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Forensic Science Technician

Public Safety & Defence

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

SciencePublic Safety & Defence

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
  2. 2Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
  3. 3Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
  4. 4Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
  5. 5Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
  6. 6Measure and sketch crime scenes to document evidence.
  7. 7Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
  8. 8Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
  9. 9Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
  10. 10Examine physical evidence, such as hair, biological fluids, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.
  11. 11Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.
  12. 12Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.
  13. 13Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings.
  14. 14Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.
  15. 15Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes.
  16. 16Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
  17. 17Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.
  18. 18Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.
  19. 19Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark.
  20. 20Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes.
  21. 21Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers.
  22. 22Analyze data from computers or other digital media sources for evidence related to criminal activity.
  23. 23Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work.
  24. 24Examine footwear, tire tracks, or other types of impressions.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • CSA
  • CSI
  • FDE
  • DNA Tech
  • Criminalist
  • DNA Analyst
  • Ballistician
  • Biometrician
  • DNA Examiner
  • Investigator

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationPost-secondary certificate

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

History (Sejarah)Draws directly on Law and Government — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Law and Government89%

    History (Sejarah)

  • Public Safety and Security83%
  • Education and Training75%
  • English Language72%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics68%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Customer and Personal Service66%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
  • Noisy environmentOften

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Enter data into databases.
  • Operate drones to capture aerial footage or photographs of crime scenes for further analysis.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

6%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Forensic Science Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org