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How to become a Forensic Science Laboratory Examiner

Uses specialist knowledge of chemistry, physics, forensic medicine and other fields to carry out scientific examinations and research for criminal investigations.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say a master's degree, university, or a doctorate is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

Recruitment exams differ from prefecture to prefecture, but examiners are hired as specialist staff and assigned to the prefectural police's forensic science laboratory. Very few people are hired, and some years there is no recruitment at all. Some prefectural police forces require applicants to have graduated (or be about to graduate) from a university department related to the job, such as chemistry, physics or biology. After being hired, new staff train at a police academy on how the police are organised and how they work before taking up their post. After that, training is available at the National Police Agency's National Research Institute of Police Science to raise their specialist knowledge and skills further. With experience they move up the ranks, and some are promoted to management posts at headquarters. This job is part of criminal investigation, so examination results must always be fast, accurate and neutral. You need the calm to stay objective in any situation and sound judgement.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Forensic Science Laboratory Examiner?

Recruitment exams differ from prefecture to prefecture, but examiners are hired as specialist staff and assigned to the prefectural police's forensic science laboratory. Very few people are hired, and some years there is no recruitment at all. Some prefectural police forces require applicants to have graduated (or be about to graduate) from a university department related to the job, such as chemistry, physics or biology. After being hired, new staff train at a police academy on how the police are organised and how they work before taking up their post. After that, training is available at the National Police Agency's National Research Institute of Police Science to raise their specialist knowledge and skills further. With experience they move up the ranks, and some are promoted to management posts at headquarters. This job is part of criminal investigation, so examination results must always be fast, accurate and neutral. You need the calm to stay objective in any situation and sound judgement.

How much does a Forensic Science Laboratory Examiner earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥8,020,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Researchers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Forensic Science Laboratory Examiner?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 90% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Forensic Science Laboratory Examiner?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026