Online Medical Examiner Schools and Classes

What You Need to Know

Becoming a medical examiner requires you to have a solid background in medical knowledge and the completion of medical school. Some of the courses you will need to take in this program are offered remotely. Your schooling in this program will prepare you to examine injuries and crime scenes, as well as for your role in any courtroom proceedings.

How Do I Get Admitted Into an Online Medical Examiner School?

Before you enroll in any online medical examiner courses, you should have an undergraduate degree in the physical or natural sciences field. Majoring in one of these fields can help you fulfill medical school prerequisite courses, which may include biology, physics and chemistry.

Before you can become a medical examiner, you must complete four years of medical school along with a residency program in forensic science or pathology and have a license to practice medicine. You can, however, take courses offered in master's degree and graduate certificate programs in forensic science that provide the tools you will need as a medical examiner.

You can try one of the following schools for online coursework:

• Duquesne University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Aspen University
• Colorado Technical University
• Oklahoma State University

What Else Do I Need to Consider?

Typically there are no residency restrictions if you're a distance learner, so you may be able to attend an online school from any location as long as you have an Internet connection and an e-mail address. You must check with the school, though, because some programs require that you visit campus to complete lab work. Other distance learning programs may require you to have a microphone to communicate during live Web chats.

What Online Programs Are Available to Me?

An online master's degree program in forensic science is offered asynchronously, although some schools may require that you be on your computer at specific times to work with instructors and other students. These programs may require that you complete a thesis, research project or capstone practicum before you graduate.

Also available are online graduate certificate programs in forensic science. These certificate programs may qualify you for continuing education credits through the Board of Registered Nurses (BRN) if you are currently a registered nurse. You may need to attend campus for a mock trial session.

What Topics Will I Study?

A majority of online courses cover the forensic aspects of being a medical examiner. Other classes prepare you for dealing with death investigations, including DNA analysis and collecting evidence to assist law enforcement officials. Typical online courses specializing in medical examining may include the following:

• Toxicology
• Pharmacology
• Scientific evidence and statistics
• Courtroom testimony
• Applying forensics to a healthcare environment
• Firearm injuries
• Blunt force trauma