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Coroners

SOC 13-1041.06Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full scope of coroner practice in county and municipal medicolegal settings, from supervised entry-level death scene processing through autonomous investigation, expert testimony, and executive leadership of a coroner's office.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Death certificate forms — complete under direct supervision by assigning preliminary cause and manner of death in routine, clearly documented cases.
  2. Body position and condition — observe and record accurately at a death scene under the guidance of an experienced coroner.
  3. Personal property and medication containers — identify, log, and preserve items related to a death scene using established evidence-handling protocols.
  4. Deceased individuals — assist in locating and documenting visible trauma markers during a preliminary body examination under close oversight.
  5. Body removal procedures — support the supervised removal and transport of remains to the morgue using approved equipment and supplies.
  6. Death scene witnesses — gather basic contact information and initial statements from persons present, following a structured interview checklist.
  7. Case management software — enter death investigation data into database or document management systems under supervisor review.
  8. Medicolegal terminology — read and comprehend autopsy reports, medical records, and legal statutes with guidance from senior staff.
  9. Family notifications — relay factual, pre-approved information about the circumstances of a death to next of kin under supervisory direction.
  10. Photography and imaging tools — capture standardized scene photographs using graphics or photo imaging software following departmental protocols.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Death certificates — complete independently, including accurate cause-and-manner-of-death determinations, for routine cases in a county coroner's office.
  2. Preliminary medicolegal examinations — conduct body assessments to identify victims, document trauma, and estimate time of death with minimal oversight.
  3. Witness interviews — conduct structured interviews with family members, first responders, and bystanders at death scenes to build a coherent investigative narrative.
  4. Evidence chain of custody — observe, tag, photograph, and preserve physical evidence such as suicide notes and prescription bottles in compliance with jurisdictional standards.
  5. Scene reports — produce clear, well-organized written documentation of body positions, environmental conditions, and evidentiary findings for case files.
  6. Body removal coordination — direct contracted mortuary personnel in the proper removal and transportation of remains, ensuring safe and dignified handling.
  7. Decedent identity — apply inductive reasoning to correlate physical descriptors, personal effects, and available records to establish identity in standard cases.
  8. Analytical software — use scientific or forensic analytical tools to support toxicology and pathology data review in ongoing investigations.
  9. Bereaved family communication — explain cause-of-death findings and procedural next steps to relatives using clear, compassionate language appropriate to the situation.
  10. Time management — prioritize concurrent active cases and administrative deadlines, including certificate filings and court submission schedules, with reduced supervisory input.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex death certificates — determine and certify cause and manner of death autonomously in ambiguous, multi-factor cases including natural, accidental, homicide, and undetermined rulings.
  2. Full medicolegal autopsies — perform comprehensive postmortem examinations, integrating biological, toxicological, and circumstantial evidence to reconstruct the sequence of fatal events.
  3. Non-routine death investigations — apply critical thinking and deductive reasoning to investigate deaths with conflicting evidence, contested circumstances, or public-safety implications.
  4. Decedent identification — lead identification efforts in mass-casualty or decomposed-remains cases, coordinating with forensic odontology, DNA, and fingerprint specialists.
  5. Legal and judicial proceedings — prepare detailed expert reports and provide sworn testimony in coroner's inquests, civil depositions, and criminal trials.
  6. Interdisciplinary collaboration — coordinate with law enforcement, public health officials, hospital pathologists, and medical examiners to ensure investigative integrity and information accuracy.
  7. Evidence preservation protocols — develop and implement scene-specific strategies for collecting, documenting, and maintaining chain of custody for all physical and digital evidence.
  8. Public health surveillance — identify and report death patterns indicative of emerging disease outbreaks, drug epidemics, or occupational hazards to appropriate health authorities.
  9. Family liaison — guide families through the full investigative and certification process, managing emotionally charged disclosures about traumatic or contested deaths with professional sensitivity.
  10. Continuous learning — apply active learning strategies to integrate updated forensic science literature, legislative changes, and evolving medicolegal standards into daily practice.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Jurisdictional death investigation policy — develop, revise, and implement coroner office policies and standard operating procedures that align with current law, science, and community standards.
  2. Staff development and training — design and deliver instructional programs for emerging and developing coroner staff, building competency in examination techniques, legal documentation, and witness interviewing.
  3. Quality assurance systems — establish audit processes that review death certificate accuracy, evidence handling compliance, and investigative thoroughness across the entire office caseload.
