Latent Print Examiner Training
If you are interested in becoming a Latent Print Examiner, education will be key to your success. If you're still in high school, complete your diploma and continue your education to gain the necessary training for the Latent Print Examiner career. If you already have some college education you may be able to apply those credits toward a degree.
Most departments require that you have a degree as a prerequisite for employment. Commonly held degree's are criminalistics, crime scene investigation, law enforcement, forensics or criminal justice. Take as much science courses in college, and aim to have at least a passing grade (2.0) in two of the science courses. The standards and education requirements to become a latent fingertip examiner will vary from state to state, and by employer. You should contact your local law enforcement agency to confirm which degree they suggest.
Top Picks for Latent Print Examiner Education & Training
Everest University
- Associate's in Criminal Investigations (Online) **top pick for latent print examiner
- Criminal Justice Associates (Online)
- BS Criminal Justice (Online)
The Criminal Investigations program at Everest offers the fundamentals of crime scene investigation science and theory. Subjects taught include but are not limited to: criminalistics, fingerprints, crime scene photography, technology crimes, collecting and presenting audio & visual evidence and biological evidence. After training in this program, graduates may work in federal, state and local governments, forensic laboratories, medical examiners offices, hospitals, insurance companies, universities, arson investigation units, homicide investigations, or laboratories. Graduates may also be employed as independent forensic science consultants, fingerprint technicians, print examiners, forensic investigators, evidence technician, or in private investigation.
- Click Here to request information from Everest University.
Saint Leo University
- BA Criminal Justice - Criminalistics (Trace Evidence) Specialization (Online)
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice - Forensic Science (Online)
- Click Here to learn more about Saint Leo's criminalistics (trace evidence examination) program.
Kaplan University
- BSCJ - Crime Scene Investigation (Online)
- AAS in Criminal Justice (Online)
- BS in Criminal Justice (Online)
- Click Here to learn more about Kaplan's programs.
Click here to see more schools.
Latent Print Examiner Certification
The International Association for Identification (IAI) offers training and conferences to widen your knowledge in fingerprint identification and other crime investigation skills. Membership to the association is divided into two types; active membership, which is for practicing professionals in the field of forensic science, and associate membership for non-practicing individuals such as students, vendors, etc.
If you want to gain mastery as a print examiner, you may take the Latent Print Certification from IAI. The certification is something you take when you are already a practicing crime scene investigator, and not as something to land you the job. You are qualified to take the certification exam if you have two years of experience in the comparison and identification of latent prints. For individuals who are not working full-time, your hours of services rendered as in forensic fingerprinting job must meet the requirements of the board. Finger Print Examiners should be familiar with ACE-V, or Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, and Verification), along with a wide range of other on the job experience.
