Category Archives: Mortuary Science Information

In January 2006 we began offering our entire Funeral Service Associate Degree Program online. After reading the Application Requirements, please Apply online now or print, complete and mail our Admissions Application to begin your career online at AAMI (Download Adobe’s Acrobat Reader). Only the final two clinical courses (Restorative Art Lab and Clinical Embalming) and the Comprehensive Review must be taken in New York City as required by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. AAMI continues to offer our on-campus program as in the past. After a careful curriculum review in 2005, we revised and modified our requirements. Please review our catalog for more information.

AAMI is located in the heart of New York City and draws upon an experienced and diverse faculty and administration to teach our students. The faculty is largely comprised of experienced licensed funeral directors who have achieved further expertise in the field of education.

619 W. 54th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Office: 212-757-1190
Fax: 212-765-5923
E-Mail: info@funeraleducation.org
Web Site: www.funeraleducation.org

Miami Dade College North Campus is the only public college in the south east United States offering a degree in mortuary science since 1964.  It is also one of only 57  schools accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Inc.

Aims and Purposes of the Funeral Service Education Program

The goals of the Funeral Service Education program are listed as expectations of students who complete the curriculum.

The successful graduate will:

1. Acknowledge the high standards of ethical conduct required to uphold the dignity of funeral services.
2. Know the measures of public health, safety and welfare identified with caring for human remains.
3. Possess a degree of competence necessary to administer to the needs of the bereaved families served.
4. Accept the personal responsibility as members of their profession.
5. Support efforts of the medical profession and public health sciences in their attempts to further scientific knowledge.
6. Work cooperatively with the clergy, social workers, psychologists and other members of the care-giving professions, in mental health and grief therapy areas.
7. Continue to familiarize themselves with funerary requirements of the various religious, fraternal and military organizations.
8. Develop a spirit of inquiry and research throughout their careers in funeral service.
9. Be aware of the need for continued improvement in funeral service education.
10. Be active in initiating, effecting and supporting statutory improvements in funeral service education programs for licensed embalmers and funeral directors.
11. Work toward becoming leaders of their communities.
12. Be prepared to pass the professional licensing examinations.

W.L. Philbrick School of Funeral Service Education – North Campus
Heather Belmont, Chairman

Address:
11380 NW 27th Avenue
Miami, FL  33167
Office: 305-237-1245
Fax: 305-237-8195
E-Mail: hbelmont@mdc.edu
Web Site: www.mdc.edu/north/funeralsciences/

A career as a funeral director can be a very rewarding profession for someone interested in working in the funeral industry. However, becoming a mortician or funeral director requires education and experience, neither of which comes quickly or easily. It is important to understand the requirements involved in this choice of career direction to ensure that you meet all of the necessary professional prerequisites.

Mortuary Science Requirements

Funeral directors are responsible for overseeing the entire operational system for a funeral home. This might mean greeting grieving families and friends, coordinating funeral services, assisting with preparing bodies for viewings and/or burials, handling the financials of a funeral home and more. To be prepared for this, morticians or funeral directors must undergo some education first. Graduation from an accredited mortuary science program – the American Board of Funeral Service Education is the accrediting body for this purpose – is key to becoming a funeral director and in most instances, is a bonafide requirement. In fact, in many instances, without some kind of educational background, it is impossible to get licensed as a funeral director.

While most general mortuary science programs span two years, most of the specialty education comes in four year programs, which is why people aspiring for a career as a funeral director should take. There are roughly six programs around the country that offer a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science, some of which offer online programs for students located in areas where this educational option does not exist. However, the vast majority of mortuary science programs and degrees span about two-years in length and can be found at community colleges. These mortuary science programs are often utilized in conjunction with continuing education programs, once a person graduates and gets further into the profession.

These professionals are also required to undergo some kind of apprenticeship. This is the way in which to learn the ropes about the industry and get hands-on experience working in a funeral home. These apprenticeships must be done under a licensed funeral director according to most state regulations, and generally last between one and three years, depending on the specifics of the program. However, the experience gained during an apprenticeship is invaluable and will properly prepare an individual to become a funeral director or industry professional in general.

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