100% Online

Online Crime Scene Technician Certificate

Try Classes for 3 Weeks at No Cost

Additional academy training and education not provided by Purdue Global may be required for law enforcement positions.

REQUEST INFORMATION
Ready to learn more about the
REQUEST INFORMATION
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, transfer credits process, and financial aid options.
Request Information
Earn Your Certificate as Early as:
Admission Requirements
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outcomes
7
Total Courses
$371
Cost per Credit
11 months
Average Completion*
15–18 Hours/Week
Course Effort

Crime Scene Technician Certificate Overview

Employment of forensic science technicians is growing fast. It’s time — earn your certificate online and be ready to meet the demand.

  • You can use the credits earned in this program toward a future Purdue Global associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
  • Get the credit you deserve. Current certified law enforcement officers may be eligible for credit toward the certificate.
  • Learn to:
    • Apply ethical investigative methods used in forensic science and prepare written reports detailing the crime scene.
    • Observe minute details at the scene and relate them to the crime; identify and describe persons, vehicles, and locations; and give expert testimony about evidence in criminal court cases.
    • Oversee investigations of homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, home invasions, and burglaries.
    • Secure crime scenes through gathering, processing, photographing, and preserving evidence in support of law enforcement.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Take a Career Assessment

Discover your work interests and use them to chart your ideal career path.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Calculate Your Time and Cost

Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.

Get Started

What Courses Will I Take?

Purdue Global’s Crime Scene Technician Certificate is designed to offer a strong foundation in criminal investigation and the analytical procedures used in this dynamic field.

See All Crime Scene Technician Courses

Program Requirements

7
Major Courses
7
Total Courses
41
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

3-Week Trial

Not sure if Purdue Global is right for you? Try an undergraduate program for an introductory 3-week trial period.

There’s no financial obligation and no cost to apply. That’s the Purdue Global Commitment.

How It Works

Students who choose to continue at Purdue Global will be billed for the full first term's tuition, including the 3-week trial. See Notes and Conditions below.

Admissions Requirements

You must be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or other equivalency diploma. You must also complete orientation before you start classes.

Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Your Prior Knowledge and Experience Can Help You Save Time and Money on Your Degree

Use Your Law Enforcement Certification to Earn Credit

If you are a certified sworn law enforcement officer who has completed National Peace Officer Standard Training, your accomplishments may qualify you to receive credit toward your certificate.

Get a Head Start on Your Next Degree

By completing the online certificate program, you’ll not only earn a valuable credential to make an immediate impact on your career, but you’ll also lay the groundwork for your next degree. Qualified credits can apply toward a Purdue Global associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Career Opportunities

Qualified crime scene technicians can seek employment opportunities in a variety of work environments including insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, laboratories, large law firms, and medical examiners' offices.

Average Salary

Range

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement jobs may require additional training or education including additional state-approved higher education beyond the Purdue Global degree. This program was not designed to meet any specific state’s requirements, and Purdue Global makes no representations or warranties as to whether the degree or any individual courses meet such requirements. Refer to the University Catalog for additional information. Graduates of Purdue Global criminal justice programs are not eligible to attend police academies in Minnesota.

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Download the Program Brochure

Learn more about our criminal justice programs and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global. Prepare yourself for success in the criminal justice field.

View Brochure

Choosing a Crime Scene Technician Certificate

Discover tools and additional resources on the value of a crime scene technician certificate and potential career pathways to pursue.

How to Become a Crime Scene Technician

Propel your career in a growing, in-demand field. Learn the skills and education you need to collect and analyze evidence at crime scenes.

The Growing Role of Technology in the Criminal Justice Field

Expand your career opportunities in the criminal justice field. Learn how continued education could set you up for success down the line.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

Connect with an AdvisorApply Online Today
NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Credit for Law Enforcement Officers: Students must currently be a certified law enforcement officer or a federal agent (FBI, DEA, ATF, etc.), or must have been certified in either of these roles within 24 months of their enrollment date. Purdue Global does not guarantee transferability of credit. See the University Catalog for the Prior Learning Assessment policy.

Future Programs: The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

Job Growth—Legal Occupations: Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Forensic Science Technicians, www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.