What Do You Have to Major in to Become a Mortician?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for morticians or funeral directors in the United States will increase by 12 percent from 2008 through 2018. This growth in the demand for morticians should create roughly 3,600 new jobs during that time frame for individuals with the right education in mortuary science.
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Type of Degree
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To work as a mortician, a state-issued license is necessary, and each state establishes its own licensing requirements. All states require that students complete a major course of study in mortuary science; however, specific degree requirements vary. For example, Wisconsin requires student to complete 60 credits of general coursework at any college followed by at least nine months of study in mortuary science with no degree required. In Massachusetts, candidates must graduate from a state-approved mortuary science school, most of which grant associate degrees.
Schools
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Most states require prospective morticians to receive their mortuary science education from a school accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. As of September 2011, 56 schools in the United States carried accreditation from the board. These schools included both private institutions like the Institute of Funeral Service Education in New York City and public institutions like San Antonio College in Texas. The board had approved some distance education programs in addition to traditional classroom-based programs.
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Coursework
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The American Board of Funeral Service Education grants accreditation only to schools who meet minimum curriculum standards. Because of this, the courses offered in most mortuary science programs are similar from school to school. Programs typically include classes on the safe way to embalm bodies as well as restorative arts, the practice of applying cosmetics for the purposes of displaying bodies at viewings. In addition, students take classes in business, ethics, laws governing mortuary science, natural sciences like anatomy and biology and social sciences like psychology and sociology.
Other Training
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In addition to formal training, most states require prospective morticians to complete an apprenticeship either while they are in school or after graduation. Apprenticeships typically take one to three years to complete, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During an apprenticeship, prospective morticians work under the supervision of licensed professionals in the field, embalming bodies and assisting with funeral planning. Many states require prospective morticians to complete a minimum number of embalmings during their apprenticeship period.
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