How To Become an Autopsy Tech in 2025

When someone dies and the cause of death isn't certain, or they die in a manner that could be the result of a crime, their body undergoes an autopsy. This is done so that the authorities have more details surrounding the cause and manner of death.

Autopsies may be conducted by medical examiners, forensic pathologists, or coroners. Often, these experts have assistants, like autopsy techs, to help them.

But there aren't really autopsy technician schools or even specific forensic autopsy technician education requirements. Most autopsy techs earn a degree and gain experience in a related field. Keep reading to learn more about how to become an autopsy tech.

What Is an Autopsy Technician?

Autopsy technicians are responsible for assisting medical examiners, pathologists, or coroners during autopsies. An autopsy is when someone examines a dead body to determine the cause of death and potentially collect evidence for criminal investigations.

Autopsy technicians are often considered a type of forensic science technician. This is a broad term that also encompasses crime scene investigators and lab technicians responsible for collecting and analyzing evidence.

What Does an Autopsy Technician Do?

Autopsy technicians assist the expert conducting the autopsy and help ensure that the autopsy runs smoothly. Their job duties often include:

• preparing the autopsy suite for the autopsy
• ensuring all tools are clean and ready
• lifting, moving, or transporting bodies
• photographing the body
• collecting tissue samples and fluids for analysis
• removing and weighing organs
• taking fingerprints of the deceased
• performing imaging, like X-rays
• documenting the autopsy process
• suturing areas of dissection
• communicating with family members and loved ones
• coordinating with law enforcement and forensic scientists

The specific job duties of an autopsy tech can vary depending on the situation. For example, if there is suspicion that the person may have been murdered, your job may require far more evidence collection.

Autopsy technicians must be comfortable with all the steps involved in post-mortem examinations, including dissection of deceased bodies and working with bodies in states of decay that may be prone to swelling and evisceration.

Where Do Autopsy Technicians Work?

In most situations, autopsy technicians work in either a lab or a morgue setting. They may work for a medical examiner's office, a coroner's office, a hospital, or a pathology lab. Depending on location, some also work for funeral homes.

Steps To Become an Autopsy Technician

To become an autopsy technician, you'll need to earn a degree and gain experience. We've highlighted the basic steps to becoming an autopsy tech below.

Step 1: Earn a Degree

The first step to becoming an autopsy technician is to earn a degree. An associate degree is the minimum needed, but many autopsy technicians have bachelor's degrees.

Before you begin your program, you'll need a high school diploma or GED equivalent. You may also need to have completed general education and prerequisite courses.

There is no one specific major for autopsy technicians. Common majors include forensic science, biology, mortuary science, and even pre-med. A good program will provide you with courses on human anatomy, toxicology, and medical terminology.

Some schools offer certificate programs for autopsy technicians or autopsy assistants. These can be a great addition to your degree program.

Step 2: Gain Experience

In addition to a degree, you'll need work experience. An internship is a great way to do this, and can be done as part of your degree program.

In an internship, you'll work under a medical examiner or forensic pathologist for college credit. You'll receive mentoring and have the opportunity to network with local experts in the field.

Other options to help you gain experience include volunteering at hospitals or pathology labs, or working in entry-level roles for pathologists or morticians. These help you get your foot in the door and also offer networking opportunities.

Step 3: Earn Certification

While certification isn't a requirement to work as an autopsy tech, it can further your career path and help make you more competitive for autopsy technician jobs. Note that some types of certification require you to already have work experience in the field.

A common certification for autopsy techs is a death investigation certificate through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI). To qualify, you must be employed by a medical examiner/coroner jurisdiction, have a certain amount of work experience, and pass an exam.

Step 4: Pursue Roles as an Autopsy Technician

Now that you have you education and experience, you can start pursuing roles as an autopsy technician. Look for jobs in hospitals, doctors' offices, and mortuaries.

Use the connections you made during your work experience to help you find career opportunities. Make sure to highlight your knowledge and experience.

Note that in some states, only licensed pathologists can conduct autopsies, while in others, coroners are more likely to do autopsies. While this doesn't really affect your job duties, it can affect where you look for a job.

