National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011
Introduction

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.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • apprentice embalmer
    • embalmer
    • funeral director
    • mortician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

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

  • 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.
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