What is a Mortician?

A Mortician is someone who cleans and preserves bodies before they are buried. They work with the bereaved, assist with funeral planning, and supervise the burial process.
A mortician works directly with the dead, embalming bodies and applying cosmetics for viewings.
To become a mortician education and state certification are required. There is also a licensing board at both the federal and state levels. Having said that, morticians are not licensed medical professionals or doctors.

History of morticians

The term mortician comes from the Latin word “mort”. In 1895, The Embalmers’ Monthly issued a call for a new name for the profession in the United States to distance itself from the undertaker, which was then perceived to be tainted by its association with death.

Morticians prepare a deceased person’s remains for burial. They may cremate or preserve the body, presenting it with makeup, clothing, and hair styling techniques. They help with urn or casket selection and transport the body to and from the funeral home. They organize a funeral’s specifics. They frequently set up clergy services, pallbearers, and obituaries. If a burial is decided, they arrange for the grave’s opening and closing with a cemetery official.

What is the job of Morticians?

A Mortician typically supervises a deceased person’s embalming, dressing, and cosmetic enhancements before they are placed in a casket.

A mortician may also assist in the preparation of funeral processions and offer other services to living relatives.

Do morticians remove Organs?

For a mortician, Whether or not organs are removed during the embalming process is one of the most frequently asked questions;

No, the organs do not leave the body during the embalming procedure unless the deceased person is an organ donor.

A Mortician makes tiny abdominal incisions and places tubes inside the body cavity. These tubes deliver a chemical and water mixture into the body, which helps to preserve tissues and prevent decomposition. The organs are then immersed in a separate solution to harden and preserve them. Finally, the mortician makes sure the incisions are sutured shut and the body is ready for examination.

Although it may appear to be a difficult procedure, embalming is a very gentle method of preserving the human body done by the mortician.

Do Morticians make a lot of money?

Yes, morticians are well compensated.

Given the minimal education and exam requirements, the average annual salary of a mortician of $59,777 can be considered good money.

Morticians service workers’ total employment is expected to increase by 8% between 2021 and 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.

ABFSE can assist you in finding a paid apprenticeship to begin your mortician career if you pass the exam.

Do morticians do autopsies?

Morticians do not perform autopsies. Autopsies are always performed by a pathologists who are certified doctors.

Morticians do not hold the same qualification hence autopsy lies beyond the scope of their duties.

Although laws vary, nearly all states require an autopsy when someone dies in a suspicious, unusual, or unnatural manner.

State-ordered autopsies can be performed by a county coroner, who is not always a doctor. An autopsy is performed by a doctor, typically a pathologist.

Do Morticians dress a body?

The mortician or funeral director is responsible for actually dressing the body but the family chooses the clothing, Some people include their burial attire in their final wishes, and some families have preferences for what their loved ones should wear. These wishes can be conveyed to the mortician so they carry them out accordingly.

So, an accurate answer to this question is “yes” Morticians do dress a body (but only as per the family’s demand or the last wish of the dead person).

Where do Morticians work?

A mortician is hired by a funeral director. They spend the majority of their time in the funeral home, where they prepare bodies and conduct funeral services. A Mortician may also conduct funeral services at places of worship, private homes, cemeteries, and significant sites for the deceased or their loved ones.

Morticians prepare people for their final moments above ground by mastering human anatomy, sculpting, and makeup artistry. Some simply refer to their profession as death care or post-mortem care. We refer to it as mortuary makeup.

How can I learn more about becoming a Mortician?

Morticians enjoy a full range of employment benefits, the opportunity to become self-employed, a higher-than-average projected employment growth rate, and the personal satisfaction of providing help and comfort to families in need. Being a Mortician is decidedly not for everyone, but the right candidates will find that it is an excellent choice for lifelong career satisfaction.

Following are some institutes that provide degree to become a Mortician –

Arapahoe Community College.
Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service.
Cypress College.
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service.

Following are the steps of how to become a Mortician –

Earn a High School Diploma: In order to be considered for most postsecondary programs that train students to become morticians, you must possess at least a high school diploma.
Complete Prerequisites: Some mortician postsecondary programs only accept applicants who have completed prerequisite coursework. For example, before enrolling in Wayne State University’s mortuary science program, applicants must complete courses in public health, psychology, and other subjects.
Attend an Accredited Program: To work as a mortician, you may need to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited program, depending on the legal requirements of your state. Through the American Board of Funeral Service Education, locate accredited programs (ABFSE).
Complete an Internship or Apprenticeship: Before becoming licensed, you must work under supervision for 1-3 years.
Pass the necessary licensing tests: After completing your education and training, you might need to pass three tests to become a licensed mortician. Depending on your state, you may need to satisfy all of the following requirements:

National Board Examination (NBE)

State Board Examination (SBE)

Exam for laws, rules, and regulations (LRR) in your state

6. Keep practicing: Continuing education is required because mortician licenses expire every 1-2 years. To keep your license current, you must take state-approved continuing education courses on a regular basis.

