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How Do I Become a Coroner?
I'm 19 F, I live in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Right now I go to Saint Louis Community College, this is my first semester and it's ending fast. I want to be a coroner, and major in Pathology, but I really don't know how to get there. I've tried calling coroner's offices, but I understand that they cannot supply me with the answers that I need as they are busy.
I am interested in going to Missouri State University in Springfield.
I need someone (preferrably someone in my career choice) to explain the steps on becoming a coroner to me. I know it's an elected position, and I know I have to have police experience, but I am completely clueless on the rest.
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: School?
In most states the Coroner is the Chief Medical Examiner. In general this means, that while this is an appointed position, this person will have a Medical Degree and Board Certification in Pathology.
My advice to you is: Check with your Student advisor as to what Schools and what courses you should be taking and what schools you should be looking to attend.
I would believe you will need to follow the following to reach your goal: Complete a BS in Premed Courses, Med School, Internship and Residency. Then work a few years as a Medical examiner to gain field experience before applying for a position of Coroner/Medical Examiner.
While speaking to your course advisor ask if an internship could be arranged with the medical examiners office. Working as a Coroner/Medical Examiner is challeging work. It also entails a great deal of personal fortitude as some of the bodies you will see are not what the average person sees. Not everyone can stomach what you will see. You'll see decapitatins, burnt bodies, mutilations and more. The bodies will range in age from infants to elder adults.
As a first responder, just when I think I have seen it all a call comes out and I see something new. We have a job to do and we have to push through the terror of what we see and so will you. An internship in the medical examiners office will allow you to know if you have the inner fortitude to be a Coroner.
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Try calling the coroner's office and tell whomever answers that you know they are busy but is there anyone who can recommend a college or university program to get into the field? I'm sure someone would respond eventually.
I don't know why anyone would want to be a coroner as they deal with some pretty graphic and sick stuff. It requires a certain quality few possess to routinely handle that.
From what I know you need to be a doctor or someone that knows everything about anatomy. There are a lot of programs out there for the funeral industry and skills picked up there can overlap and transfer over.
I would look at universities or colleges on line that have those programs and call the head of that program up and tell them you eventually want to be a coroner what's the best way to get there. They'll tell you.
A lot of those programs are pretty real-life and hands-on from the start so it may be the best thing to call up colleges and ask department heads all your questions.
I never agreed with this kind of thing but coroners offices sometimes allow high school kids and colleges to tour especially if those kids are on a path to early demise due to bad choices. I don't know if they'd allow you in apart from that but maybe as it would tell you whether you can handle it.
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