If the idea of helping others through emotional times has always piqued your interest, a career in funeral service may be your calling. Funeral service professionals work with the bereaved, helping families and loved ones prepare memorial services, express their feelings and needs, and properly grieve the ones they’ve lost. The work of a funeral director is invaluable. You could enjoy a long, rewarding career as a funeral director, honoring life and supporting individuals at a time they need it most.
If you are considering this field, you may be wondering where to start. First thing’s first: You’ll want to find a great mortuary science program – one that can help you reach (and exceed) your career goals as a funeral director. But, how does one go about choosing a great funeral director school? We’ve got the tips to help you get started!
A Program to Fit the Bill
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, most states require the following, basic educational foundations to become a funeral service professional:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- An associate degree, or its credit hour equivalent, which is in funeral service education
- Passing a state and/or national board licensing exam
- An internship or apprenticeship ranging from one to three years
Goodwin College now offers an Associate Degree in Funeral Service, taught by professors with decades of experience in funeral service, who are all members of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and actively working in the field.
Our program trains students to become successful industry professionals, equipped to address funeral services from the initial death call through to the final disposition of human remains. We offer on-campus courses, laboratory training, as well as real-world experience through internships in the field.
A School with Flexibility
You deserve a college that offers classes on your schedule. At Goodwin College, we’re all about convenience. We understand that many of our students are trying to complete their degrees while holding down jobs, caring for family, and balancing everything on a tight schedule. Our mortuary science college is flexible and caters to you, so that you can work towards your degree and continue to manage other priorities. Classes are offered in the evenings, leaving you time to fulfill other obligations. The 68-credit program works on a standard 15-week format, and may be completed in as little as 24-months full time. Of course, part-time is also an option, depending on your needs and availability.
Affordability
One of the most important things for students to consider before starting any postsecondary program is cost. Tuition today can put students in a mountain of debt, so it’s important to consider an education that will be affordable and sensible for the future. Goodwin College has one of the lowest tuition rates for private, nonprofit colleges in the state. Most students start with little or no out-of-pocket expense. And 85% of our undergrads receive financial aid in the form of grants of scholarships.
A Future of Possibilities
It’s good to know where you can go once you’ve earned your degree – in any field! Goodwin College’s funeral director school prepares students to sit for the American Board of Funeral Service Education’s National Board Exams. After successfully completing the Arts and Sciences sections, graduates can lock down a one-year paid apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are required to become a funeral director in CT.
After the apprenticeship, students are eligible to sit for the state board exam. Completion of the state board exam means you will be prepared for mortuary science and funeral director careers such as:
- At-need and pre-need consultants
- Embalmers
- Funeral service directors
- Funeral service practitioners
- Mortician
- Mortuary transporter
A Lifetime of Career Support
In addition to the program, tuition, and flexibility, prospective students should consider the college as a whole and how supportive it is for students and graduates. Goodwin College has a Career Services team and extensive network of employers, who offer career placement and counseling support — for free, forever! We provide our students with resume and cover letter writing assistance, networking, workshops, mock interviewing, individual counseling, career fairs, and much more. Our job isn’t finished until our funeral service graduates are in meaningful careers they love.
Get your funeral services career started today. Contact Goodwin College at 800-889-3282, visit us online to request more information, or click here to apply.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.