What Are the Best Degrees for an Autopsy Technician?

Most commonly, autopsy technicians have bachelor's degrees. Popular fields of study include:

• forensic science
• forensic anthropology
• biology
• mortuary science
• organic chemistry

A master's degree isn't required to work as an autopsy tech, but it can help you further your career. You can get a graduate degree to work as a pathologist assistant, or even go to medical school to become a forensic pathologist yourself.

Top Autopsy Technician Degree Programs

Although there are no autopsy technician degrees, there are several schools that offer

1. John Jay College of Criminal Justice

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public, criminal justice-focused college in New York City. It offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in forensic science for those who want to work in forensic science laboratories or medical settings.

The degree offers tracks in criminalistics, toxicology, and molecular biology, the latter of which may be of particular interest to those pursuing careers as autopsy techs. John Jay also offers other degrees that these students could choose as well, such as degrees in cell and molecular biology and toxicology.

Estimated tuition cost: $7,470 per year (in-state); $15,420 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

2. Loyola University Chicago

At Loyola University Chicago, students can earn a BS in forensic science. The curriculum is heavily focused on natural and physical sciences and is ideal for students wanting to go into careers in forensic science or related fields.

Loyola Chicago, a private Catholic University, is located in Chicago. Students in the forensic science program here complete their program with their choice of a project in toxicology, molecular biology, or anthropology.

Estimated tuition cost: $53,710 (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

3. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University offers a BS in forensic science with tracks in forensic chemistry and forensic molecular biology. Penn State is a public research university in University Park, PA.

The program includes core courses on the human body, forensic investigation, and organic chemistry. This degree is offered at both the University Park and Commonwealth campuses.

Estimated tuition cost: $20,644 per year (in-state); $41,790 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: MSCHE

4. University of North Texas

The Bachelor of Science in biology at the University of North Texas offers a concentration specifically in forensic biology. This is a great option for those who want to work in crime labs or pursue careers as medical examiners.

UNT, located in Denton, TX, is a public university. Its forensic biology program includes courses on biomedical criminalistics and forensic analysis, as well as molecular biology labs.

Estimated tuition cost: $11,309 per year (in-state); $21,149 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

5. University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota is a public research institution in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Its bachelor's degree in mortuary science is the only mortuary science degree in the country offered through a medical school.

Courses in the program include courses on medical terminology, human anatomy, and pathology. The curriculum uses virtual reality technology to help students experience common postmortem scenarios.

Estimated tuition cost: $17,214 (in-state); $38,362 (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC

Skills of an Autopsy Technician

There are various skills that an autopsy technician needs. These include both technical skills and soft skills.

Autopsy techs need to develop skills for autopsies, like taking tissue and fluid samples. They may learn these skills in their degree programs, but many may be learned as they gain hands-on experience.

There are a number of soft skills autopsy techs need as well. Attention to detail and critical thinking skills are essential.

In addition, autopsy techs need to have a strong stomach, as they may be called to a death scene or have to work on a body that has been decomposing for a while. They also need to have some knowledge of law enforcement so they know what types of evidence to look for and how to submit the evidence through the chain of custody.

Job Outlook for Autopsy Technicians

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have a listing specifically for autopsy technicians, but it does offer one for forensic science technicians. BLS expects employment for these techs to increase by 14% by 2033.

The areas with the highest employment for forensic science technicians are:

• Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
• Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater (Florida)
• New York City/Newark/Jersey City (New York/New Jersey)
• Washington, D.C./Arlington/Alexandria
• Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington

What Is the Average Salary of an Autopsy Technician?

According to the BLS, the median salary for forensic science technicians in the U.S. is $67,440. However, salary will depend on the setting in which you work as well as the area.

The highest-paying metro areas for forensic science techs are:

• New Orleans metro: $165,410 per year
• San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara (California): $119,460 per year
• Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim: $109,000 per year
• San Francisco/Oakland/Hayward: $102,710 per year
• Oxnard/Thousand Oaks/Ventura (California): $101,350 per year

Explore Degrees for Autopsy Technicians

Start your journey toward an autopsy tech career by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about how they can help you become an autopsy tech.