How to Become an Undertaker in Texas

Funeral directors oversee all aspects of the service, from preparation to burial.

Undertakers -- more commonly called funeral directors -- serve in a time-honored and always in-demand profession. Texas employed more funeral service professionals in 2010 than any other state, with 2,190 workers, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For state residents, working as an undertaker acts as an accessible and stable job choice. There is no standard formula for becoming an undertaker, so Texans can choose their own routes to success in the funeral service field.

Instructions

1. Get an education. Though there are no formal educational requirements for undertakers, most employers prefer to hire workers with at least high school diplomas. Attending a mortuary college can greatly increase your chances of becoming an undertaker. At the time of publication, Texas had five colleges with mortuary programs: Amarillo College, the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and San Antonio College.

2. Seek an apprenticeship. There were roughly 1,000 funeral homes in Texas at the time of publication. Consult your local yellow pages and make phone calls or in-person appearances to request an apprenticeship. You'll learn invaluable on-the-job skills. Being on-site prepares you for dealing with cadaver preparation, floral arrangements, charitable funds, hearse travel, service operations and legal arrangements.

3. Prepare a resume. Highlight relevant areas of your education, including communication, psychology and business, and list any apprentice experience you may have had. Include former work experience that is relevant to the funeral industry or day-to-day office experience. Under a "Skills" header, convey any experience with funeral operations, dealing with grieving families, floral arrangements, cadaver preparation and -- perhaps most important -- organizational skills.

4. Send your resume to area funeral homes. According to 2010 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Houston, Sugar Land and Baytown areas of Texas provided the most opportunities for undertakers. Forth Worth and Arlington also have thriving communities of funeral professionals. You can also post an anonymous resume at the National Funeral Directors Association's website. Follow up with funeral homes after sending your resume.

5. Consider getting your certification for the National Funeral Directors Association. Contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission in Austin (tfsc.state.tx.us) to schedule an NFDS-certified examination. The TFSC offers funeral director and embalmer licenses to mortuary college graduates with at least one year of apprentice experience, provided they pass a national and state law examination. Getting certified increases your employability compared to uncertified candidates.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Funeral Service Managers, Directors, Morticians and Undertakers
• U.S. College Search: Texas Mortuary Colleges and Universities
• AllFuneralHomes.com: Texas Funeral Homes, Cemeteries and Cremation Providers
• Gazette Live; The Job of an Undertaker; Helen Logan; August 2007
• National Funeral Directors Association: Funeral Career Center
• National Funeral Directors Association: Licensing Boards and Requirements

Resources

• National Funeral Directors Association
• Texas Funeral Service Commission