What Education Does a Ballistic Expert Require?
Many have a bachelor’s degree in either forensic science or criminology, but some train in mechanical engineering or metallurgy. Undertaking an internship while earning your degree can also help you obtain the necessary practical experience. Police officers and others with experience in firearms can transition into a ballistic expert career by undergoing some training courses, without necessarily earning a degree. Useful courses typically include chemistry, math, and physics. While most ballistic experts work for state and local governments, others choose to work for independent organizations as expert consultants. They get called in to verify or rebut police findings, usually by either the prosecution or defense attorney. Training to become a ballistic expert can include: • Ammunition • Crime scene search • Evidence handling • Expert witness testimony training • Fields of law • Firearms assembly/disassembly • Firearms identification • Gunpowder and primer residue • Microscopy • Wound