  4. Interagency leadership — represent the coroner's office in multi-agency task forces addressing homicide trends, substance-abuse fatalities, or disaster preparedness at the regional or state level.
  5. Forensic technology strategy — evaluate and implement new analytical software, imaging platforms, and database systems that improve investigation efficiency and data integrity office-wide.
  6. Legislative and regulatory engagement — advise elected officials, public health boards, and law-enforcement agencies on proposed changes to medicolegal statutes and death-reporting requirements.
  7. Organizational resource management — oversee budget planning, staffing allocations, and equipment procurement for a coroner's office to ensure sustainable investigative capacity.
  8. Community trust and public communication — lead transparent public communication strategies regarding high-profile or sensitive death investigations, maintaining public confidence and institutional integrity.
  9. Research and evidence-based practice — direct or contribute to applied research projects that advance forensic methodology, publish findings, and integrate outcomes into occupational training curricula.
  10. Mentorship and succession planning — identify high-potential staff, create individualized development pathways, and ensure organizational knowledge transfer to sustain long-term coroner office effectiveness.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted documentation drafting — uses an LLM to generate initial death certificate language from structured case notes, then reviews every field manually before submission Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Basic case research support — queries an AI tool for background information on specific toxicological agents or injury patterns encountered during a preliminary scene examination, treating the output as a starting reference only.
Developing
  1. Narrative report scaffolding — directs an AI assistant to organize observations collected at a death scene into a coherent preliminary report structure, then edits the draft to reflect the coroner's direct findings Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Interview summary synthesis — feeds transcribed or hand-written witness interview notes into an LLM to extract key details relevant to manner-of-death determination, verifying every extracted point against the source material WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Regulatory compliance cross-check — runs completed medicolegal documentation through an AI tool to flag missing required fields or inconsistent terminology before filing, retaining full authority over all determinations.
Proficient
  1. Cause-of-death differential reasoning — presents assembled physical evidence, toxicology results, and scene observations to an AI assistant to surface competing hypotheses, then applies independent medical-legal judgment to reach the official determination Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Time-of-death estimation support — delegates structured input data (body temperature, lividity, scene conditions) to an AI model to generate a calculated postmortem interval range, then cross-validates the output against direct examination findings Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  3. Family notification preparation — uses an AI tool to draft plain-language summaries of cause-and-manner findings for next-of-kin communication, then reviews and personalizes the language to match the sensitivity the interaction requires Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  4. Cross-case pattern identification — directs an AI system to scan a jurisdiction's case database for clusters of similar manner-of-death presentations that may indicate a public health concern, then coordinates findings with health authorities WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. End-to-end medicolegal workflow orchestration — oversees AI-assisted pipelines that route scene photographs, toxicology reports, and autopsy findings through classification and summarization models, while holding personal accountability for every official conclusion and legal certification Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. AI tool evaluation and protocol authorship — assesses the accuracy and jurisdictional appropriateness of AI tools proposed for death investigation use, authors departmental guidelines governing their application, and trains junior staff in safe, evidence-bounded use Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Expert testimony preparation with AI synthesis — commissions an AI assistant to compile and cross-reference case evidence into a structured forensic narrative, then rigorously audits the output for accuracy and legal defensibility before presenting findings in court proceedings Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 59
Augment share: 5.9%
Time saved: 85.2%
AI autonomy: 3.47
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Speaking
Score: 48.5 / 100
Quadrant: Q2_ai_augmented
precision: exact
WEF cluster
Data Science and Analysis
data_science_and_analysis
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication13 statements
Emerging
  1. Death certificate drafting — completes cause-of-death fields using standard terminology under supervisor guidance in routine, unambiguous cases Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Next-of-kin notification — delivers basic information about circumstances of death to family members using clear, plain language O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Scene observation notes — records positions and conditions of bodies using standardized forms and descriptive language Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Witness interview communication — elicits accounts from persons present at death scenes through structured questioning to gather manner-of-death information Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Death certificate completion — assigns cause and manner of death using precise medicolegal terminology with growing consistency across case types O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Interdepartmental correspondence — drafts written reports and memos to law enforcement and medical personnel summarizing preliminary findings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Family bereavement communication — conveys circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased with clarity, sensitivity, and cultural awareness during high-stress interactions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Medicolegal report writing — produces complete, legally defensible autopsy and examination reports that accurately document findings, evidence, and conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Courtroom testimony — presents death investigation findings verbally to legal proceedings using precise language accessible to non-specialist audiences O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Multi-agency briefing — communicates investigation status and findings clearly across law enforcement, public health, and prosecutorial audiences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Expert witness communication — articulates complex medicolegal conclusions under cross-examination, maintaining accuracy and composure in adversarial legal settings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Community death reporting — develops public-facing communications and reports on death trends, such as overdose surges, to inform community and policy stakeholders Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Communication standards development — establishes and trains staff on documentation and notification protocols that improve consistency and legal defensibility across the office Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
