How to Become a Forensic Chemist

1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree (4 Years)

Forensic chemists are expected to have at least a bachelor's degree in clinical chemistry, chemistry, or a related major.

Only programs with Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) accreditation are acceptable. Many universities offer Forensic Chemistry master's and doctoral (PhD) degree programs.

The preparation timeline below provides an example chemistry curriculum:

Grade Level	Example Courses
Freshman	General Chemistry I & Lab General Chemistry II & Lab Calculus I Calculus II Humanities Requirements Electives
Sophomore	Organic Chemistry I & Lab Organic Chemistry II & Lab Inorganic Chemistry I & Lab Physics I & Lab Physics II & Lab Humanities Requirements Electives
Junior	Physical Chemistry I & Lab Physical Chemistry II & Lab Instrumental Methods I & Lab Inorganic Chemistry II & Lab Humanities Requirements Electives
Senior	Advanced Chemistry Seminar Remaining Requirements & Electives

2. Take the Graduate Requisite Exam (GRE)

Most graduate programs revolving around forensic science require the Graduate Requisite Exam (GRE) for admittance. It's a 3 hour and 45 minute, standardized, multiple choice exam that covers analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning.

The GRE is broken down into six primary sections:

Section	Section Breakdown
1 Analytical Writing Section	2 writing assignments 60 minutes Tests student's abilities to assess arguments and communicate ideas.
2 Quantitative Reasoning Sections	20 multiple-choice questions 35 minutes per section Tests student's abilities to solve mathematical problems and interpret data.
2 Verbal Reasoning Sections	20 questions per section 30 minutes per section Tests the ability to understand and analyze written material
1 Unscored Section	A duplicate of one of the above sections

3. Earn Master's or Doctoral Degree (2 - 6 Years)

A master’s degree in forensic science is required by most employers in order to seek employment in a private or federal crime laboratory.

Year	Courses
1st	Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction Forensic Toxicology & Chemistry Analyses Biostatistics • Genetics Equilibrium & Analysis Law & Ethics Principles of Pharmacology Forensic Serology Forensic Chemistry Forensic Microscopy
2nd	Forensic Toxicology Human Molecular Biology Forensic Trace Evidence Analysis Advanced Forensic Chemistry Quality Management Graduate Practicum in Forensic Chemistry Research Project in Forensic Chemistry