How long does it take to become a Mortician?

A Mortician is required to finish a bachelor’s degree first. A mortuary science associate degree program can be finished in two years. Whether one’s state permits mortician apprentices to complete their apprenticeship concurrently with their education or requires them to complete it after graduation will determine how long it takes to become a mortician in total.

An estimate cannot be made on how much time it’s going to take to become a Mortician because every state has its legal laws and policies.

Job description of a Mortician, Who are they?

The term mortician comes from the Latin word “mort”. In 1895, The Embalmers’ Monthly issued a call for a new name for the profession in the United States in order to distance itself from the undertaker, which was then perceived to be tainted by its association with death.

Morticians prepare a deceased person’s remains for burial. They may cremate or preserve the body, presenting it with makeup, clothing, and hair styling techniques. They help with urn or casket selection and transport the body to and from the funeral home.They organize a funeral’s specifics. They frequently set up clergy services, pallbearers, and obituaries. If a burial is decided, they arrange for the grave’s opening and closing with a cemetery official.

Why a career as a Mortician?

Mortician career is a good job choice when we talk about money. Those who choose this career enjoy a full range of employment benefits, the opportunity to become self-employed, a higher-than-average projected employment growth rate, and the personal satisfaction of providing help and comfort to families in need. Although this career field is decidedly not for everyone, the right candidates will find that it is an excellent choice for lifelong career satisfaction.

It is a good career choice if you want to satisfy your living, at the same time you want to provide comfort and help to the families who lost their close one’s. Few people consider it as a bad career option but if you want to live a satisfactory life, this job can provide you a happy and healthy living.

What are the requirements to become a Mortician?

Here are the requirements to become a mortician:

Age limit: To become a mortician you have to be above the age of 18 years. As it should be legally sufficient to carry out a mortician’s obligations.

Diploma: You should have a high school diploma or GED certificate. If requires you must, completing an associate degree from an accredited funeral service or mortuary science program

Continues practice: You should have a certificate as an intern for a mortician to perform the job of a mortician as it requires your ability/knowledge and practice.
Give exam: You must pass your state or national level exam for the profile of a Mortician.

Responsibilities of a Mortician?

Morticians have responsibilities of preparing a deceased person’s remains for burial. They may cremate or preserve the body, presenting it with makeup, clothing, and hair styling techniques. They help with urn or casket selection and transport the body to and from the funeral home.They organize a funeral’s specifics. They frequently set up clergy services, pallbearers, and obituaries. If a burial is decided, they arrange for the grave’s opening and closing with a cemetery official.

Skills required for becoming a good Mortician?

To deal with people of all ages, ethnicities, and religious views, morticians must be outstanding listeners and communicators. While being sympathetic is crucial, morticians must maintain emotional control in the midst of this emotional stress so that the family can rely on your emotional integrity.

With respect to this, there are more skills that are required to be a Mortician such as:

A Mortician should be sensitive and understanding.
He should attentive means, pay attention to detail.
A Mortician’s job requires a lot of patience and calmness to deal with stressful situations.
It requires an ability to collaborate with others and also with your team as it needs understanding.
An ability to face criticism and work under pressure is the most important skill of a Mortician.
With respect to that a mortician also needs to be skilled in management to manage everything under pressure.

What training is required to become a Mortician?

Here, are the top 4 requirements to become a Mortician:

Having reached the age of 18.
Obtaining, if necessary, an associate’s degree from a programme in funeral service or mortuary science that is accredited.
Some states don’t have any postsecondary degree requirements, while others do demand a bachelor’s degree.
Internships or apprenticeships in your state

This is all the required training to become a Mortician.

Are there any certification or licensure requirements for a Mortician?

YES,” is the answer to this question. To practice as a mortician, you must first obtain the license of a trained mortician. And, in order to obtain the License, the following requirements must be met and followed:

Morticians must be at least 21 years old.
Have an associate degree from a mortuary science programme accredited by the American Board of Funeral Science Education, and be fluent in both English and Spanish.
Pass a certification exam after completing an apprenticeship.
After meeting all these requirements and a certification of a practitioner intern as a Mortician you will get a License of a Certified and Trained Mortician.

To be a Mortician, GED or High School Diploma/Associate Degree, what is Mandatory?

