What to Expect

Before they enter the work world, funeral service students must demonstrate their skills in an apprenticeship.

Scott Walters took a two-year associate's degree in mortuary science at the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He had to complete an apprenticeship, which he calls a residence. "Quarterly reports on progress and work performed are submitted to the state for evaluation," he says.

"They judge these reports to ensure you're receiving a well-rounded experience. Some states require a certain number of embalmings and arrangements be performed during your residence as well as a practical embalming in front of a state inspector," he adds.

Walters' school also offers a diploma program for students who already have a college degree. He suggests high school students go this route -- attend college and getting some of the prerequisite classes out of the way, then take funeral education.

"This will lighten your load," he says. "But you can also attend school without any [previous] college, which is good if this is the career path that you have chosen."

Shari Yearwood took a funeral service education program. Her college required 40 hours of observation at a funeral home before acceptance in the program, but she did a three-month stint.

"It wasn't paid, but I was out there at funerals and assisted the funeral director. Anything they did, I did," she says.

Yearwood's class load included funeral service theory, psychology of grief, restorative arts and business marketing.

Overall, Yearwood says, she enjoyed her college experience. "It is thorough and can be draining at times because it is so demanding, but it is a great program."

How to Prepare

Seth Summers took mortuary science at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He says high school students should have a basic foundation in chemistry and biology. "I didn't have a lot of math or science in high school, and I have to spend twice as much time on it as others, it seems," he says.

"I would also encourage anyone interested in going through a mortuary science program to talk to a funeral director first and see if you could help out around a funeral home if you have had no experience in one."