Overworked officers quitting profession

The training process for China’s crime scene investigators

Potential officers must major in forensics science at a medical college. Although they are not qualified physicians, many of the subjects studied by forensic scientists are also studied by medical students.

Usually, students spend five years studying for a bachelor’s degree. They can then spend an additional three years studying for a master’s, either at medical colleges or police colleges, including the National Police University of China and the People’s Public Security University of China.

Graduates have two choices: they can take the civil service examination and become forensic officers at a public security bureau, or, providing they hold a separate national qualification, they can work for an independent institute, registered with the Ministry of Justice.