Coroners and medical examiners

Strong job outlook

Overview

Coroners and Medical Examiners

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Police investigators
Interviews persons in connection with criminal incidents, including victims, witnesses and suspects
Exchange information and coordinate activities with other law enforcements agencies
Prepare investigation reports and testify in courts concerning criminal investigations
Search and collect physical evidence from crimes scenes, such as fingerprints, and attend autopsies
Perform surveillance by using investigative technologies
Obtain search warrants, conduct searches and arrest suspects
May conduct investigation on online networks and computer systems to detect cyber crimes or to recover data.
May supervise and coordinate the work of police officers.
Coroners and medical examiners
Conduct death investigations to determine the identity of the deceased, date and location of death, medical cause of death, and manner of death
Order or perform autopsies and other medical tests
Consult with and request assistance from law enforcement, physicians, and family
Issue death certificates, including assigning cause and manner of death
Identify and educate the public on dangerous practices or conditions that may lead to death
May testify or produce evidence in proceedings about observations made during investigations
May supervisor and coordinator work of other employees.

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2023 edition

The labour market information for this career is aggregate data for Police investigators and other investigative occupations

Low

Median

High

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

Strong job outlook

130

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Completion of a university degree in police investigation is required in Quebec.
Completion of secondary school is required.
Coroners and medical examiners
In Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, a medical examiner is required to be a physician with an active medical license.
In British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon, it is preferred coroners have education and experience in the legal, medical or investigative fields.
In Ontario and Prince Edward Island, coroners are required to be a physician with an active medical license.
In Quebec, coroners are required to be a non-retired member of the Collège des médecins du Québec, the Barreau du Québec or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, and have a minimum of four years of professional experience in their practice.
Police Investigators
Several years of experience as a police officers are required.
Specialized training or certification may be required for certain areas of investigation.

For coroners and medical examiners, progression to deputy chief coroner or deputy chief medical officer positions is possible with additional training and experience.
For police investigators, progression to commissioned police officer positions is possible with additional training and experience.

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