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Medical Examiner's Office Citizens Academy
Academy Information
Do you have an interest in learning about forensic science? The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office Citizens Academy is a once-a-week, 10-week program designed to give Cuyahoga County residents an inside look at what goes into death investigations.
Every Thursday, classes will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office. The fee for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office Citizens Academy is $100, and enrollment is open to all qualified residents. Payment for the academy only applies to the applicants that have been selected to participate.
This program aims to give residents an inside-look into the many forensic science disciplines within the agency.
FALL 2026 ACADEMY BEGINS SEPTEMBER 24
The application for the Fall 2026 session must be submitted by August 21.
The online application has a section that allows applicants to upload an OPTIONAL 30-second video. This video is your chance to share your personality and why we should select you.
We view hundreds of applications when reviewing candidates. How will we remember yours?
A few tips for completing the application:
- Questions on the application are intended to allow you to show your personality and share your authentic voice. Please DO NOT use AI-generated responses.
- If you're submitting a video, be sure to state your full name in the video.
- We want to see your personality. You're allowed to have fun and be creative.
- If you're going to submit a video, you may want to record it before you apply. However, if you run into any issues uploading, you can send your video to cbharris@cuyahogacounty.gov. Please send videos via a shareable link from services like Dropbox, iCloud, or Google Drive.
WHAT WILL I EXPERIENCE?
This program is structured as a combination of presentations and hands-on demonstrations. The information covered will include:- Forensic Pathology
- Autopsy (optional)
- Trace Evidence
- Investigations
- Q&A w/ Medical Examiner
- Toxicology
- Fingerprints
- And more!
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?
- Resident of Cuyahoga County or work in Cuyahoga County
- At least 21 years of age
- Must have no felony convictions
- May be subject to a background check
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
- Must attend at least 8 of the 10 courses offered to qualify for graduation, so please check your schedule carefully before applying for the course. The academy is limited to approximately 40 students.
- This program is designed to provide an understanding of how the medical examiner’s office operates. THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT GIVE ANY MEDICAL TRAINING / AUTHORITY TO ACADEMY GRADUATES. THIS COURSE DOES NOT LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT OR A CAREER PATH. This course is not a substitute for a college or university course.
