How to become a medical examiner?

What science courses are needed to become a medical examiner and why are they important?

• I wantto become a medical examiner and want to know what sciences i need to take and why they are important in becoming one. ive already done my reaserch and didnt find anything relevent thanks for the help!

• Answer:

  I can only answer for the USA. Medical examiners must hold the earned title of forensic pathologist. In order to do so you must: Complete four years undergrad degree (some sort of science will be shortest, but any will do, so long as you complete the pre-requisites for med school) 2 semesters physics 4 semesters biology 4 semesters chemistry math through calculus Different med schools have a few odd and different requirements. Do well in all your classes, plan on getting at least 3.6 GPA. Then take the MCAT, plan to do well on that. Apply to as many med schools as you can stand (and afford) to. Med school curriculum is proscribed. Two years didactic (lectures, classroom, tests) and two years clinical (wear white coat, stethoscope, examine patients, still attend lectures, and take tests). In your last year of med school, apply to pathology residencies (all that interest you and as many as you can afford to interview with). Four years pathology residency, three days of board exams (you also pay handsomely to have the opportunity to take). During last year of residency, apply to forensic pathology fellowship programs (all that interest you and you can afford to interview with). Fellowship is usually one year, sometimes two, depending on the program. The good news is that after med school, you do get paid, less for residency than fellowship, but you can sustain yourself on income after that time. After fellowship, you sit for another one day (8 hour) test. Should you pass it, you are then qualified to apply for medical examiner positions. Study hard and thoroughly all the sciences, you never know when some little piece of data is going to tap into that first year chemistry knowledge bank, which happened to me a few years ago, had to know how to get mEq from mg, using molecular weight. It actually made a difference in the cause of death. Physics is also important to be able to calculate things like kinetic force, and you must, must know all there is to know about electricity for electrocution deaths.