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Evidence technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an evidence technician. Evidence technicians usually study criminal justice, business, or psychology. 54% of evidence technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 503 real evidence technician resumes to see exactly what evidence technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for evidence technicians are the Sam Houston State University and the Sam Houston State University.

There are also many online evidence technician courses to help get the education required to be an evidence technician.

There are certain evidence technician certifications that you should consider. These evidence technician certifications include Certified Chemical Technician (CCT) and Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM).

What education do you need to become an evidence technician?

What degree do you need to be an evidence technician?

The most common degree for evidence technicians is bachelor's degree, with 54% of evidence technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 26% and associate degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 54%
  • Associate, 26%
  • Master's, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become an evidence technician?

You should major in criminal justice to become an evidence technician. 50% of evidence technicians major in criminal justice. Other common majors for an evidence technician include business and psychology.

Most common colleges for evidence technicians

Evidence technicians often get their degrees at Sam Houston State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Westfield State University. Here are the most common colleges for evidence technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Evidence technician common collegePercentages
Sam Houston State University9.43%
Virginia Commonwealth University7.55%
Westfield State University5.66%
American University5.66%
University of Phoenix5.66%

Best majors for evidence technicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice49.6%
2Business9.1%
3Psychology4.7%
4General Studies4.7%
5Law Enforcement4.3%

Best colleges for evidence technicians

The best colleges for evidence technicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

An evidence technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for evidence technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become evidence technicians.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

3. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

4. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$58,230

Enrollment

6,600

10. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

20 best online courses for evidence technicians

Advertising disclosure

1. Evidence-based Toxicology

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Welcome to the Evidence-based Toxicology (EBT) course. In medicine and healthcare, evidence-based medicine has revolutionized the way that information is evaluated transparently and objectively. Over the past ten years, a movement in North America and Europe has attempted to translate this revolution to the field of toxicology. The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) within the department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health...

2. Opioid Epidemic: From Evidence to Impact

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While prescription opioids serve an invaluable role for the treatment of cancer pain and pain at the end of life, their overuse for acute and chronic non-cancer pain as well as the increasing availability of heroin and illicit fentanyl, have contributed to the highest rates of overdose and opioid addiction in U.S. history. Evidence-informed solutions are urgently needed to address these issues and to promote high-quality care for those with pain. This course and the report it is based on are a...

3. Digital Forensics and Electronic Evidence

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An introduction for legal professionals and other individuals with an interest in computer forensics...

4. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course

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Learn Criminal Law and Start your career with certification of Criminal Law and Criminal Psychology, Learn Criminology...

5. Trade & investment: evidence-based policies for development

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This MOOC prepares students that want to analyse trade and investment policies of developing countries and emerging markets. We couch you for the task of giving evidence-based policy. For students interested in policy advise the course brings a sound understanding of what can and what cannot be done with well-established theories and state-of-the-art research. For students interested in research the asset of this course is to learn how to effectively communicate research findings in a policy...

6. Introduction to International Criminal Law

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-- About the Course -- From the Nuremberg trial to the case against Saddam Hussein, from the prosecution of Al-Qaeda terrorists to the trial of Somali pirates – no area of law is as important to world peace and security as international criminal law. Taught by one of the world’s leading experts in the field, this course will educate students about the fundamentals of international criminal law and policy. We will explore the contours of international crimes such as genocide, war crimes,...

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9. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

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The American criminal justice system is in need of reform. We incarcerate too many people. We pay insufficient attention to scientific advances that can help separate out the most and least culpable and dangerous. We grant the police far too much power to use force and technological surveillance. As a way of thinking about dealing with these problems, this course examines two over-arching issues: What should we do with people who have committed crime, and how should we identify who they are? On...

10. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

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‘Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes’ is the second course in Leiden University’s new series on International Law in Action. The first course covered international courts and tribunals in The Hague in general. This second course provides an insider perspective into the work of international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn about the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in The Hague. Atrocities produce unspeakable forms of violence. We will explore...

11. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

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A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...

12. Computer Forensics and Digital Forensics Masterclass 2023+

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Learn computer forensics, digital forensics, mobile forensics, windows forensics, linux forensics and other forensics...

13. Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action

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Humans often fail to make rational decisions that affect their health. This course seeks to heighten understanding of the social and behavioral factors that contribute to health decisions and behaviors, with an ultimate goal of learning how to utilize these factors in improving public health efforts. Through a set of experiential learning exercises, students will learn to apply the science of health behavior change in their own lives. The course is appropriate for students interested in health...

14. Computer Forensics Fundamentals

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An introduction to Computer Forensics, to demonstrate the process of going from the crime scene to the court room...

15. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

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Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

16. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

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17. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

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Personality Disorders, Violence, Sex Offence, Murder, and other types of crime...

18. SDF: Windows Prefetch Forensics

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Learn how an analyze Windows prefetch evidence...

19. Certificate Program In Management Information Systems

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Learn about the exciting world of Management Information Systems and its impact on the way organisations now function...

20. Digital Forensics and Cyber-Crime Investigation

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Computer Forensics...

Top 10 most affordable universities for evidence technicians

The most affordable schools for evidence technicians are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and california state university - los angeles.

If the best universities for evidence technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for evidence technicians.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for evidence technicians

The hardest universities for evidence technicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for evidence technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for evidence technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,520

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for evidence technicians

The easiest schools for evidence technicians to get into are Wayland Baptist University, notre dame college, and william paterson university of new jersey.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an evidence technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for evidence technicians.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

3. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

4. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

6. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

7. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

8. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

9. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

10. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,072

Average evidence technician salary by education level

According to our data, evidence technicians with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $49,856 annually. Evidence technicians with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $46,363.
Evidence technician education levelEvidence technician salary
Master's Degree$49,856
High School Diploma or Less$43,220
Bachelor's Degree$44,624
Some College/ Associate Degree$46,363

Evidence technician education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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