The job of a funeral director is to coordinate and perform funeral rites. He/She collaborates with the family of the deceased to make funeral arrangements. He/She also directs and oversees the work of embalmers, death certificate clerks, funeral attendants, cosmetologists, and other staff. The director monitors funeral service operations to ensure compliance with necessary policies and laws. Additionally, he/she prepares obituary notices and distributes them as directed by the family to media outlets. As the funeral director, you are responsible for completing and keeping important records like state-required documents or product inventories.
To become a funeral director, you need at least an associate's degree in mortuary science. You must also have some of the following licenses: funeral director license, embalming license, driver's license, etc. You must possess negotiation, communication, time management, organization, customer service, heavy lifting, and computer skills. Funeral directors are referred to as morticians or undertakers. A funeral director makes about $50,377 annually.
Funeral service workers organize and manage the details of a funeral.
An associate’s degree in funeral service or mortuary science is the typical education requirement for funeral service workers. With the exception of funeral service managers, all workers must be licensed in Washington, D.C. and every state in which they work, except Colorado which offers a voluntary certification program.
EducationAn associate’s degree in mortuary science is the typical education requirement for all funeral service workers. Courses taken usually include those covering the topics of ethics, grief counseling, funeral service, and business law. All accredited programs also include courses in embalming and restorative techniques. States have their own education requirements, and state licensing laws vary. Most employers require applicants to be 21 years old; have 2 years of formal education; serve a 1-year internship before, during, or after attending a mortuary college; and pass a state licensing exam after graduation.
In some states, licensure for funeral directors and embalmers is separate.
The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) accredits 58 funeral service and mortuary science programs, most of which are 2-year associate’s degree programs offered at community colleges. Some programs offer a bachelor’s degree.
Although an associate’s degree is usually adequate, some employers prefer applicants to have a bachelor’s degree.
High school students can prepare to become a funeral service worker by taking courses in biology, chemistry, and business, and by participating in public speaking.
Part-time or summer jobs in funeral homes also provide valuable experience.
TrainingMorticians, undertakers, and funeral directors must complete hands-on training, usually lasting 1 to 3 years, under the direction of a licensed funeral director or manager. The internship may be completed before, during, or after completing a 2-year funeral service or mortuary science program and passing a national board exam. Internships provide practical experience in all aspects of the funeral service.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsWith the exception of funeral service managers, all workers must be licensed in Washington, D.C. and every state in which they work, except Colorado which offers a voluntary certification program. Although licensing laws and examinations vary by state, most applicants must meet the following criteria:
Applicants must then pass a state licensing exam. Working in multiple states will require multiple licenses. For specific requirements, applicants should contact each applicable state licensing board.
Most states require funeral directors and embalmers to receive continuing education credits annually to keep their licenses.
The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) offer crematory certification designations. A growing number of states are requiring certification for those who will perform cremations. For specific requirements, applicants should contact their state board.
Work Experience in a Related OccupationWorkers increasingly are being required to have some office management experience, particularly for funeral service managers who run their own funeral home business.
Important QualitiesBusiness skills. Knowledge of financial statements and the ability to run a funeral home efficiently and profitably are important for funeral directors and managers.
Compassion. Death is a delicate and emotional matter. Funeral service workers must be able to treat clients with care and sympathy in their time of loss.
Interpersonal skills. Funeral service workers should have good interpersonal skills. When speaking with families, for instance, they must be tactful and able to explain and discuss all matters about services provided.
Time-management skills. Funeral service workers must be able to handle numerous tasks for multiple customers, often over a short timeframe.
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In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of Co-Owner you might progress to a role such as Executive Director eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title Executive Director.
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The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 20.6% of Funeral Directors listed Client Families on their resume, but soft skills such as Business skills and Compassion are important as well.
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a Funeral Director. The best states for people in this position are Alaska, Oregon, California, and Pennsylvania. Funeral Directors make the most in Alaska with an average salary of $74,039. Whereas in Oregon and California, they would average $61,088 and $59,863, respectively. While Funeral Directors would only make an average of $58,566 in Pennsylvania, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Oregon
$61,088
Avg. Salary
2. Arizona
$53,996
Avg. Salary
3. Pennsylvania
$58,566
Avg. Salary