Office Location
Cumberland Hall
Room 311-B, 2215 Hull Rd., Fayetteville
Official address:
P.O. Box 35236, 2201 Hull Rd.
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Phone Number
Office Hours Monday - Friday
8:00AM to 5:00PM
Email
Department Chair: James Bullard

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.

Points of Pride

  • Faculty composed of licensed funeral professionals

  • Majority of the coursework can be completed online

  • Only program of its kind in North Carolina

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

National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited program are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

FTCC-Funeral Service Education Accredited Program Information

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:

  1. Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
  2. Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
  3. Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
  4. Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
  5. Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
  6. Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
  7. Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
  8. Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
  9. Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
  10. 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:

  1. the Student Learning Center at FTCC
  2. 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

Interested in a Funeral Services Career?

Lorena Murray is your Success Coach, and she is available to meet with you virtually, on the phone, or in person. She will partner with you to facilitate your success here at FTCC. She can answer questions and problem-solve with you about:

  • The enrollment process
  • Understanding the Funeral Services Pathway document
  • Deciding between our two programs of study
  • How online classes work
  • Connecting you to the person who can provide the answers you need
  • Goal-setting and motivation
  • Challenges that arise during your journey at FTCC
     

Please reach out to her with questions you may have after reading the information available on this page.

Lorena Murray, Success Coach (she, her)
Location: Room 103, Tony Rand Student Center
Phone:(910) 486-3907
Email:murrayl@faytechcc.edu

Associate Degree

Funeral Service Education (A55260)

Program Length: 6 Semesters
Prerequisite: High School Diploma & Placement Test Equivalent
Award: Associate in Applied Science

View Brochure (English) 

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

View Brochure

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.