Funeral service is a career choice that delivers more personal satisfaction than almost any other. Whether you’re embarking on your first career, looking to change careers or sharing your experience with someone entering the profession, the rewards and satisfaction in this field are unlimited.
Who are funeral service professionals?
Funeral service professionals work in funeral homes in many different capacities and roles. Funeral professionals are caring and empathetic people that walk with the bereaved through one of life’s most difficult journeys. Funeral professionals also aid the bereaved in one of the most daunting but rewarding tasks: final care of their loved ones.
The Funeral Director
The Funeral Director is a professional caregiver who enables families and communities to celebrate a life and provides support for the living by:
- Helping the bereaved during the initial stages of their grief;
- Assisting with planning meaningful services and ceremonies in which people of different faiths and cultures express their feelings and practice their beliefs; and
- Carrying out administrative and logistical tasks required by law, custom and acceptable practice.
The Embalmer
Throughout history, care and respect for the dead has been reflected in a deep appreciation for those who have chosen a career of caring for the physical needs of the dead and for the psychological needs of those who mourn their passing. Today, the duties of the embalmer are regarded as sacred tasks and must be performed in a dignified and professional manner. It is the duty of the embalmer to disinfect, preserve and restore the deceased so that the health of the public will be protected while creating a pleasant memory picture for the bereaved. Viewing the deceased can provide reality and offer the first step of a healthy grief experience.
How do I become a funeral service professional?
There are two main entry ways to the funeral service professions: Apprenticeship and the Foundation Program.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship has been the standard form of training and development in funeral service for many years in British Columbia. A candidate for apprenticeship must first gain employment at a funeral home before embarking on the formal training program. See Finding an Apprenticeship section of this HR Toolkit. Once the candidate and the employer feel ready to advance with the formal training program the student is enrolled in the apprenticeship program.
The apprenticeship program is a two year program designed and funded under the authority of the Industry Training Authority (ITA) and delivered by the Funeral Service Association of British Columbia (FSABC). The apprentice is guided through academic study and workplace training by a mentor and instructors using standardized training and assessment materials to ensure consistent experience and competency achievement. The program is designed so that the potential candidate may remain employed and working full time while training to gain qualification. Academic study is delivered through classroom instruction, internet delivery and work experience. The workplace training is guided by a co-worker (mentor) using ITA designed guidelines and assessments.
For more information on the Apprenticeship Program please refer to About the Apprenticeship Program section of this HR Toolkit.
Foundation Program
A new and exciting entry to the funeral service professions is offered by the Foundation Program. This option is intended to provide an introduction to the basic theory needed for study/employment in the funeral service profession prior to securing employment as an Embalmer, Funeral Director or both.
For more information on the Foundation Program please refer to About the Foundation Program section of this HR toolkit.
