Coroners

Career summary

#3/19/19 lh

Coroners are public officials who investigate the cause of deaths. They are appointed or elected to serve in a specific administrative area, such as a city or county. Coroners have different duties depending on local law.

In some places, coroners are physicians and may be called medical examiners. In many localities, coroners are not required to be physicians or be trained in medicine. In these cases, they direct others to do medical tests.

When a questionable death occurs, coroners are called in to determine the cause of death. They work closely with public health and law enforcement officials. Coroners give these officials information as they conduct tests.

Coroners direct the activities of physicians and technologists. These workers perform autopsies and tests to determine the cause of death.

Coroners decide if a death occurred under natural circumstances, or was due to accident, homicide, or undetermined causes. They assign a cause and manner of death and list it on the death certificate.

Coroners sometimes testify at inquests, hearings, and court trials. They also direct workers to prepare documents for official records.

Coroners provide information about the circumstances of the death to the family of the deceased. They deal with unclaimed bodies and their belongings.

Related careers

This career is part of the Government and Public Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Biologists
• Chemists
• Compliance Officers and Inspectors
• Conservation Scientists
• Family and General Practitioners
• Forensic Science Technicians
• Medical Laboratory Technologists
• Nurse Practitioners
• Pharmacists
• Physician Assistants
• Science Technicians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to coroners.

• Direct investigations to find the cause of deaths that are accidental, violent, or unexplained.
• Direct activities of physicians and technologists who perform autopsies and tests.
• May perform autopsies and other procedures in order to determine the cause and time of death.
• Confer with public health and law enforcement officials.
• Testify at inquests, hearings, and court trials.
• Direct other workers in the preparation of documents for records.
• Complete the certificate of death.
• Provide information about the circumstances of death to relatives.
• Coordinate activities to take care of unclaimed bodies and belongings.

Common work activities

Coroners perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Document and record information
• Perform for or work with the public
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Perform administrative tasks
• Assist and care for others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Use computers
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Teach others
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Monitor and control resources
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Handle and move objects
• Process information
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Develop and build teams
• Coach others
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Analyze data or information
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Schedule work and activities
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Develop goals and strategies
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Think creatively

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, coroners:

Interpersonal relationships

• Communicate on a daily basis by telephone, e-mail, and in person. They also write letters and memos, but less frequently.
• Have a medium to high level of social contact.
• Are often placed in conflict situations in which others may be angry or unpleasant.
• Often work as part of a team.
• Are responsible for the work done by those they supervise.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of others.

Physical work conditions

• Work indoors in offices and labs. Occasionally work outdoors when examining the site where a body was found.
• Are regularly are exposed to diseases or infections. As a result, they wear protective and safety attire, such as gloves and masks.
• Sometimes are exposed to contaminants.
• May be exposed to hazardous equipment.
• Often travel during work hours by truck or van.
• Come into close physical contact with corpses.
• Are often exposed to cold temperatures.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in their work and be sure all details are done. Errors could have serious results because their findings are used to convict people of crimes.
• Often make decisions that greatly impact others, including their employer and the relatives of the deceased.
• Usually make decisions independent of others.
• Set some, but not all, of their daily tasks and goals without consulting others first.
• Must meet regular weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• May work part time or full time.
• May be on-call to visit crime scenes any time of the day.
• Travel to the site of a death within the official area.
• Must meet weekly deadlines.

Physical demands

Coroners frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for coroners to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for coroners to be able to:

• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

Skills and abilities

Coroners need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Teach others how to do something.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Forensic Science
• Medicine
• Pathology and Experimental Pathology

Other programs of study to consider

• Anatomy
• Criminology
• Physiology
• Pre-Medicine

Training

To work as a coroner, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree;
• complete medical school; and
• complete pathology training and residency.

Education after high school

There are different levels of preparation, depending on the type of coroner.

Medical examiners are physicians who practice any branch of medicine. Pathologists are physicians trained in the medical specialty of pathology. Forensic pathologists are physicians who specialize in forensic pathology. They have completed specific training in various aspects of death investigation. In some states, coroners, in contrast, are not required to have medical training.

To become a physician, you must complete medical school. Before entering medical school, most students earn a bachelor's degree. A pre-medicine or science major is good preparation. Some students get their bachelor's degree in a liberal arts area, but take required courses in physics, biology, and chemistry.

Work experience

Experience as a physician is necessary experience for those positions that require medical qualifications. You usually need a medical license and certification in forensic pathology.

On-the-job training

Medical examiners and pathologists must complete residency training. As a resident, you receive on-the-job training while supervised by experienced pathologists.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements . If you want to be a pathologist, you will need to complete medical school. Thus you must take as many advanced math and sciences classes in high school as possible.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Foreign Language
• Introduction to Health Care
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Coroners are public officials who may be elected or appointed. Laws and statutes vary in local areas. In some areas coroners may be required to be physicians.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Coroners 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. The coroner's qualifications and duties also affect wages.

Coroners who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

National wage information is not available specifically for coroners. However, they are part of the larger group of "compliance officers."

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Federal, state, and local government agencies

National outlook

The population is growing. This means that the number of people who die each year will also grow. More coroners will be needed to investigate the increasing number of deaths. However, because this occupation is small the number of new jobs will be small. Many job openings occur as people retire.

Employment and outlook information is not available specifically for coroners. However, they are part of the larger group of "compliance officers."

Other resources

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 

American Academy of Forensic Sciences 
410 North 21st Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719.636.1100

Explore Health Careers: Forensic Pathologist 

International Association for Identification 
2131 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 403
Hollywood, FL 33020
954.589.0628

National Association of Medical Examiners 
362 Bristol Road
Walnut Shade, MO 65771
660.734.1891

Washington Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners 

Washington Association of County Officials 
206 - 10th Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501
360.753.7319

References

Career cluster

• Government and Public Administration

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Coroners (13-1041.06) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Coroner (168.161-010) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Investigative/Conventional/Realistic
• Investigative/Realistic/Conventional

COPSystem

• Science Skilled