According to the research, to become a mortician you need to have a high school diploma or GED certificate. It is mandatory to have a GED certificate. At the same time the age of majority is 21. And you have to finish a degree programme in mortuary science or funeral care that is accredited.Pass the national board exam or your state’s test. Serve

a one- to three-year apprenticeship (depending on your state). This shows what you need to do to become a Mortician.

Mortician Apprenticeship and Certifications:

As the majority of jurisdictions need that an apprenticeship be finished before issuing a funeral director license, it’s crucial to begin working with a sponsor as soon as possible. To the extent permitted by your state’s regulations, locate a licensed funeral director who is prepared to hire an apprentice. After you appear before the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors with your sponsor mortician and sign a written agreement to the conditions of the apprenticeship, certain states will grant you a mortician’s apprentice license. If your state mandates that you assist with funerals and embalmings as part of your apprenticeship, you will be obliged, along with your sponsor, to produce thorough proof of each task finished.

Certification is not required for morticians, but getting certifications can provide a great resume boost and may lead to increased job opportunities and salaries. There are several certifications available, including those of Certified Crematory Operator and Certified Preplanning Consultant. Both of these are available through the National Funeral Directors Association

How much does mortuary school cost?

According to the findings, the average tuition for universities that offer programmes in funeral service and mortuary science for the academic year 2022–2023 is $12,340 for undergraduate programmes and $22,415 for graduate programmes.The overall percentage increase in enrollment in the United States’ 58 accredited mortuary programmes or institutions.

Can you do mortuary school online?

Here are some colleges/universities that provide online Mortuary degree:

Pros and Cons of becoming a Mortician?

Here are the pros of being a Mortician –

Competitive salary – With an average yearly pay of $62,699, morticians are paid a competitive wage. Morticians make a fair living compared to other professions with comparable educational and training requirements. In order to have even more control over their income, some morticians may decide to create their own funeral home.
Minimal education requirements – Education requirement of being a Mortician is less as compared to other career options. It is best for those who do not want to spend their time on colleges and universities to get a degree. With respect to that they earn a good living as well.
Work Environment – Morticians may also prefer a mostly indoor work environment. Most Morticians work alone and have a good environment to work in. They may manage the funeral home where they work, giving them more control over their schedules.
Constant work – Mortician skills, such as communication, technical, and logic skills, can be transferred to other positions, either in a funeral home or in another industry, which can increase job opportunities even further. They can expect consistent work, especially as the population ages. The funeral industry is less competitive than other industries and also provides good job security.

Here are the Cons of being a Mortician:

Emotionally Challenging – Morticians come to terms with death on a daily basis and frequently hear emotional stories, which can have an impact on their outlook on life. Practicing self-care and trying to remind themselves that they are doing an important job in offering guidance and assistance to families when they need it the most may help them manage the difficulties that can come with the job.
Require skills – Working as a mortician necessitates a wide range of abilities and knowledge. They may require technical knowledge to update customer records. When preparing the body in accordance with state and federal laws, good problem-solving and project management skills are also required.
Medical risk – Morticians deal with patients and dead body’s on a daily basis. With respect to this there are very high chances of getting infected with the disease that a patient had, because of which it makes this job profile a high risk of health concern.
No fixed working hours – There is no defined hour’s of job for being a mortician. As funeral jobs may require a night shift. You cannot predict at what time you have to leave your home or family to perform your job/duty.

How can I find a job as a Mortician?

For doing a job as a Mortician you first have to complete a degree in the relevant subject. After which you are supposed to complete your internship and become certified as a Mortician to practice your job. Then you are ready to apply for a job as a Mortician.
There are so many ways from which you can apply for a job. The most common and effective way for today’s world is finding a job through a website or in simple words finding a job online and applying for that.
Here are some links through which you can apply as a Mortician:
https://www.linkedin.com/
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/top-best-job-websites-2064080
https://www.indeed.com/q-USA-jobs.html?vjk=a4b7aeb9ed39bb3a
https://www.icims.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAx6ugBhCcARIsAGNmMbiU6x4LLbBp9zo-BkXyEKcreEzf4qhdur34qxf4wXiibBJYLG2q7XEaAhJ5EALw_wcB

How much do Morticians earn?

In the United States, the average Funeral Director & Mortician earns $116,458 per year. The average bonus for a Funeral Director & Mortician is $6,425 per year, or 6% of their salary, with 100% of people reporting receiving a bonus each year.

What are the job outlooks/prospects of a Mortician?

