Forensic Science Colleges in Washington

Studying for a career in forensic science may seem overwhelming at first. After all, there are many different types of careers and even more programs to consider. There are several forensic science degree programs in Washington (WA) to review, in addition to law enforcement training and online certification programs.

Students can choose different paths toward this exciting career, but each involves a commitment to academics and hands-on training. The earlier someone starts down the path, the more likely they will be able to find employment. Some forensic scientists even start pursuing a career as early as high school.

Luckily for aspiring crime solvers in Washington, there are several forensic science programs in the state and a healthy employment landscape for these trained professionals.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2022), forensic science technicians make an average of $74,990 annually in WA, 8 percent more than the national average for this occupation ($69,260).

Students interested in this field should note that becoming a forensic science technician is just one of many career options for program graduates. Another option, becoming a detective or criminal investigator, can be even more lucrative.

This article will outline the most popular pathways for becoming a forensic scientist and a little bit about some of the available forensic science programs in beautiful Washington State.

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How to Become a Forensic Scientist in Washington

Becoming a forensic scientist in Washington requires hard work and perseverance. Like any career path, it also means taking the proper steps—from high school courses to professional certifications—to get set up for success. Unlike some more structured careers, such as medical doctors or nurses, no single path leads to success as a forensic scientist. However, below are the most common steps that people who go on to be employed in the field follow.

Step 1: Graduate high school. For those lucky enough to know what career they want to pursue in high school, it is possible to begin the forensic scientist pathway at that point. High school students should study and excel in hard science classes like chemistry, biology, and physics. It is also a good idea to pursue advanced-level math classes, including calculus, and to study hard for college entrance exams. Although some forensic scientists do not have advanced degrees, a college education is quickly becoming a prerequisite with increasing competition in the field. Career One Stop reports that 31 percent of working forensic scientists have at least a bachelor’s degree, while an additional 24 percent have at least some college.

Step 2: Pursue an undergraduate degree. Upon graduating high school, students should look to enroll in an undergraduate program at a local community college or university. Many colleges and universities do not offer degrees specifically geared toward forensic sciences, but a degree in chemistry or biology can be helpful in eventually obtaining employment.

There are also a few forensic-focused programs in Washington specifically. Keep reading to learn more about those. Many forensic scientists also spend time completing internships with local agencies, such as the Washington State Patrol Forensic Laboratory Services, which offers services to Washington law enforcement as well as a hands-on experience for forensic science students.

Step 3: Consider a graduate degree. Graduate studies are also a good option for aspiring forensic scientists who want to pursue academia or research. Students may choose to enroll in a master’s or doctoral program immediately following their undergraduate studies or choose to work in the field for a few years before returning to school.

Step 4: Certification. When a new forensic scientist is ready to leave the nest of education for the exciting world of full-time work in a crime lab, it is important to be prepared and to have the credentials that hiring managers want to see. One way forensic scientists do this is by specialization and certification. There is no legal requirement that forensic scientists be certified in the U.S., but many professional organizations offer certification so applicants can prove their expertise.

Some of the certifying organizations in the Pacific Northwest as well as nationally include:

• American Academy of Forensic Sciences
• International Association for Identification
• American Board of Criminalistics

Specialization is also important for aspiring forensic scientists to consider. Although the term forensic science technician is used by the BLS to describe all manner of forensic scientists, the truth is that most usually work in a much more discrete profession, such as odontology, toxicology, questioned documents, or crime scene analysis. For a full list of forensic specializations certified by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), visit their student page.

How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator in the State of Washington

Becoming a crime scene investigator in Washington includes many milestones similar to those along the pathway to becoming a forensic scientist. However, the paths do diverge along the way to a career as a crime scene investigator who collects and analyzes evidence found at crime scenes.

Option 1: Academic route. After graduating from high school with a solid background in basic sciences, students who wish to pursue crime scene investigation (CSI) should either look for undergraduate programs in Washington in criminology or criminal justice, or should join the law enforcement track.

Those prospective crime scene investigators who choose to go on to college will need to network with other professionals and ideally complete at least one internship during their time in school in order to gain employment as a CSI upon graduation.

