About Missouri – 

Missouri is a state in the United States’ Midwestern area. It is surrounded by eight states, including Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south, and Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska to the west. The Ozarks, a forested upland in the south, provide timber, minerals, and recreation. The Missouri River, after which the state is named, flows through the center of the state before joining the Mississippi River, which forms the state’s eastern boundary. It is the 19th most populous state in the country, with over six million citizens. The main cities are St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia, with Jefferson City serving as the state capital.

Missouri’s cost of living is lower than the national average. Housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, and other costs are all lower here. This enables you to conserve money while living your best life without going bankrupt. The overall cost of living index is 85.9, compared to 100 for the entire United States.

What is the employment rate of Missouri?

According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, Missouri’s employment rate was roughly 94.4%. This means that at the time, around 94.4% of the state’s working-age population was employed.

It’s important to note that employment rates vary depending on a variety of circumstances, including the status of the economy, the availability of jobs in specific industries, and the state’s general population. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on employment rates throughout the United States.

What are the career opportunities as a mortician in Missouri?

The Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors regulates the mortician profession in Missouri. Aspiring morticians must have a high school diploma, one year of mortuary college, and one year of apprenticeship experience.  As of March 28, 2023, the average Funeral Director/Embalmer/Mortician salary in Missouri is $48,878; however, the salary range frequently ranges between $42,074 and $56,631. Overall, Missouri is a nice state in which to spend a calm and healthy life as a Mortician.

In addition to that, a mortician can also find jobs in hospitals and funeral homes as a funeral director, embalmer, mortician, cemetery manager. He can also work in the education field as an educator of mortuary science or funeral services. 

What are the legal requirements to become a mortician in Missouri?

Students who want to work as morticians in Mississippi must finish at least 12 months of mortuary school after graduating from high school, as well as one year of apprenticeship in the field. The Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service regulates the mortician industry in the state of Mississippi. A mortuary can also help with funeral or memorial service arrangements. A mortuary does complete a course of study at a higher learning institution. Having said that, a mortician does not need to be a physician to pursue this profession.

Mortuary schools status in Missouri –

Missouri is an excellent place for a person to finish his mortuary education because the state only offers two mortuary colleges, they are both well – known institutions that give students a mortuary science degree and an associate funeral director degree. They not only provide degrees, but also training from a skilled trainer, which automatically improves the student’s profile. Both of the colleges are accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). 

It is vital to note that ABFSE accreditation is important for mortuary school graduates because it is required in many states for a license as a funeral director and/or embalmer. Graduates of non-accredited programmes may face difficulties gaining license in some states, so do your homework before enrolling.

Mortuary colleges details –

The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) has accredited two mortuary colleges in Missouri:

1. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is a funeral service school in Houston, Missouri.
2. St. Louis Community College is a community college in St. Louis, Missouri.

Both institutions provide funeral service education programmes, which include embalming, restorative art, funeral directing, and other related courses. These programmes usually last two years and result in an Associate’s degree.

•  Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is a funeral service school in Houston, Missouri.

Programe Link – https://commonwealth.edu/associate-of-applied-science-degree-funeral-service/ 

Program description – The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service (A.A.S.) is intended to educate students the skills and talents required to work as an embalmer or funeral director. Graduates of this programme will be able to clean, preserve, and/or repair human remains for viewing, services/rites, and final disposition using embalming and restorative art. They will learn how to perform a variety of funeral ceremony rites. They will also be able to hold funeral arrangement conferences with families, compile appropriate funeral home paperwork, complete funerary administration activities, and understand the workplace safety requirements for funeral care staff.

Program requirements – To receive the A.A.S. degree, the student must complete all prerequisites for the General Education Core of 24 quarter credit hours, the Specialized and Related Courses, and all clinical labs and externships as described in this catalog section. The A.A.S. degree is a fast-track programme. The programme will be completed in 15 months for students. 

Tuition fees – The total tuition fees for this course is $17,463. They ask for the application fee of $50. For more detailed information please visit the program link mentioned above. 

• St. Louis Community College is a community college in St. Louis, Missouri.

Program link – https://catalog.stlcc.edu/programs/funeral-service-education-aas/ 

Program description – St. Louis Community College at Forest Park’s Associate of Applied Science degree in Funeral Service Education prepares students for any entry-level work as a funeral director and embalmer in a funeral home.  The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) has accredited St. Louis Community College’s Funeral Service degree programme. 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747.

Program requirements – The student must submit a programme application, three professional character references, a written personal narrative, and complete at least 40 hours of documented job shadowing under the direct supervision of a licenced funeral director and embalmer, which must also take place in an unaffiliated and licenced funeral service establishment. Furthermore, the student must meet with the programme director and/or other Funeral Service Education faculty members for a personal interview.

Tuition fees – https://catalog.stlcc.edu/general-information/fees-refunds/ please visit this link for clear information about the tuition fees.