Funeral directors and embalmers – NOC : 6346

Unit Group

6346 Funeral directors and embalmers

Funeral directors co-ordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services. Embalmers prepare the remains of deceased persons for public visitation and burial. Funeral directors and embalmers are employed by funeral homes.

Example Titles

apprentice embalmer

embalmer

funeral director

mortician

View all titles

Main duties

Funeral directors perform some or all of the following duties:

Consult with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service, the disposition of the remains and funeral costs
Transfer, or arrange for the transfer of, the remains from the place of death to the funeral home
Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible
Issue death notices to newspapers
Oversee the preparation of the remains, plan and schedule funeral services, co-ordinate burials and cremations and complete legal documents
Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients
Manage funeral home operations including hiring and directing staff, maintaining financial records, preparing accounts and ordering merchandise
Supervise embalmers, funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff
May perform same duties as embalmers.

Embalmers perform some or all of the following duties:

Preserve, sanitize and prepare human remains for funeral services
Perform cosmetic and restorative work on human remains
Supervise funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff.

Employment requirements

Completion of a one- to two-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program is usually required for funeral directors.
Completion of a two- to three-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program
or
Completion of a three-year college program is required for embalmers.
Funeral directors require licensure in most provinces and territories.
Funeral directors may be required to be licensed embalmers depending on provincial requirements.
Embalmers require licensure in all provinces.

Classified elsewhere

Bereavement counsellors (in 4153 Family, marriage and other related counsellors )
Funeral home attendants (in 6742 Other service support occupations, n.e.c. )
Funeral service general managers (in 0015 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. )