How to hire an apprentice funeral director

How to hire an apprentice funeral director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step apprentice funeral director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an apprentice funeral director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new apprentice funeral director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your apprentice funeral director job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an apprentice funeral director for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an apprentice funeral director to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an apprentice funeral director that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of apprentice funeral directors.

   Type of Apprentice Funeral Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Apprentice Funeral Director	Funeral service workers organize and manage the details of a funeral.	$13-25
   Funeral Arranger	Funeral Arrangers are responsible for assisting in managing funeral arrangements. Their duties include providing service advice, giving support to clients and families, facilitating family visits, answering phone calls, taking messages, and attending inquiries... Show more	$10-37
   Embalmer/Funeral Director	Funeral Directors are responsible for providing services in every aspect needed for a funeral or memorial gathering on behalf of the client's family. They must assist their clients in arranging personalized and significant memorial service in coordination with the family and client's desire... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • Client Families
   • Veterans
   • Compassion
   • Death Certificates
   • Funeral Homes
   • State Board
   • Body Removals
   • Funeral Arrangements
   • Prep Room
   • General Maintenance
   • Memorial Services
   • Insurance Claims
   • Funeral Planning

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage subordinates, facilities and MSDS files.
   • Assist families during calling hours and funerals by treating them with compassion and support.
   • Certify crematory operator; participate on removals; and assist on calling hours and funerals.
   • Initiate utilizing cutting edge technology at locations providing families with remembrance DVD's and the option of web casting.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your apprentice funeral director job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An apprentice funeral director can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, apprentice funeral directors' average salary in louisiana is 41% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level apprentice funeral directors 46% less than senior-level apprentice funeral directors.
   • Certifications. An apprentice funeral director with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an apprentice funeral director's salary.

   Average apprentice funeral director salary

   $38,454yearly

   $18.49 hourly rate

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   Entry-level apprentice funeral director salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

4. Writing an apprentice funeral director job description

   An apprentice funeral director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an apprentice funeral director job description:

   Apprentice funeral director job description example

   Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates.
   
   Consider the possibilities of joining a Great Place to Work!
   
   Provides customer service in all areas of helping client families following the loss of a loved one. Provides exemplary personalized and professional service. Learns how a Funeral Director implements choices made by the families/legal representative regarding the funeral, final disposition of the body and memorialization of the individual. Interacts with the family to fulfill death care needs. Ensures customer needs are addressed.
   
   JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   * Learns to arrange and conduct funeral and memorial ceremonies in a professional, organized and caring manner consistent with company policies and procedures
   * Learns to negotiate and create acceptable funeral contracts
   * Handles contracts, legal documents, and collection of monies or insurance in accordance with company policies.
   * Ensures client families are informed of special recognition/services available for veterans and ensures the delivery of selected recognition/services.
   * Confirms authorization to proceed with the service arrangements
   * Verifies identification of the deceased and authorization for embalming
   * Learns how to arrange for the interment or cremation of human remains
   * Adheres to all company and regulatory requirements
   * Cares for the deceased in a respectful manner while performing a variety of tasks which may include:
   * Removals and transfers
   * Lifting of deceased human remains
   * Dressing and casketing
   * Coordinating and assisting with funeral service and visitation
   * Delivery of flowers, caskets, urn, photos and other personal keepsakes or mementos of client families
   * Setting of chairs and the removal, proper care and storage of these items
   * Removals and transfers
   
   * Assists with funeral services by:
   * Coordinating the parking of cars
   * Ushering
   * Driving funeral vehicles
   * Assisting at chapel and church services
   * Assisting at the cemetery
   * Delivering flowers, caskets, urn, photos and other personal keepsakes or mementos of client families
   * Setting up chairs and the removing, properly caring for and storing of these items
   * Participating at special functions
   
   * Provides aftercare in absence of Family Service Counselor. Aftercare includes delivery of:
   * Documentation
   * Stationery
   * Information on insurance, health benefits and pension,
   * Pre-arrangements for next of kin
   
   * Ensures potential pre-need referrals are shared with Family Service Counselors
   * Completes and accurately prepares of all documents related to services, cremations, maintenance, and any other type of data entry
   * Assists with general office duties such as preparing reports as needed
   * Assists with the maintenance of vehicles, the facility and property
   * Receives caskets and other funeral home supplies as well as place into inventory
   * Ensures refreshments are available (where allowed by law)
   * Performs other duties as assigned
   
   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
   
   Education
   
   * High School diploma or general equivalency degree (or diploma)
   * Completion of or currently enrolled in a degree training program at an accredited mortuary college or technical school specializing in funeral service or mortuary science.
   
   Experience
   
   * Typically requires a minimum of 6 months experience in a funeral home, crematory or cemetery
   
   Certification/Licenses
   
   * Must meet all licensing requirement in applicable state/province as required by law as prescribed by each state board
   * Valid driver's license
   
   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
   
   * Knowledge of computers and some software including MS Office products required
   * High level of compassion and integrity
   * Good communication skills
   * Problem solving skills
   * Ability to multi task and set priorities
   
   WORK CONDITIONS
   
   Work Environment
   
   * Work indoors and outdoors during all seasons and weather conditions
   * Limited amount of local and/or multiple location traveling required
   * Professional Dress is required when in contact with families.
   
   Work Postures
   
   * Frequent, continuous periods of time standing, up 6 hours per day
   * Sitting continuously for many hours per day, up to 6 hours per day
   * Climbing stairs to access buildings frequently
   
   Physical Demands
   
   * Physical effort requiring manual dexterity is required, includes paperwork, calculators, computers and phone usage
   
   Work Hours
   
   * Working beyond "standard" hours as the need arises
   * Travel up to 25%
   
   Postal Code: 55106
   
   Category (Portal Searching): Operations
   
   Job Location: US-MN - Saint Paul

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find apprentice funeral directors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your apprentice funeral director job on Zippia to find and recruit apprentice funeral director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit apprentice funeral directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new apprentice funeral director

   Once you've decided on a perfect apprentice funeral director candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new apprentice funeral director first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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