CDC

Is the coroner or medical examiner position elected? Yes. Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-601.

If so, how many years is the term of office? Four. Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-601.

What are the qualifications specified by law? A person is eligible to hold the office of coroner if the person

(a) Is a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state of Colorado and of the county in which the person will hold the office of coroner;

(b) Has earned a high school diploma or its equivalent or a college degree . . .

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-601.5.

(1) A person who is elected or appointed to the office of coroner for the first time shall attend, at the first opportunity after the election or appointment, a training course for new coroners of at least forty hours using the curriculum developed by the C.C.S.T. board. The course shall be prepared and presented by qualified instructors from the Colorado coroners association or another training provider approved by the C.C.S.T. board. At the request of a new coroner, the C.C.S.T. board may decide that a combination of education, experience, and training satisfies the requirement to complete the training course for new coroners.

(2) A person who is elected or appointed to the office of coroner for the first time shall, within one year of taking office, obtain certification in basic medical-legal death investigation from the Colorado coroners association or another training provider approved by the C.C.S.T. board. . .

(3) Each coroner shall complete a minimum of sixteen hours of in- service training provided by the Colorado coroners association or by another training provider approved by the C.C.S.T. board during each year of the coroner’s term. At the request of a coroner, the C.C.S.T. board may decide that a combination of education, experience, and training satisfies the requirement to complete sixteen hours of in-service training annually . . .

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-601.8.

(2)(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection (2), all forensic autopsies required to be performed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be performed by a board-certified forensic pathologist.

(b) A physician who has completed a forensic pathology fellowship and is practicing forensic pathology in Colorado and who is not a board-certified forensic pathologist as of May 4, 2011, may perform a forensic autopsy required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.

(c) A forensic pathologist who has completed a forensic pathology fellowship may perform forensic autopsies for four years from the date of completion of the fellowship before becoming a board-certified forensic pathologist.

(d) A pathology resident or forensic pathology fellow may perform a forensic autopsy required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section under the direct supervision of a board-certified forensic pathologist.

(e) For purposes of this subsection (2), “direct supervision” means supervision that is within the facility where a pathology resident or forensic pathology fellow is performing an autopsy and that requires a board-certified forensic pathologist’s presence and availability for prompt consultation.

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-606.5.