How to Be a Grave Digger
Grave diggers serve an integral role in conducting funerals. Among some of their important responsibilities is the duty to prepare the grave to receive the casket so family and friends of the deceased can gain a sense of closure. While a college degree specific to grave digging is not always necessary to become a grave digger, it is useful to have skills in landscaping or operating heavy machinery.
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Instructions
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Obtain a heavy equipment operator's license. While some work is completed by hand, most funeral homes require that diggers use heavy equipment such as bulldozers to dig, scoop and move soil to dig holes and discard excess soil. Take classes at specialized schools to become a heavy equipment operator, or learn from contractors with proper equipment, facilities and knowledge to teach and certify you.
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Secure a commercial driver's license from your local department of motor vehicles. Some funeral homes have commercial trucks to dispose of excess soil and other resources that they no longer need. A commercial driver's license will increase your qualifications.
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Take landscaping classes. Experienced grave diggers not only dig graves but also have skills in lawn care and landscape design. Learn how to work with limited space and how to efficiently dig and set plots.
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Call local mortuaries and funeral homes to ascertain if there are any openings for a grave-digging position. Ask for the protocol for submitting an application.
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Check for job openings with government agencies or local municipalities that have public cemeteries. Most funeral homes are private, but public and military cemeteries need grave diggers too.
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared for an extensive background check if you apply to work for a public or military cemetery.
To obtain your CDL, you must successfully pass a general knowledge test and a road test.
It is advisable to study regularly for days or weeks leading up to the CDL test, so plan to devote time to studying the required information.
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