By applying for an open position with a local government agency that advertises such a position, you can become a latent print examiner. Check with your local law enforcement agencies to see if a position for a fingerprint expert is available. However, in order to be considered as a candidate for becoming a local print examiner, you must have completed a certain amount of college-level forensics training and have prior experience examining fingerprints. Some jurisdictions even require applicants to have a science degree or a degree in a criminal justice-related field. It’s also not uncommon for people who want to work as a latent print examiner to first get their fingerprint examiner certification.
Before you can become a latent print examiner, you must learn how to conduct crime evidence examination, such as lifting, comparing, and classifying fingerprints. Many law enforcement agencies require latent print examiners to have an associate’s degree in a criminal justice-related field. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher in a science-related subject, as well as certification as a latent print expert, are frequently preferred.
If you want to work as a latent print examiner for an agency that requires certification, you’ll need to take a certain amount of classroom training in latent print examination-related subjects. In addition to college-level courses and relevant work experience, this may be required. Candidates must pass a rigorous written test and oral review process before becoming certified as a latent print examiner after meeting all of these requirements.
Volunteering to assist a fingerprint examiner could lead to you becoming a latent print examiner in the future. Depending on the length and scope of your volunteer work, it may qualify as work experience. At the very least, you’ll learn how to work with latent prints and gain valuable insight into the possibility of becoming a fingerprint expert in the future.
When you apply to work as a latent print examiner, you will be subjected to a thorough background investigation. As a result, you must have a clean criminal record, be a legal citizen, and be able to demonstrate a professional reputation for honesty and dependability. In addition, you must meet all of the standard requirements for employment with the agency to which you are applying. A good driving record and a solid work history are likely to be among the requirements.