A Beginner’s Guide to Becoming a Mortician

Becoming a mortician is both a rewarding and challenging career choice. As a mortician, you will be helping families in their time of grief, and providing them with comfort and support during a difficult time. If you have the emotional and physical strength, and the willingness to learn how to perform a variety of mortuary duties, then becoming a mortician may be right for you.

Education Requirements

There are no set education requirements to become a mortician, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends aspiring morticians to complete an associate degree in mortuary science. Common topics include embalming, funeral services, microbiology, pathology, and business management. Furthermore, most states require morticians to obtain a license from the state board of funeral services.

On-the-Job Training

In addition to the required coursework, becoming a mortician requires significant on-the-job training. Through this type of training, apprentices learn details about funeral home operations, embalming, and other relevant matters. In most cases, on-the-job training last for one to three years, and experienced morticians are present to guide learners.

What Skills Are Needed?

To become a successful mortician it’s important to hone your interpersonal communication skills. Morticians often serve as a support for grieving family members, and so it’s important to show empathy, patience, compassion, and emotional resilience. In addition to communicating with families, a mortician must also be knowledgeable of the funeral process and be able to sell any related merchandise or services. It’s also important to have strong organizational skills in order to create an efficient funeral flow for families.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

With the development of AI, many roles in the service industry have begun to see changes, including the role of a mortician. AI technology increases efficiency and accuracy in certain processes such as embalming. AI-driven technology has made it possible to perform the embalming process more safely and quickly. AI can also help to reduce the risk of human error during the embalming process. AI is not expected to replace the role of a mortician, but rather provide assistance to help make the process more efficient and accessible.

Conclusion

Becoming a mortician requires you to have an understanding of the funeral process, to have empathy and strong interpersonal skills, and to gain on-the-job experience. As AI and other technology continues to evolve, the job of a mortician is also expected to see changes. With the right set of skills and knowledge, becoming a mortician may prove to be a physically and emotionally rewarding profession.