Medicolegal Death Investigator

When someone dies from unknown causes, law enforcement must perform an investigation. Determining the cause of death is the responsibility of the coroner or medical examiner.  

However, a medicolegal death investigator is often called to the death scene to perform an onsite investigation and help determine whether a criminal case should be opened. Once on the scene, medicolegal death investigators are typically the most knowledgeable medical professionals responsible for the body. They perform essential duties such as removing and releasing the body, documenting everything related to the body, and interviewing witnesses.

This job is not for the faint of heart. Professionals in this field must be comfortable with all forms of death, including gruesome and violent ones. There are no formal requirements for entering this field, although most professionals have completed education post-high school.

Successful medicolegal death investigators combine medical training, law enforcement experience, and knowledge of local, state, and federal laws. Most professionals earn certification through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMI).

Continue reading to learn more about this unique career, including various programs of study, job duties, and even associated careers.

A medicolegal death investigation is a specialization in and of itself. Entering this field requires a balance of medical and investigative knowledge obtained through education and work experience.

Professionals in this field earn graduate degrees in medicolegal death investigation, pathology, criminal justice, criminal investigation, forensics, psychology, or even anthropology. There are also one to five day medicolegal death investigator training programs for professionals in this field who need further education or to meet continuing education requirements.

Admission requirements for medicolegal death investigator programs vary widely. Associate degrees—which may be a starting point for the career—typically have very low or no admission requirements other than a minimum age. Bachelor’s programs will often require a GED or high school diploma and a minimum GPA and SAT scores. Graduate certificate and master’s programs will require applicants to have already completed a bachelor’s degree, and many sometimes require work experience in this field.

Ensuring a program is accredited is essential as it guarantees a minimum quality in faculty, facilities, and curriculum. Attending an accredited program also makes transferring between schools easier as other institutions accept the credits. Currently, there are no programmatic accrediting bodies for medicolegal death investigator programs, so students should ensure their program holds at least a regional accreditation.

Regional accreditation organizations are: 

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) 
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Bossier Parish Community College

The associate of applied science in criminal justice, medicolegal death investigation concentration at Bossier Parish Community College is a two-year program that prepares graduates for entry-level work or continuing criminal justice studies. Students are required to take classes such as accidental death investigation, pathophysiology, and medical ethics.

Graduates of this unique program are prepared for registry-level exams administered by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. Bossier Parish Community College has an open admission policy, which means any student over 16 may attend and take classes.

• Location: Bossier City, LA
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis – School of Science

The bachelor’s of science in forensic biology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis’ School of Science is a four-year program that prepares graduates for various investigative careers, including one as a medicolegal death investigator. Upon completion of this program, students may need to pursue additional medical training or education, but they will have the necessary investigative skills for this profession.

Required coursework includes biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Students are also warned that this course of study and profession can be challenging emotionally, given the often violent nature of the crimes investigated.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Syracuse University – College of Arts and Sciences

Students can earn a master’s of science in medicolegal death investigation at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. This comprehensive master’s program prepares students to enter this specialized career. Students can participate in field studies in medical examiners’ offices and work directly with a faculty mentor with extensive experience in this field.

Skills students learn as part of this program include case investigation, interviewing, securing evidence, courtroom testimony, and identifying pathologies. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a current resume, a completed application, and GRE scores. 

• Location: Syracuse, NY
• Duration: One-and-a-half to two years
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Washburn University  

While Washburn University offers a bachelor’s degree in forensic anthropology, the Forensic Anthropology Recovery Unit’s training courses are far more pertinent to medicolegal death investigators.

These training courses range from one to five days and train law enforcement officers, other professionals, and students. Courses include estimating a biological profile, fatal fire recoveries, and human bone identification. These specialized courses can provide aspiring professionals with the additional skills needed to enter this career or fulfill continuing education requirements for practicing medicolegal death investigators.

• Location: Topeka, KS 
• Duration: Varies
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

The Department of Pathology at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine offers four—or five-day medicolegal death investigator training. These courses focus on training attendees to conduct thorough death scene investigations to assist medical examiners or coroners.

The courses are specifically designed for professionals who already work in medicolegal offices but are not yet investigators themselves. This program is offered twice per year and is only offered in person.

• Location: St. Louis, MO
• Duration: Four or five days
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Liberty University 

At Liberty University, students can earn an online bachelor of science in criminal justice with an emphasis on crime scene investigation. This program only takes an average of three and a half years to complete without having to relocate or even quit working.

This degree is ideal for aspiring medicolegal death investigators who will pursue, or already have, medical training, as it provides a solid foundation in investigative techniques. Required coursework includes crime scene photography, crime scene management, and criminal investigations. Students can transfer up to 75 percent of the credits required for graduation.

• Location: Lynchburg, VA
• Duration: Three and a half years
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Duquesne University – School of Nursing 

Registered nurses who want to become a medicolegal death investigator can complete an online master’s of science in nursing (MSN) with an emphasis in forensics at Duquesne University School of Nursing. Since students in this program already have a strong medical background, they will be able to dive right into specialized coursework such as pathophysiology, criminal law, pharmacology, and the legal system.

This program can be completed in as little as two and a half years. Since it is offered online, students do not need to relocate to complete their studies. There is a required three-day on-campus residency, during which students will gain hands-on skills and have the opportunity to network with other students and faculty. Admission requirements include one year of work experience as a registered nurse, a bachelor’s degree, and an undergraduate-level course in statistics.