2Leadership10 statements
Emerging
  1. Scene task execution — carries out assigned body-removal and evidence-preservation tasks under the direction of senior investigators, following established protocols Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Personal accountability — takes responsibility for accurate completion of assigned death certificates and scene documentation without prompting Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Scene coordination — directs support staff and transportation personnel in the proper removal of remains and preservation of evidence at death scenes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Case ownership — manages the full investigative lifecycle of assigned cases from scene response through certificate completion with minimal oversight Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Multi-agency scene leadership — assumes command authority at complex death scenes, directing law enforcement, EMS, and funeral personnel toward shared investigative objectives Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Staff mentoring — guides junior investigators through medicolegal examination procedures and documentation standards, building competence across the team Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Office policy implementation — leads adoption of updated death investigation protocols, ensuring staff compliance and consistency of practice O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Jurisdictional leadership — sets the strategic direction of the coroner's office, allocating resources and establishing priorities that improve investigation quality and community trust Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Regional collaboration leadership — convenes multi-jurisdictional working groups to standardize death investigation practices across county or state boundaries Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Crisis leadership — directs mass-casualty or public-health-emergency death investigation responses, maintaining operational effectiveness under extreme organizational pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition9 statements
Emerging
  1. Learning self-assessment — identifies personal knowledge gaps in medicolegal terminology and anatomy, and seeks targeted guidance from supervisors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Case reflection — reviews completed death certificates to recognize documentation errors and understand their root causes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Investigative strategy awareness — monitors personal decision-making process during manner-of-death determination, recognizing when assumptions may be biasing conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Skill gap planning — identifies areas of developing expertise, such as toxicological interpretation or trauma recognition, and pursues relevant training Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Bias recognition in death classification — evaluates own analytical reasoning when assigning equivocal manner-of-death classifications to detect confirmation bias or incomplete evidence review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. After-action learning — systematically reviews challenging or corrected cases to extract lessons that improve future investigation accuracy and report quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Workload cognitive monitoring — tracks cognitive load during high-volume periods and adjusts documentation practices to maintain accuracy under fatigue Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Metacognitive modeling — explicitly teaches junior investigators to recognize their own reasoning limitations during complex or emotionally charged death investigations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Systemic error analysis — conducts office-wide review of case reversals or medical examiner disagreements to identify and correct recurring cognitive errors in manner-of-death determination Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking11 statements
Emerging
  1. Evidence observation — identifies and records visible trauma indicators, medication containers, and environmental factors at death scenes using trained observational checklists Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cause-of-death reasoning — applies basic medical and biological knowledge to differentiate natural versus apparent traumatic deaths in straightforward cases O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Manner-of-death analysis — evaluates scene evidence, witness statements, and medical history to distinguish between natural, accidental, suicidal, and homicidal manners of death Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Evidence integrity evaluation — assesses reliability and chain-of-custody implications of physical evidence collected at death scenes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Time-of-death estimation — applies biological and environmental indicators from preliminary body examinations to narrow probable time-of-death windows O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Conflicting evidence reconciliation — synthesizes contradictory physical, toxicological, and testimonial findings to reach defensible manner-of-death conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Equivocal death determination — applies structured analytical frameworks to deaths with ambiguous circumstances, documenting the logical basis for final classification Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Death certificate accuracy review — critically evaluates completed certificates for logical inconsistencies between cause, manner, and contributing conditions before filing O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Complex medicolegal reasoning — resolves high-stakes equivocal cases involving decomposition, staged scenes, or multiple contributing causes through rigorous evidence synthesis and expert consultation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Investigative standards critique — evaluates existing office protocols against current medicolegal literature and proposes evidence-based improvements to classification criteria Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Expert peer review — provides critical analysis of contested death determinations for legal proceedings, applying systematic reasoning to challenge or corroborate findings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration10 statements
Emerging
