What does a forensic nurse do?
A forensic nurse is a registered nurse trained to care for patients affected by violence or abuse, to collect and preserve evidence and sometimes to testify in court. The best-known role is the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE).
Degree needed
There is no separate forensic nursing license. You need an RN license, then specialized training. A bachelor’s degree is common in hospital programs, and some nurses add graduate study in forensic nursing. Check that a program is accredited, see nursing school accreditation.
Certification
The International Association of Forensic Nurses offers SANE training and, through its certification board, SANE-A (adult and adolescent) and SANE-P (pediatric) certification. Requirements are set by the board.
Pay
Forensic nurses are not a separate category in federal data. The median RN earned $97,550 in May 2025.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.