Funeral Home Jobs - What Are They and How to Get One

The qualifications that you need to work in a funeral home vary by position. In a funeral director, embalmer, or a grief counseling position, you need postsecondary education and a state license. For these careers, you should earn an associate degree in mortuary science or a similar field. You then take an exam to earn a license in your state. Most states also require a period of apprenticeship before you become fully licensed. Assistants, administrators, and sales staff may not need a degree, but employers may prefer to hire applicants working towards a career in funeral services.

There are many jobs available in a funeral home. As a funeral director, you work to coordinate all aspects of a funeral. As an embalmer, on the other hand, you work to prepare the body of the deceased for viewing in a casket during a memorial service, but you do not actually help to plan the service. A funeral home may offer grief counseling via a licensed counselor or clergy member. They may also hire a specialist to handle cremation duties. In some homes, you can even work on a sales staff, selling services and items, such as a casket or cremation urn. These businesses also employ entry-level assistants, whose responsibilities revolve around assisting other home staff.

Mortuaries and funeral homes both provide services to the families of a recently-deceased person. Both facilities offer similar services, but mortuaries are more likely to have cremation services, which are less common in funeral homes. Generally, funeral homes are more adept at planning a funeral or memorial services, and they are more likely to offer help with grief counseling. However, a director at a mortuary may have the skills to help plan a memorial service as well. If a funeral home does not have a licensed embalmer or crematorium, they may work with a mortuary to offer full service to clients.