  1. Scene team cooperation — works with law enforcement officers and EMS personnel at death scenes, following assigned roles and supporting shared scene security objectives Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Morgue coordination — coordinates body transport logistics with funeral home and morgue staff using established communication channels O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Law enforcement partnership — collaborates with detectives and patrol officers to share investigative findings and align on evidence-preservation priorities at shared scenes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Medical records coordination — works with hospital and physician personnel to obtain relevant medical history that informs cause-of-death determination O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Toxicology lab collaboration — coordinates specimen submission and result interpretation with forensic laboratory personnel O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Multi-disciplinary case team — functions as lead investigator within a team of pathologists, toxicologists, law enforcement, and prosecutors, integrating diverse expertise toward case resolution Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Public health agency coordination — collaborates with epidemiologists and health departments to identify reportable death patterns such as infectious disease or overdose clusters Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Family support collaboration — works alongside grief counselors and victim advocates during next-of-kin notifications to provide coordinated, compassionate service Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Interagency protocol development — co-creates standardized death investigation procedures with law enforcement, medical examiner, and public health partners to improve cross-agency consistency Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Regional mass-casualty collaboration — leads coordination with state emergency management, federal agencies, and neighboring jurisdictions during mass-fatality incidents Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
6Character10 statements
Emerging
  1. Evidence handling integrity — handles and preserves personal property and evidentiary items from death scenes with documented care and adherence to chain-of-custody requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Professional demeanor — maintains respectful and composed conduct when interacting with bereaved families and community members in distressing circumstances Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Impartial investigation conduct — applies consistent investigative standards across cases regardless of decedent identity, social status, or manner-of-death type Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Confidentiality compliance — protects sensitive case information, autopsy findings, and personal data of decedents and families in accordance with legal and ethical obligations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Accurate documentation ethics — records scene observations and findings truthfully and completely, resisting external pressure to alter or omit unfavorable information Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Legal and ethical accountability — accepts full professional responsibility for death certificate accuracy and manner-of-death determinations, acknowledging and correcting errors without deflection Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Equity in death investigation — applies equal investigative rigor to all cases, actively countering systemic biases that could result in under-investigation of certain demographic groups Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Professional boundary maintenance — navigates interactions with law enforcement, prosecutors, and media without compromising the independence of the medicolegal determination Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Ethical leadership modeling — establishes an office culture of integrity by transparently addressing ethical breaches and institutionalizing accountability mechanisms Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Advocacy for investigative independence — publicly and professionally defends the coroner's impartial role against political or institutional pressures that threaten death investigation integrity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
7Creativity9 statements
Emerging
  1. Scene hypothesis generation — proposes initial alternative explanations for ambiguous death scenes before committing to a preliminary manner-of-death classification Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Documentation adaptation — adapts standard report templates to capture unusual or atypical scene findings that fall outside routine case categories Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Investigative problem-solving — devises non-routine evidence-collection approaches when standard scene conditions, such as advanced decomposition or water immersion, prevent typical examination methods Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Victim identification strategy — applies creative identification methods, including dental records cross-reference and personal effects analysis, when standard identification fails O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Novel causation analysis — constructs plausible cause-of-death narratives for complex or unprecedented cases by creatively synthesizing biological, toxicological, and circumstantial evidence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Community prevention contribution — develops original public reports or data visualizations that translate death investigation findings into actionable public health or safety insights Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Process improvement innovation — identifies and implements creative workflow improvements that reduce certificate completion times or increase evidentiary documentation quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Investigative methodology innovation — pioneers new approaches to time-of-death estimation, scene documentation, or equivocal death classification that advance practice across the field Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Training curriculum design — creates original case-based training scenarios drawn from real investigation experience to develop critical and creative thinking in new investigators Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset9 statements
Emerging
  1. Feedback receptivity — accepts corrections from supervisors regarding death certificate completions or scene procedures and applies revisions to subsequent cases Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Continuing education engagement — participates in required medicolegal and legal training without resistance, treating new protocols as improvements rather than disruptions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Challenging case persistence — maintains investigative effort on difficult or evidence-poor cases rather than defaulting to expedient manner-of-death classifications Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Peer learning orientation — seeks out more experienced investigators and medical examiners to expand knowledge in areas such as toxicology interpretation or trauma patterns Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Competence expansion — proactively pursues credentialing or training in emerging areas such as forensic odontology or digital scene documentation to increase investigative capability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Error-to-improvement cycle — treats case reversals or contested determinations as learning data, systematically adjusting practice based on outcomes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Regulatory change adaptation — embraces updates to state death certification laws and medicolegal standards, rapidly integrating new requirements into daily practice Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Field advancement orientation — engages with professional literature, national conferences, and peer networks to continuously evolve personal and office-wide investigative practices Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Resilient mastery modeling — demonstrates to junior staff that sustained competence in death investigation requires ongoing learning, modeling visible intellectual humility in complex cases Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness9 statements
