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What about the job market in funeral service?
On a national basis there are generally more jobs available than there are licensed
funeral directors to fill them. However, this varies from region to region and from town to town. Funeral service is a profession that most people enter only after having had positive personal experience and not as a result of
reading books or watching videos.
What type of person becomes a funeral director?
People enter the funeral service profession from a wide variety of backgrounds and possess a variety of
motivations. The desire to be of assistance and to work in a human service profession motivates many individuals. Others view funeral service as relatively "depression proof" and enter the profession after serving for
a number of years in other careers. Approximately 51% of the funeral service graduates in 2003 were women, with an average age of graduates in their upper 20s. Two thirds of graduates had no prior direct family relationship
with funeral service.
How much will I earn?
Salary varies from region to region, from urban to rural community, and from small to large funeral homes. The overall national
average in the decade of the 1990s has been in the mid to upper $20K range for newly licensed funeral directors. Starting salaries for new funeral service licensees often closely approximate those of starting teachers in the
same community.
How about working conditions in funeral service?
You can expect to work a regular schedule of hours plus additional hours in the evening and on certain
weekends, either on call or in the funeral home. Funeral service is a 24 hour, 7 day per week profession, although the workload is spread among all funeral home staff. While on duty the funeral director is expected to dress in
business attire. Above all the funeral director must reflect a personable, sincere and professional manner.
How do funeral directors spend their time?
A small percentage of the funeral directors' time is spent preparing bodies. The overwhelming majority of
time is spent working directly with families. For this reason funeral service is referred to as a "human service profession."
What subject areas comprise the Funeral Service Education curriculum?
An Associate Degree or its credit hour equivalent is required.
This means that your academic program must consist of at least 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of academic course work. At least 25% of that course work must be in general, non-technical education courses. Most programs also
require the successful completion of practicum time within a funeral home. The curriculum in Funeral Service is comprised of the following courses:
• Sciences, including micro-biology, pathology, chemistry, anatomy, embalming and restorative art
• Business, including small business management, funeral home management and computer skills
• Social Sciences, including history and sociology of funeral service, psychology of grief and bereavement counseling
• Law and Ethics, including business law, funeral service law and funeral service ethics
Is scholarship aid available?
Scholarship aid is most often available through the financial aid office of the college that you attend. The American Board of
Funeral Service Education also offers a scholarship program for which you can apply after you have completed at least one term of study in an accredited funeral service program. Awards from this program are either $250 or $500.
Approximately one half of each years applicants are granted a scholarship. More information about the ABFSE Scholarship Program is available in the Scholarship section of this Website. In addition, you can print an application for a scholarship by clicking here or obtain one by writing to:
American Board of Funeral Service Education
Executive Director
Michael Smith, Ph.D.
3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite G
St. Joseph, MO 64506
Office: (816) 233-3747
Cell: (816) 262-0711
FAX: (816)
233-3793
E-mail: exdir@abfse.org
The completed application must be returned to ABFSE along with two essays, transcripts of all college courses attempted and a written recommendation. Deadlines are in March and September each year. Click here for further information and deadlines. Your local state funeral directors association is also a potential source of financial aid.
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