Build Your Future With A Funeral Service Assistant Certificate
The Funeral Service Assistant Certificate Program serves as an introduction to the theoretical and practical skills required for professional licensure.
This program will prepare students for an entry-level position as a funeral service assistant, funeral attendant, or funeral greeter while also helping students determine their level of interest in the funeral service industry and preparing them for more formal vocational training in Mortuary Science.
Courses prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to perform the tasks of a funeral service assistant, such as placing the casket in the parlor or chapel prior to service; arranging floral offerings or lights around the casket; directing or escorting mourners; closing the casket; and issuing and storing funeral equipment.
This program is not a substitute for the Associate in Science – Mortuary Science Program, which includes an apprenticeship. Rather, it provides students with a realistic introduction to the rigors of funeral service practice and teaches the skills necessary to become funeral assistant. It also provides a pathway for transfer for those interested in the Cypress College Associate in Science – Mortuary Science degree program: Students who transfer to Cypress College can earn course credit via credit-by-exam for Mort 201 – Funeral Directing.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the communication skills, personal characteristics, and cultural awareness needed to interact with client families
- Understand the importance of values, tradition, and religion and how it impacts the funeral service practice
- Describe the purpose of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as it relates to the industry
- Write newspaper obituary/death notices for publication
- Understand the business operations of a funeral home
- Create an effective merchandise display
- Identify the methods and chemicals used to prepare remains for disposition
- Understand funeral arrangement funding options and the different types of funeral contracts
Additional Eligibility Requirements Include:
- Must be 18 years or older to enroll
- Must complete an NOCE Admissions Application
- Must complete an online Orientation at least 24 hours prior to registering
- Should have basic English reading, writing, and speaking skills and/or be at an ESL level of intermediate low (recommended)
- Students have basic computer skills (recommended)
For more information about the certificate program click here to view the Program Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upon completion of this program, students will be awarded a certificate. This program also serves as a pathway to transfer into Cypress College’s Associate in Science – Mortuary Science degree program.
All NOCE Funeral Service Assistant Certificate courses are tuition-free. However, students are responsible for covering the cost of textbooks, course supplies, and a parking pass.
The FSRV program can be completed in as little as nine months.
Average salary per year in this field ranges from $21,361 to $31,179 per year.
Career opportunities upon completion of this certificate include:
- Funeral Service Assistant
- Family Services Assistant (FSA)
- Funeral Greeter
- Funeral Home Associate
- Funeral Service Apprentice
- Funeral Home Attendant
Number of Jobs in 2018 | 2,329 |
2018-28 Job Growth | 8% |
Entry-Level Pay in 2018 | $25,043/ Annual, $12.04/ Hour |
Median Pay in 2018 | $29,931/ Annual, $14.39/ Hour |
Salary and employment outlook will vary depending on the skill, experience, employer, and geographic location.
Degrees & Certificates
Funeral Service Assistant Program Certificate
Students who enjoy talking to others and are actively looking for ways to help people, should consider the Funeral Service Assistant Program at North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) as the first step to a career in the mortuary industry.
Funeral service assistants are responsible for a variety of tasks that assist funeral directors and ensure that services run smoothly and as planned. Funeral service assistants often function as information managers, scheduling meetings and appointments, organizing and maintaining proper electronic files, managing projects, and providing customer and personal services.
People in this career often have these skills:
- Speaking – Talking to others
- Social Perceptiveness – Understanding people’s reactions
- Service Orientation – Looking for ways to help people
People in this career need skills such as:
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Concern for Others
- Self-Control
Cooperation
There are many benefits to completing the FSRV program. This program allows students to prepare for entry-level employment in the mortuary industry. The Funeral Service Assistant Program cultivates leadership, teamwork, and collaboration skills through cohort-based learning, and allows students to develop foundational skills for further education and training.
Funeral service assistants have careers that often grow into the following positions:
- Crematory Operator
- Embalmer
- Funeral Director
- Funeral Service Manager
- Memorial Counselor
- Preparation Room Manger
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