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.
What to Expect:
Accreditation
The Funeral Service Education associate degree program at Fayetteville Technical Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097; Telephone: (816) 233-3747, Web: ABFSE Website
Course Work
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.
Career Paths
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.
Funeral Service Education Program Learning Outcomes
The Funeral Service Education Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College and American Board of Funeral Service Education’s Mission to educate students in every phase of funeral service so that the program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in funeral service. In support of this mission, our program adopts the following Learning Outcomes.
Upon the completion of an accredited program, student will be able to:
- Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
- Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
- Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
- Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
- Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
- Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
- Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
- Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
- Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
- Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.
Age Limits for Courses
- All FSE-prefixed courses, including PSY 141 will “age out” after five years
- ACC 111/120, BUS 115, and CIS 110 will “age out” after seven years
- BUS 230 will “age out” after ten years
Proctoring
Every FSE-prefixed course is accompanied by a midterm and final exam. These exams must be proctored by using one of these two methods:
- the Student Learning Center at FTCC
- ProctorU
There is no charge for using the Student Learning Center, ProctorU is available to purchase through the FTCC Bookstore at a cost of $32.00 for a two (2) hour session.
Final Capstone Course
The AAS Degree in Funeral Service Education curriculum includes a final capstone course that serves as a review for the National Board Exam. This course is a two-credit hour course and cannot be taken with any other courses. Since it is a course that is taken alone, it may not be covered under Financial Aid. This course includes two textbooks and also requires the student to purchase the Practice National Board Exam, from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board. The fee for the Practice National Board Exam is $120.
Additional Information & Resources
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In Person or Face to Face Program Requirements
The majority of course instruction is available online. There are three elements of the program that will require physical attendance in the classroom for hands-on participation.
- Embalming requirements can be met in one of two ways:
- Attending Embalming labs at the College. This is met by attending Embalming Labs once a week for 8 weeks in both sections FSE-211 and 213 or
- Students may complete Embalming Requirements while working at a Licensed Funeral Home when they take Work-Based Learning (WBL) 111 and 121. This is the preferred method for those that are working at a funeral home. All students enrolled in WBL-121 will have to report to the College Embalming Lab one time during that course to participate in a “Certification Embalming Lab” with one of the faculty members.
- Restorative Arts – Students are required to report to the College Restorative Arts Lab for a minimum of three times (18 hrs.) of hands-on practice. (Dates for these Labs are set at the beginning of the Semester)
- Funeral Service Tasks- Students are required to complete ABFSE-prescribed Funeral Service Tasks. The Tasks are:
- Taking five First Calls,
- Removal/Transfer of human remains,
- Five funeral arrangement conferences
- Attend five Funeral Services.
Funeral Service Tasks are best completed by the student when they are working at a Funeral Home. Currently, Funeral Service Tasks are completed when Students take FSE-215.
Students not working at a Funeral Home will have to come to the College for simulation of the following:
- First Calls
- Transfer of Remains
- Arrangement Conferences
Students not working at a Funeral Home will be responsible for finding and attending Funeral Services that must be validated by a Funeral Director or Funeral Service Licensee.
Dates for students to attend simulations at school will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
** Out of State Students – The ability for you to be trained in embalming in your state may not be allowable. The ability to complete the Funeral Service task may not be easily accomplished if you are not working in a Funeral Service. Potential students should review their states requirements for licensure as a Funeral Director, Embalmer or Funeral Service Licensee. Out of state students should contact the Dept. Chair for further clarification.
Fact Sheet for Funeral Service Education’s Associate, Diploma & Certificate Programs
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Associate Degree
Funeral Service Education (A55260)
Program Length: 6 Semesters
Prerequisite: High School Diploma & Placement Test Equivalent
Award: Associate in Applied Science
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Graduates of the curriculum, upon passing the National Board Examination and completing a resident traineeship in a funeral home, will be qualified for employment as funeral directors and embalmers in any state in the nation. Note that graduates must also pass that particular state’s funeral laws and rules exam, prior to gaining licensure.
Diploma
Funeral Service Education/NC Funeral Director Diploma (D55260)
Program Length: 3 Semesters
Prerequisite: High School Diploma & Placement Test Equivalent
Award: Diploma
Graduates of the curriculum, upon passing the NC State Board Funeral Exam and completing a resident traineeship in a funeral home, will be qualified for employment as licensed funeral directors in the state of North Carolina. This license will not reciprocate to another state.