Career Change, looking to become a Private Investigator / Forensics Sci.?

Question

The School of Forensics Science also seems INTERESTING! Do you know of any good Colleges for this trade? What is the Best College for this trade?

Answer 1

Congratulations on choosing an Amazing New Career!

Answer 2

This career Change sounds VERY INTERESTING......  GOOD LUCK & GO FOR YOUR DREAMS!

Answer 3

Wow,  I wish I had an opportunity like this!

Answer 4

This is a new profession that is taking The Lead In So Many Schools,  go for it!  

Answer 5

If you want to be a private investigator, you'll need to go to your state's web site and check for the department that handles licensings.  It may be under the Secretary of State or the Attorney General, or it may be somewhere else.

In the state where I live, you cannot get a license to be a private investigator unless you have a law enforcement background, which can include being an MP in one of the US armed forces.  I have one acquaintance who is a PI and the stories he tells are .... pretty dull.  Real-life PIs are nothing like Magnum or Columbo or Jim Rockford.

But you'll need to find out what your state requires for you to get a license - whether there's a particular educational background you need, or whether you have to have certain job experience.  It varies from state to state.

A former coworker is married to a scientist who works in our state's crime labs for the state bureau of investigation.  He's just a guy with a biology degree, lots of chemistry classes, and a few classes in medical lab technology.  Remember if you work forensics you're probably going to be a state, county, or city employee somewhere.  That means long hours, low pay, and few raises.  So find someone in your area who has one of these jobs and ask if you can interview him and possibly shadow him.  Find out what the job is like from someone who is in the trenches every day.  Let them tell you what they love about their job as well as the drawbacks.  

Good luck to you.

Answer 6

Forensic science looks interesting on television, but real CSIs don't carry guns, drive cool cars, and most of them spend the majority of their professional life in the lab.  It is very tedious, detail oriented work, and is much better suited for someone who loves science, not for someone who loves solving crimes.