Funeral Directors and Managers

Career summary

Funeral directors may also be called morticians.

#match with wois 8632, checked, updated 2/19/15 lh

Funeral directors and managers work in funeral homes. They help make decisions about the obituary, casket, and service. They may prearrange funerals so that people can have all details taken care of before they pass away.

Funeral managers

Funeral managers oversee the general operations of a funeral home. They hire staff for the funeral home and may manage several employees. They oversee accounts and payments. They also handle the marketing and public relations.

Funeral directors

Funeral directors plan funeral services when someone dies. They often contact members of the clergy or other religious persons to lead the service. Funeral directors help make decisions about the preparation of the deceased. They may also discuss options such as cremation. Some prepare the deceased for out-of-state burial.

Funeral directors organize and direct the memorial service. They arrange the duties of pallbearers. They arrange the flowers and lighting. They may open the casket if the deceased is to be viewed during the service. Some greet mourners at the funeral home and usher them to their seats.

Funeral directors coordinate activities with cemeteries. They oversee transport of the casket and flowers from the funeral home to the burial site. They also make sure the mourners have transportation to the cemetery.

Funeral directors may embalm or preserve the deceased before the funeral service. For more information about embalmers, see that occupation in WOIS.

Funeral directors also perform administrative duties. They often obtain necessary paperwork, including death certificates and burial permits.

Related careers

This career is part of the Human Services cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Embalmers
• Funeral Attendants
• General and Operations Managers
• Social and Human Service Assistants

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to funeral directors and managers.

• Provide information about funeral services. Maintain a casket display area.
• Arrange and direct funeral services. Inform family about services and benefits they may receive.
• Communicate with family or authorized person about details of funeral.
• Oversee the preparation of the deceased, including embalming and cremation.
• Console and advise friends and family of the deceased.
• Arrange placement of casket, lights, and flowers in funeral home.
• May greet people and usher them to their seats.
• Lead funeral procession from the funeral home to the burial site.
• Direct placement and movement of the casket.
• Direct preparations for out-of-state burials.
• Obtain and submit paperwork, including death certificates and burial permits.
• Manage and staff the funeral home business.
• Keep track of accounts and payments. Maintain records.
• May perform embalming duties.

Common work activities

Funeral directors and managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform for or work with the public
• Assist and care for others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Use computers
• Document and record information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Process information
• Schedule work and activities
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Teach others
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Handle and move objects
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Think creatively
• Coach others
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Develop goals and strategies

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, funeral directors and managers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a very high level of job-required social interaction.
• Communicate by letters, telephone, or in person on a daily basis. They communicate less often by e-mail.
• Regularly work in a group or as part of a team.
• Are responsible for the results and outcomes of the work of others.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of workers.
• May have to deal with unpleasant or discourteous individuals. Funeral matters can be emotionally draining.

Physical work conditions

• Often work indoors. May work outdoors to direct burials.
• Regularly work in an enclosed vehicle, such as a van or hearse.
• Sometimes wear protective attire, such as gloves and surgical gowns.
• Are exposed to diseases or infections on a weekly basis. Funeral directors come into close contact with corpses.
• Are regularly exposed to contaminants.
• Work close to others, usually within a few feet.

Work performance

• Must perform a job accurately.
• Regularly make decisions that strongly impact the reputation of the company. Funeral parlors often rely on reputation and word-of-mouth to attract customers.
• Make decisions that affect others on a daily basis. Funeral directors rarely consult others before deciding on actions.
• Set most tasks and priorities for the day without consulting anyone.
• Abide by strict deadlines on a daily basis. They also need to be aware of competition.
• May repeat the same activities.

Hours/travel

• May work business hours, along with odd hours when a death occurs.
• Most work 40 hours per week or more. The nature of the funeral business is unpredictable and there may be slow and busy times.
• May work on an on-call basis.
• May work evenings and weekends.

Physical demands

Funeral directors and managers frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for funeral directors and managers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for funeral directors and managers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Funeral directors and managers need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Teach others how to do something.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Funeral Service and Mortuary Science

Other programs of study to consider

• Business Management and Administration
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Psychology, General

Training

To work as a funeral manager, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete a two-year program in mortuary science; and
• have one to five years of work experience.

To work as a funeral director, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete a two-year program in mortuary science;
• complete long-term, on-the-job training; and
• pass state licensing exams.

Education after high school

Funeral directors and managers learn their skills through programs in mortuary science. Some community and junior colleges offer two-year programs. A few colleges and universities offer both two- and four-year programs.

