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Coroners and medical examiners

OaSIS code 41310.02

Coroners and medical examiners conduct death investigations, perform autopsies and other medical tests, issue death certificates, and testify in proceedings about observations made during investigations.

Overview

Also known as

  • Coroner

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • 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.

Additional information

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

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services (40040)
  • Police officers (except commissioned) (42100)
  • Security guards and related security service occupations (64410)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

41 – Professional occupations in law, education, social, community and government services

Sub-major group

413 – Professional occupations in social and community services

Minor group

4131 – Police investigators and probation officers

Unit group

41310 – Police investigators and other investigative occupations

Occupational profile

41310.02 – Coroners and medical examiners

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Clerical Activities
5 - Highest Level
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
5 - Highest Level
Getting Information
5 - Highest Level
Analyzing Data or Information
4 - High Level
Coaching and Developing Others
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
4 - Close (at arm’s length)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
2 - Less than half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Federal government
  • Municipal governments
  • Provincial governments

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Inductive Reasoning
5 - Highest Level
Pattern Identification
5 - Highest Level
Pattern Organization Speed
5 - Highest Level
Categorization Flexibility
4 - High Level
Deductive Reasoning
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Critical Thinking
4 - High Level
Evaluation
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Expression
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Concern for Others
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: IRC

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • In Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, a medical examiner is required to be a physician with an active medical license.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Clerical
3 - Advanced Level
Languages
3 - Advanced Level
Law
3 - Advanced Level
Physical Health
3 - Advanced Level
Biology
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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