How To Become a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director

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How Long Does It Take, What Degree Do You Need, and More

Morticians and Funeral Directors

Morticians and Funeral Directors perform various tasks to arrange and direct individual funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.

Salary
$59000
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Associate's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



What degree do you need

Recommended degree level

Associate’s Degree

We did a survey to ask other Morticians, Undertakers and Funeral Directors what degree they had when they became a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director. Here are the results.
Associate’s Degree
72.59%


a Post-Secondary Certificate
13.04%


College Certificate
5.62%


One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Morticians and Funeral Directors or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Morticians and Funeral Directors what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
Funeral Direction or Service
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science

An associate’s degree in mortuary science is the minimum education requirement for morticians, undertakers and funeral directors. Courses typically include ethics, grief counseling, funeral service, and business law. Although an associate’s degree is usually adequate, some employers prefer applicants to have a bachelor’s degree.



How hard is it

Difficulty
Not Too Hard

You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director. For example, an electrician must complete three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Careers in this difficulty category will usually need 1 or 2 years of on-the-job training and informal training with experienced workers. These careers usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Similar careers include hydroelectric production managers, travel agents, electricians, court reporters, and medical assistants.


Related work experience required
1 to 2 years

1 to 2 years
33.96%


None
29.18%


6 months to 1 year
8.14%


Job training
Up to 1 month

Up to 1 month
33.44%


1 to 2 years
31.04%


6 months to 1 year
22.54%



License and certifications

Do you need any license or certification
All states require a license except Colorado

Funeral directors are required to be licensed in Washington DC and every state, except Colorado. Although licensing laws and examinations vary by state, most applicants should meet the following: be 21 years old, complete 2 years in an ABFSE mortuary science program and serve an apprenticeship lasting 1 to 3 years


Skills required

We asked other Morticians and Funeral Directors if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

1. Social Perceptiveness what does this mean
2. Service Orientation what does this mean
3. Speaking what does this mean
4. Active Listening what does this mean
5. Coordination what does this mean

= Hot in-demand that most employers are looking for


Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Morticians and Funeral Directors are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

1. Customer and Personal Service what does this mean
2. English Language what does this mean
3. Administration and Management what does this mean
4. Clerical what does this mean
5. Chemistry what does this mean


Learn more about Morticians and Funeral Directors

Summary
Job Description
Salary
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Related to Morticians, Undertakers and Funeral Directors Requirements

Morticians, Undertakers and Funeral Directors requirements, how to become Morticians and Funeral Directors, degree required to be a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director, Morticians, Undertakers and Funeral Directors license and certifications, majors to be a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director, is it hard to become a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director and how long does it take


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