Funeral Director

The title used for this profession is no longer "mortician" or "undertaker" due to negative connotations. Licenses are required to be a funeral director, and requirements vary from state to state. Most states require the license holder to 1) be at least 21 years of age, 2) have taken some years of formal post-high school education, 3) completed an apprenticeship, and 4) passed a qualifying exam. Some states distinguish between funeral director and embalming licenses.

Degree programs in mortuary science last from 2 to 4 degrees and cover a wide range of topics, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, embalming techniques, restorative art, business management, accounting, technology in funeral home management, client services, psychology, grief counseling, oral and written communication, funeral service law, business law, and ethics.

Apprenticeships typically last one year but can be longer and offer practical experience to complement formal education. The apprenticeship can be conducted before, during or after the formal education.

License exams often have written and oral parts and also often include a demonstration of practical skills. Due to the differences between states, one must be properly licensed in the particular state where the work is performed. Some states have license reciprocity agreements.

After licensing, continuing education is required to maintain a license, and there are various state and even national professional organizations that offer and facilitate opportunities to gain this continuing education.

Funeral directors embalm bodies, handle logistics of services and burials, provide comfort to the bereaved, prepare obituary notices and placing them in newspapers, decorate the funeral service site/grave, make any shipment arrangements if the body is to be buried out of state/country and other related activities.

Embalming, often seen as the most unique part of being a funeral director, is preparation of a body for both viewing during funerary services and for eventual interment. It involves washing the body, replacing the blood with embalming fluid, reshaping the body (sometimes with the use of clay, fabrics, waxes, etc.), applying cosmetics and dressing the body. There are two general methods of embalming a body. One method (visceral) places embalming fluids into body cavities. The second method (arterial) pumps fluid through the body's arteries. Usually only one method is used, with the condition/age of the body determining which method is best.

Beyond the technical skills of embalming and knowing how to facilitate event arrangements, if one wishes to become a funeral director also, certain people skills and knowledge of some psychology/sociology is important. Soft skills such as poise and composure, tact, compassion and good communication are highly important. With regard to miscellaneous qualities, the physical appearance of a funeral director is important - normally a conservative haircut, suits and the like are expected. The ability to generally know what is "appropriate" - and find out what is if it is unknown (e.g. working with family whose religion with which you are unfamiliar) - is key.

Salaries depend not only on years of experience but also the general activity of a particular funeral business. As of spring 2007, the range of salaries for funeral directors was anywhere between $28,000 - 92,000. The average was about $50,000.

Dr. Thomas H. Holmes is widely considered to be the "the father of modern embalming". He served in this profession during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and is credited with personally embalming over 4,000 men. He pioneered and promoted more efficient methods and safer embalming fluids.

Since Dr. Holmes' time, there have been several professionals and professors praised for their founding of various mortuary science programs at universities or founding professional organizations.

The National Funeral Directors Association - leading US professional organization in the field of funeral service.

The American Board of Funeral Service Education - accreditation organization for US college and university funeral service and mortuary science programs.

,b>International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards - a US-Canada organization that organizes a large annual conference, among other activities.

To view a list of state licensing boards, visit the National Funeral Directors Association's website.

Every town has a funeral home or two, and there are no "best cities" to work for as a funeral director. This is mostly a profession practiced as a small business, often family-owned.