and what to photograph before it is moved.
Of course, this is in addition to learning technical procedures like developing fingerprints and calibrating instruments—skills that must become second nature to you.
Lastly, as part of forensic science lab training, you will also learn to work as part of a broader investigative team.
Step 4: Certification and Professional Development
As criminals get smarter, so must the people investigating them. Professional development in forensic science is how you will keep pace with the field and your peers.
There are several crime scene technician certifications recognized across the United States.
- Some of the most widely respected credentials (like those from the Forensic Certification Management Board) are provided by the International Association for Identification (IAI). To qualify, candidates must demonstrate practical experience, complete required training hours, provide letters of endorsement and references, and pass a rigorous written exam.3 These credentials confirm that you meet nationally accepted standards in forensics basics (like evidence handling and documenting scenes).
- If you want to specialize in niche areas, there are forensic certifications in latent print analysis, forensic photography, bloodstain pattern analysis, and forensic digital imaging.
- As in most other professions, technicians can learn the most from their colleagues. Conferences and workshops hosted by organizations like the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) or the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) help practitioners stay updated with standards and innovative tech.
Continued training also serves a second purpose: it reaffirms your credibility in the eyes of the legal system. If you are called to testify, opposing counsel may question your methods or adherence to current standards. Having up-to-date certifications and a documented record of continuing education strengthens your authority under cross-examination.
Step 5: How a Master’s Degree in Forensic Science Can Enhance Your Career
Eventually, the real breakthroughs—in cases and your career—come from deep, specialized knowledge. This is where a master’s in forensic science can offer an advantage.
An advanced degree, like the MS Forensic Science degree at Alliant International University, builds on your foundation and pushes you further. You will learn why certain methods work better than others, how to optimize evidence collection under extreme conditions, and how technologies like forensic AI can help you build a more efficient workflow.
This level of advanced forensic training is what separates good technicians from great ones. Graduate-level education can also be helpful for people looking to broaden their influence or take on leadership responsibilities. Plus, the forensic science programs at Alliant are built for working professionals. By studying under instructors with field experience, you can witness how a seasoned crime scene technician thinks and acts.
How to Start Your Path to Becoming a Crime Scene Technician
Let’s review the path for how to become a crime scene technician, broken down into key milestones.
- Earn a relevant degree: Most students start with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forensic science, criminal justice, biology, or a related science.
- Develop essential skills: Technical skills are just one part of the job. Just as crucial are the non-technical traits: mental focus under stress, emotional composure, and strong written communication. These soft skills often determine your effectiveness in the field.
- Get real-world experience: Seek out crime scene technician internships and forensic lab placements to learn the field firsthand.
- Pursue certification and training: Stay current with the latest forensic science practices through continuing education and professional development.
- Consider a master’s degree: A program like the MS in Forensic Science, Investigation, and Technology at Alliant offers targeted, practical training in all things forensic science-related.
And while many are drawn to crime scene roles by a passion for justice or science, others may simply wonder: How long does it take to become a crime scene investigator? The answer varies, but every step along the way is a valuable part of building a purposeful and well-rounded career.
As you move through each stage, remember that no two paths are exactly alike. Some begin with a strong science background and later discover a passion for investigative work. Others may come from law enforcement or the military and transition into forensic science. And others may take time off between degrees or pivot into the field mid-career.
The key is to trust that the field is wide and that your unique background and perspective add value to your work.
Ready to Start Your Career as a Crime Scene Technician?
If you are serious about a future in forensics, now is the time to build expertise. Whether you are just starting out or looking to move into more complex forensic roles, education is the gateway.
The MS in Forensic Science, Investigation, and Technology at Alliant offers a practical, in-depth curriculum that reflects the demands of modern investigations. Most of all, it can help you see how exactly your work fits into the bigger puzzle of the justice system.
Want to learn more? Explore how the forensics master’s degree programs at Alliant can help you build the skills for one of today’s most impactful careers in criminal investigation.
Sources:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation. "30-Year-Old Murder Solved. Fingerprint Technology Played Key Role". FBI News. Novermber 12, 2024. https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/30-year-old-murder-solved. Accessed June 30, 2025.
- Mohammed A. Almazrouei, Jeff Kukuck, Ruth M. Morgan, Ifat Levy. "Unpacking workplace stress and forensic expert decision-making: From theory to practice". Forensic Science International: Synergy. January 1, 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X24000202. Accessed June 30, 2025.
- Forensic Certification Management Board. "Certification Program Operations Manual". International Association for Identification. April 1, 2025. https://www.theiai.org/docs/01_Ops_Manual_FCMB-01-2020-C19_40125.pdf. Accessed June 30, 2025.