Overall employment of funeral service workers is expected to grow 8% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the national average. On average, 7,900 openings for funeral service workers are expected each year over the next decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or leave the workforce, such as to retire.

Job prospects for funeral service workers are expected to be good. Opportunities should be definitely beneficial for those who are certified as both a funeral director and an embalmer, those willing to relocate, and certified crematory operators. Some job openings should result from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the occupation each year.

What is it like to work in Mortuary Science?

Being a Mortician is not an easy job to deal with. Morticians come to terms with death on a daily basis and frequently hear emotional stories, which can have an impact on their outlook on life. Practicing self-care and trying to remind themselves that they are doing an important job in offering guidance and assistance to families when they need it the most may help them manage the difficulties that can come with the job.

Morticians may also prefer a mostly indoor work environment. Most Morticians work alone and have a good environment to work in. They may manage the funeral home where they work, giving them more control over their schedules. Morticians deal with patients and dead body’s on a daily basis. With respect to this there are very high chances of getting infected with the disease that a patient had, because of which it seems a very risky profile.

Top paying states for the job of a Mortician?

Here are the top states has highest rate of jobs for a Mortician –

Alabama –

Number of job’s = 511

Salary = $39,437

Mississippi –

Number of job’s = 302

Salary = $39,597

Oklahoma –

Number of job’s = 448

Salary = $39,239

Arkansas –

Number of job’s = 496

Salary = $32,029

Texas –

Number of job’s = 81

Salary = $ 33,104

Louisiana –

Number of job’s = 493

Salary = $288,907

Florida –

Number of job’s = 82

Salary = $39,853

California –

Number of job’s = 82

Salary = $ 43,696

Georgia –

Number of job’s = 22

Salary = $39,330

Lowa –

Number of job’s = 524

Salary = $34,167

Paths of becoming a Mortician –

Becoming a Mortician varies from state to state and their terms and conditions. Information about state terms, rules and regulations are available at state funeral service boards on the National Funeral Directors Association website. Here are some options through which you can get your views clear on how can someone become a Mortician as per their states requirements:

Option 1: Unofficial Training and Education –

If you’re living in a state that does not require higher education or college education, then you may be able to find an entry-level position that includes on-the-job training. But I will take you some time to find a funeral home that is willing to hire an untrained candidate with no degree. If you are choosing this path you will require –

High school diploma or GED – Almost all funeral homes will be willing that the candidate they are hiring without official training and diplomas, must at least have a high school diploma. If you did not complete your schooling you should at least pass the GED examination.
Find a funeral home that offers training – As you will be applying only with your school diploma or GED. which seem clear that you did have a higher level of training for performing the funeral director’s job. You must search for such a funeral home that provides official training to candidates who are applying. Which will be beneficial for you to grab future opportunities.

Option 2 – Official Training Programs Through Accredited Programs

Many states require funeral directors to hold a state degree in order to become a licensed Mortician. There are currently 57 mortuary science programmes that are providing a degree in Mortuary science. Most of these programmes offer associate degrees through local colleges, where 9 colleges offer bachelor’s degree courses. It will take 2 years for a full time degree course and 4 years for a bachelor’s degree course. The courses that are provided are of 3 types:

On campus programmes-
Online programmes
Hybrid programmes

After degree steps of becoming a Mortician:

Step 1 – Completing an Apprenticeship

Some states require to have an Apprenticeship before performing duties of a funeral director. It will be great if you start working with a sponsor as soon as possible. Some states will issue a mortician’s apprentice license after you appear before the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors and sign a written agreement to the apprenticeship conditions. If your state requires you to assist in funerals and embalmings as part of your apprenticeship, you will be required to submit complete documentation of each completed task, along with your sponsor.

Step 2 – Becoming Licensed and Certified

Although certification is not required for morticians, it can provide a great resume boost and may lead to increased job opportunities and salaries. Certifications are available, including Certified Crematory Operator and Certified Preplanning Consultant. Both of these are available from the National Funeral Directors Association.

Step 3 – Preparing Your Resume

As your professional resume is your first impression. Do invest in the services of a professional resume preparer. If you are willing to prepare your own resume, Spend some time crafting a strong CV that will portray you as a qualified and appealing job seeker. Make sure to include funeral industry-specific keywords and personal touches to make each submission pertinent to and valuable to the employer you are sending it to.

Step 4 – Finding a Job

To find a funeral director’s job, you might need to search outside of your area for open employment and be prepared to accept a lower position with a great chance for progress. The chances of landing a dream job are better for applicants who are willing to move. Also, you might benefit from the job placement services offered by your institution. Finally, you can look for suitable jobs on job search engines like Monster, Indeed, and FuneralNet.