Curriculum Program Information

The Funeral Service Education curriculum provides students with the opportunity to become proficient in basic funeral service skills.

In addition to the general education courses offered in the curriculum, technical courses such as human anatomy, embalming theory and practice, embalming chemistry, restorative arts, funeral law, and funeral home operations are taught.

Graduates of the curriculum, upon passing the state or national exam and completing an internship in a funeral home, will be qualified for employment as embalmers and/or funeral directors.

The specific aims and purposes of the Department of Funeral Service Education are:

• To give students the knowledge, principles, techniques and skills which are the basis of the funeral service profession.
• To provide for education and professional advancement of student whether they choose to follow the funeral service profession or whether they decide to use their specialized education in other general or technical fields.
• To educate and prepare individuals to contribute to the service and welfare of the community.
• To become a major provider of continuing education programs meeting mandatory re-licensure requirements for the licensed funeral service personnel in the state, and to encourage research in the field of funeral service.

Funeral Service Education Degree Program

The funeral service program became an integral part of Fayetteville Technical Community College, formerly Fayetteville Technical Institute, in 1974. Since that time, the program has grown and has increased in facilities, course offerings, faculty, and technology.

A graduate of the funeral service program meets the education prerequisites that are mandated by the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service to become a funeral service licensee, or licensure as a funeral director and embalmer in North Carolina.

Online classes for the Funeral Service degree

Almost all classes in the funeral service degree program are available online. Each online class may differ just as each face-to-face class may differ according to the lesson plans, expectations, and designs of each instructor.

The classes not available online at this time include: Fse 211 Embalming Lab I (may also substitute a level one COE embalming course if working in a funeral home), Fse 213 Embalming Lab II (may also substitute a level two COE embalming course if working in a funeral home), and Fse 216, Restorative Art.

Click here for the list of Funeral Service classes in the program

(See this web site for course descriptions, prerequisites, and co-requisites)

North Carolina Funeral Directing Diploma Program

For those individuals that desire to practice funeral service, but without the embalming component, the funeral directing license meets this need. The State Board's requirements for funeral directors has experienced significant changes through the past thirty years. The current law requires graduation from an accredited mortuary or funeral service college's funeral service or funeral directing program and a period of apprenticeship (see "apprenticeships"). The North Carolina funeral directing program was first offered as a separate program at Fayetteville Technical Community College in 1989. Graduates of the NC Funeral Director program may apply for, and request approval into the funeral service program, and continue their education.

Online classes for the Funeral Directing program

All (100%) classes in the NC Funeral directing diploma program are available online. Each online class may differ just as each face-to-face class may differ according to the lesson plans, expectations, and designs of each instructor.

Click here for the list of Funeral Directing classes in the program

(See this web site for course descriptions, prerequisites, and co-requisites)

Class Schedule (when classes are generally offered and their modes of delivery)

Online= Classes taken almost entirely via the Internet.

F2F= Face-to-face, Classes taken on FTCC's Main Campus

NCIH= NC Information Highway, Classes may be offered in Asheboro, Hickory, Supply, and Tarboro.

Pre-requisites and course descriptions may be found at this web location.