Mortuary science programs usually include courses in anatomy and physiology, pathology (the study of disease), embalming techniques, and restorative arts (cosmetic reconstruction of deceased). They also offer courses in business. Other courses cover the psychological side of the business, such as working with people who are suffering from grief and loss. People who graduate from mortuary school are called mortuary science technicians.

Work experience

You should work in a funeral home part time or during summer break before starting a training program. A summer job as a funeral attendant can help you become familiar with the operation of funeral homes. This can help you decide if the work is what you want to do. Funeral managers need office management experience.

On-the-job training

Funeral directors must complete long-term, on-the-job training. You work with a licensed embalmer or funeral director. Depending on state regulations, this training lasts from one to three years. This training may take place before, during, or after you finish mortuary school.

Some funeral homes offer in-house training. This may be hands-on or classroom-based or a combination. Training usually lasts six to twelve months.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Cosmetology
• Psychology

Many funeral directors and managers are self-employed. To help you monitor your finances and taxes, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Traditionally, funeral homes have been run as family businesses. At one time, funeral directors and managers might have needed a family connection to get hired. Today, the best way for funeral directors and managers to get hired is through connections made in mortuary school. Many mortuary schools have close ties with local funeral homes. They often provide job placement for graduates. They can also provide internship placement for students still in school. These internships often lead to permanent jobs.

Though licensing can be done at age 18, employers usually look for funeral directors who are at least 21 years old and have finished at least two years of mortuary school. They also look for at least one year of training with a licensed funeral service worker. Finally, employers look for funeral directors who have a state license.

Employers also look for funeral directors and managers with strong management and administrative skills. Funeral directors and managers may have to hire and oversee staff, such as assistants, embalmers, and office workers.

Employers look for funeral directors and managers who are calm and professional in their work. They also look for funeral directors and managers who will build and manage a reputable and profitable business.

Tips

Students are strongly advised to get their practical training in a funeral home before formal training to determine compatibility with the work.

Costs to workers

Some workers may have to purchase appropriate work clothes.

Licensing/certification

Funeral directors must be licensed in Washington. Licensing requirements are as follows:

• be age 18 or older and of good moral character;
• have an associate of arts degree in mortuary science or two years of college (equivalent to 60-semester or 90-quarter hours) from an accredited school (2.0 grade average or better) and specific courses;
• have a one-year internship (at least 1,800 hours of employment) under the supervision of a funeral director licensed in Washington;
• pass a written examination covering funeral directing, public health and body preparation, burial, and transportation of bodies;
• pass a state jurisprudence examination;
• complete five hours of continuing education (including at least one hour of OSHA/WISHA training) every year; and
• answer criminal history questions when renewing license.

Funeral directors pay $100 for the state licensing application and examination and $150 for the annual renewal. Intern directors pay $135 for registration for the application and $100 for the annual renewal.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Licensing
Funeral Licensing Program 
PO Box 9012
Olympia, WA 98507-9012
360.664.1555

#Checked licensing: No AIDS training required anymore; added OSHA/WISHA req, 4/19/16 cj. updated fees 3/21/17 lh. Added criminal history ?s for renewal 4/2/18; rest same, cj. 2/25/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Funeral Service Managers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Earnings depend upon the director's or manager's experience and ability to build a good business reputation. Funeral directors and managers who work in large cities can expect to earn more than those who work in small towns.

Funeral directors and managers usually receive benefits such as paid vacation, health insurance, and sick leave. Self-employed funeral directors and managers must provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

#Removed State Employment section as DOL now requiring submission of Public Records request to get licensing numbers, 4/2/18 cj.

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 64% of funeral managers and 13% of funeral directors are self-employed.

Major employers:

• Funeral homes

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be steady. The number of people over 55 will grow rapidly in the next decade. As the population grows older and passes away, the demand for funeral and memorial services will increase.

More and more people are pre-arranging their end-of-life services. This also increases the demand for funeral directors and managers.

Job openings will occur as people retire.

Other resources

American Board of Funeral Service Education 
992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108
Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097
816.233.3747

Exploring a Career in Funeral Service 

National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association 
6290 Shannon Parkway
Union City, GA 30291
800.434.0958
770.969.0064

National Funeral Directors Association 
13625 Bishop's Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005
800.228.6332
262.789.1880

US Small Business Administration 
Seattle District Office
2401 Fourth Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98121
206.553.7310

Washington State Funeral Directors Association 
9116 E. Sprague Avenue, #809
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
509.608.0710

References

Career cluster

• Human Services

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupations

• Funeral Service Managers (11-9061.00) 
• Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors (39-4031.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Director, Funeral (187.167-030) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Enterprising/Conventional/Social
• Enterprising/Social/Conventional

COPSystem

• Service Skilled