• Location: Pittsburgh, PA 
• Duration: Two and a half years
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

University of Florida – College of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine

Aspiring medicolegal death investigators can complete an online master’s degree in forensic medicine at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine. This two-year, 37-credit program prepares students for this career with state-of-the-art technology and outstanding faculty.

Students will take classes in forensic anthropology, trauma analysis, communication skills in a forensic context, artifacts of decomposition, and more. With nine credits of required elective, students can tailor their education to their interests. There are both thesis and non-thesis options for completing this program. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 upper-division coursework GPA.

• Location: Gainesville, FL 
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota offers nationally recognized online death investigator training. While these courses do not result in a degree, they meet the training and continuing education coursework requirements for aspiring and current professionals in this field. Students can choose to take one course or complete all six.

Courses include basic death investigator training, cultural competency, forensic pathology, terminology and diseases, and mental health issues for death investigators. This program is designed to be accessible to address the critical need for training for this specialized career.

• Location: Grand Forks, ND
• Duration: Three to twelve months
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Becoming a medicolegal death investigator takes at least three years of post-high school education. However, it can take longer because this career requires medical and criminal justice training and education.

Step 1: Graduate from High School or Complete a GED (Four Years)

While some community colleges may not require applicants, earning a high school diploma or obtaining a GED is advantageous. A GED or high school diploma demonstrates a minimum level of education and a dedication to completing a course of study. Also, most bachelor’s programs require applicants to have one or the other to be eligible for admission.

Step 2: Complete Medicolegal Death Investigator Education (Two to Six Years) 

To enter this field, students can pursue a variety of levels of education and degrees. Most students earn an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. A typical course of study can include medicolegal death investigation, psychology, criminal justice forensics, and anthropology. Aspiring medicolegal death investigators also need medical training, so some students may pursue medical education first, such as nursing, and then complete forensics training. 

Step 3: Obtain Medicolegal Death Investigator Work Experience (One to Two Years)

This career requires significant hands-on training to be proficient, so obtaining work experience is a must. Most medicolegal death investigators start by working in a coroner’s or medical examiner’s office and eventually train into the role of medicolegal death investigator.

Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws is essential to success in this field, so aspiring professionals with only medical backgrounds may need to obtain law enforcement experience. This work experience can be earned through an education program, volunteer work, or paid employment.

Step 4: Earn a Medicolegal Death Investigator Certification (Optional, Timeline Varies)

The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMI) offers registry-level or board certification for medicolegal death investigators. Registry-level certification is entry-level, whereas board certification for medicolegal death investigators is for experienced professionals. Certification is an industry-standard and may be required for employment.

Medicolegal death investigators work in coroner’s and medical examiner’s offices. They often work out in the field and can be required to work odd shifts, including weekends and evenings. Typical job duties include:

• Responding to a death scene 
• Inspecting and documenting the state of the body using diagrams, notes, photographs, and sketches
• Gathering information from witnesses 
• Coordinating the removal and, if applicable, the release of the body
• Assisting the medical examiner or coroner with the initial examination of the body
• Helping to gather dental or medical records to assist with body identification
• Maintaining the chain of custody for any evidence gathered
• Determining to initiate a criminal investigation, if necessary

The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMI) offers both registry-level certification and board certification for medicolegal death investigators.

To earn registry-level certification, candidates must provide documentation of at least 640 points of employment experience, including on-duty, on-call, and scene investigation, pass the registry-level exam, and be employed in the field. 

For board certification, candidates must hold at least an associate’s degree from an accredited institution, be currently employed in the field, hold registry-level certification, and have 4,000 hours of death investigation experience in the past six years.

There are currently no state licensing requirements for medicolegal death investigators. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023) does not have data on medicolegal death investigators. Forensic science technicians, one related profession, earn $71,540 annually on average with the following percentiles: 

• 10th percentile: $41,410
• 25th percentile: $50,480
• 50th percentile (median): $64,940
• 75th percentile: $84,720
• 90th percentile: $107,490

There are many alternative careers to being a medicolegal death investigator. Here are a few:

Crime Scene Investigator

Crime scene investigators are responsible for examining the scene, gathering evidence, and maintaining a chain of custody. They can be called to investigate traffic accidents, burglaries, or even homicides.  

• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Licensing or Certifying Organization: International Association for Identification, International Crime Scene Investigators Association (ICSIA)

Forensic Scientist

Forensic scientists are often found working in the lab of a coroner’s or medical examiner’s office. They are responsible for performing analyses on chemical, biological, or microscopic samples. They help law enforcement and prosecutors by providing links between suspects and criminal actions.

• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Licensing or Certifying Organization: American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)

Pathologists’ Assistant

Pathologists’ assistants work in morgues and hospitals under the supervision of pathologists. They perform gross (initial) examinations on bodies and are more detailed inspections. They are also responsible for gathering tissue and fluid samples for analysis.

• Typical Education: Master’s degree
• Licensing or Certifying Organization: American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

Kimmy Gustafson

Writer

At HealthcareDegree.com, Kimmy Gustafson has delivered in-depth and insightful articles since 2019, aiding prospective students to navigate the complexities of choosing the right healthcare degree. Her recent work includes topics such as the ethics of gene editing and physician assistant’s fight for autonomy.

Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.