Emerging
  1. Scene presence — maintains focused attention on body positioning, environmental evidence, and contextual details at death scenes rather than operating on autopilot Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Emotional regulation awareness — recognizes personal emotional responses to disturbing scenes and applies basic grounding techniques to maintain task effectiveness Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Attentional discipline — sustains careful observational focus during prolonged or repetitive scene examinations to avoid missed evidence from attention fatigue Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stress response management — applies deliberate calming strategies before and after next-of-kin notification conversations to maintain empathetic presence and accurate information delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Intentional decision-making — pauses before finalizing equivocal manner-of-death determinations to verify that conclusions are evidence-based rather than reactive or emotionally influenced Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Compassionate presence — maintains genuine attentiveness and regulated affect during family notification conversations, allowing families to process information without rushing closure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Cumulative trauma monitoring — recognizes signs of secondary traumatic stress from repeated death scene exposure and proactively engages support resources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Office wellness leadership — champions mindfulness-based resilience practices within the investigative team, normalizing mental health support as a professional responsibility Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. High-stakes composure — maintains deliberate, non-reactive decision-making during mass-casualty events or politically sensitive cases where emotional or external pressures are acute Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude10 statements
Emerging
  1. Scene exposure tolerance — completes assigned body-examination and transport tasks at difficult scenes, including decomposition or traumatic injuries, without abandoning responsibilities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Distress tolerance — manages discomfort during initial exposure to graphic death scenes and mortality-related stressors, maintaining minimum functional performance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Sustained caseload endurance — maintains accurate documentation and thorough investigation quality across high-volume periods without significant degradation of standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Contested-determination resolve — upholds evidence-based manner-of-death determinations when challenged by families, law enforcement, or attorneys without retreating to easier classifications Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Occupational resilience — sustains long-term investigative effectiveness across a career marked by repeated exposure to traumatic death, grief, and moral weight Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Uncertainty tolerance — operates decisively in cases with incomplete evidence, accepting the responsibility of determining manner of death without the luxury of certainty Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Public criticism endurance — maintains professional integrity and continued service quality when high-profile case determinations generate media scrutiny or community controversy Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Crisis endurance leadership — leads the investigative team through sustained mass-fatality or epidemic response events, modeling perseverance and maintaining operational standards over extended durations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Institutional adversity navigation — perseveres in improving death investigation standards within resource-constrained or politically resistant environments, sustaining reform efforts over time Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Courageous determination — issues controversial or unpopular manner-of-death rulings, such as suicide classifications or findings implicating institutional actors, based solely on evidence and professional obligation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Related titles
Autopsy Facilities Manager · Certified Medical Examiner · Coroner · Coroner Investigator · County Coroner · Death Investigator · Examiner · Forensic Medical Examiner · Forensic Pathologist · MDI (Medicolegal Death Investigator) · Medical Examiner · Medical Examiner Investigator (MEI)
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
SpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessWritingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingScienceMonitoringService OrientationTime ManagementLearning StrategiesInstructing
Knowledge domains
English LanguageMedicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceLaw and GovernmentAdministration and ManagementBiologyEducation and TrainingAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityComputers and ElectronicsSociology and AnthropologyPsychologyTherapy and CounselingTransportationPersonnel and Human ResourcesCommunications and MediaEconomics and Accounting
Abilities
Written ComprehensionOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionInductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionNear VisionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingFlexibility of Closure
Work styles
Attention to DetailIntegrityDependabilityStress ToleranceCautiousnessSelf-Control
Technology
Graphics or photo imaging softwareData base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareOffice suite softwareCustomer relationship management CRM softwareElectronic mail softwareDocument management softwareFile versioning softwareOperating system softwareSpreadsheet software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
  2. Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death.
  3. Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
  4. Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
  5. Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
  6. Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues.
  7. Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establish the identities of deceased persons.
  8. Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.
CIP education codes
03.010303.010403.020803.020930.410143.012151.071751.072051.221352.100152.1002

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.