Mortuary Science Degrees and the Path to Becoming a Funeral Director

What the job involves

Funeral directors, also called morticians or undertakers, arrange funeral and memorial services, prepare bodies for viewing or burial, handle paperwork like death certificates, and support grieving families through the logistics of a funeral. Embalming, the chemical preservation and preparation of a body, is a specific licensed skill some funeral directors hold in addition to their funeral director license, depending on the state.

The typical education path

Most states require at least two years of formal postsecondary education in mortuary science or funeral service, usually an associate degree, along with a set number of supervised apprenticeship hours and a passing score on a state licensing exam, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Most employers and states also require candidates to be at least 21 years old. Around 58 accredited mortuary science and funeral service degree programs run nationwide.

Coursework covers embalming theory and technique, restorative art, funeral service law and ethics, business management, grief counseling, and public health. Programs combine classroom and lab instruction with hands-on embalming lab work under supervision.

Accreditation: check for ABFSE

The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) is the recognized accrediting body for mortuary science and funeral service programs in the US. Most state licensing boards require your degree to come from an ABFSE-accredited program before they let you sit for the licensing exam, so confirm accreditation before enrolling anywhere.

Apprenticeship and licensing

• After or during your degree, most states require a supervised apprenticeship under a licensed funeral director, typically lasting one to two years depending on the state.

• Most states use the National Board Examination administered through the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, covering both an arts section (embalming, restorative art) and a sciences section (anatomy, pathology, microbiology).

• Licensing requirements vary by state. Some states license funeral directing and embalming separately, and reciprocity between states is not automatic, so check the exact requirements in the state where you plan to work.

Pay and job outlook

The median annual wage for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers was $49,800 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Funeral service managers, who typically run a funeral home rather than work directly with families day to day, earned a higher median of $76,830 in the same period. Entry-level pay in the bottom 10% of earners sat around $31,470 a year, while the top 10% earned $85,940 or more.

Employment in funeral service occupations is projected to grow 4% between 2024 and 2034, roughly in line with the average for all occupations, with about 5,800 openings projected each year. Most of that demand comes from replacing workers who retire or leave the field, not from major growth in the number of funeral homes.

Professional resources to know

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is the largest professional association in the field and a useful source for continuing education, state-by-state licensing requirements, and career resources as you plan your path into the profession.

Is this career right for you

Funeral service work suits you if you handle grief and difficult conversations calmly, pay close attention to detail and procedure, and want a stable licensed career that does not require a four-year degree. It also involves irregular hours, since deaths and funerals do not follow a school or business calendar, and physically demanding tasks during embalming and body preparation. Shadow a funeral home or ask a local funeral director about a day in the role before committing to a program.