Option 2: Law enforcement route. Those who choose to enter law enforcement must complete basic training. Washington state has a 720-hour curriculum that includes training in such diverse subjects as firearms, communication skills, and cultural awareness. Upon completing basic training, newly minted officers may be able to pursue crime scene investigation in conjunction with other law enforcement personnel and forensic scientists. For more information on law enforcement training in Washington, visit the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission website.

Occupational Demand in Washington

The BLS classifies both forensic scientists and crime scene investigators as “forensic science technicians,” therefore the demand for both occupations is lumped together. In the entirety of the U.S., demand for forensic scientists is expected to grow by 11 percent, or 2,000 total jobs from 2021 to 2031 (BLS 2022).

The outlook is brighter for residents of Washington. Projections Central (2023) found that demand for forensic science technicians in Washington is expected to grow 18.4 percent between 2020 and 2030.

Because forensic science is directly linked to crime, more jobs tend to be available in areas where more crime occurs, which are naturally more populated regions. The highest number of forensic science technicians employed in one area of Washington is the 190 that work in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue region.

Forensic sciences degrees can be versatile and these graduates of Washington may take on several careers such as forensic engineers, medical examiners, crime laboratory analysts, crime scene examiners, document examiners, physical anthropologists, criminal profilers, behavior scientists, or digital analysts.

The training, education, and experiential requirements may vary for these professions. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) provides a career resource list with professional associations, organizations, and networking opportunities across a range of disciplines in forensic science.

Finally, the ForensicsColleges blog offers a number of in-depth career articles for graduates in forensic science in its How to Become series, with step-by-step instructions to becoming a crime scene technician, profiler, forensic accountant, forensic psychologist, detective, and more.

Forensics Salaries in Washington

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2022) reported that there were 340 forensic science technicians in Washington.

Furthermore, the state boasts higher-than-average wages for forensic science technicians. As proof of point, the United States employs 17,590 forensic science technicians with an average annual salary (mean annual wage) of $69,260. In WA, the average salary in this field is $74,990.

In more detailed terms, here is a breakdown of the salary percentiles among all forensic science technicians in the country compared with those in Washington (BLS May 2022):

The national figures were slightly different according to another source of data, PayScale (April 2023), which relies on self-reported salaries. Among the forensic science techs reporting their annual salaries, Payscale found these percentiles for the US:

• 10th percentile: $29,000
• 50th percentile (median): $48,166
• 90th percentile: $59,000

It is important to note that while the wages in Washington are higher than national wages, so too is the cost of living. For illustration, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2023) reported that WA is the 13th most expensive state in the country, particularly for housing. A high cost of living means that even higher than average salaries will not go as far as they would in other states, so prospective forensic science technicians should keep that in mind while evaluating the state’s salary data.

Program Accreditation & Certification

The main accrediting body for forensic science programs is the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). In order to obtain FEPAC accreditation, programs must subject themselves to a self-study in addition to a site visit to verify their facilities, faculty, and curricula. As of May 2023, there are no FEPAC-accredited programs in the state of Washington. However, applicants should be aware that there are certainly reputable programs that have not earned FEPAC accreditation, due to many factors.

FEPAC accredits very few schools and accreditation by them only applies to forensic science programs that focus heavily on natural sciences, meaning that criminal justice and CSI programs are ineligible for accreditation. In the case of an unaccredited program, applicants should look to institutional accreditation to verify a school’s credentials.

Schools may also receive institutional accreditation for all programs from a regional accrediting body such as the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). These agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and such accreditation is important in establishing the value of a degree from that institution.

As mentioned earlier, there is no specific legal requirement for forensic science technicians or crime scene investigators to become certified before obtaining employment. However, many choose to earn certification to further their professional opportunities. The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) has identified ten certifying bodies that specialists may want to investigate, including:

• American Board of Criminalistics (ABC)
• International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS)
• International Board of Forensic Engineering Sciences (IBFES)
• American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
• Board of Forensic Document Examiners (BFDE)
• International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)

Those who are interested in pursuing further certification should be sure to check with the certifying body as to their requirements, which often require a certain number of years of work experience in addition to formal training.