Career Opportunities

Current Job Openings

Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer

Berg Mortuary is seeking a licensed funeral director/embalmer to fill a full-time position. We offer a competitive salary, health insurance, paid vacation, an excellent working schedule, as well as a very attractive retirement program. We have a very fine staff, a good working environment and are a family-owned firm located in Provo and Orem, Utah.

Apprentice Funeral Director

Are You Interested in a Career in Funeral Service?

• Helping Others
• The Human Biological Sciences
• Community Involvement
• A Business Environment

Then a career in funeral service may be right for you! Funeral service professionals work with the bereaved during times of emotional need. These professional caregivers enable families and communities to express their emotions and help them to properly grieve.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide support to the bereaved during initial stages of grief
• Arrange and direct funeral ceremonies
• Arrange for removal of the deceased from the place of death
• Prepare the body according to the wishes of the survivors and legal requirements
• Secure information for legal documents
• File death certificates and other legal papers
• Assist survivors with details for filing claims for death benefits
• Help individuals adapt to changes in their lives following a death through post-death counseling and support group activities

Educational Overview

Most states adhere to these basic educational requirements: Please contact the funeral service college of your choice for more specific educational guidelines.

• A high school diploma or equivalent
• An Associate Degree, or its credit hour equivalent, a portion of which is in funeral service education
• Passing a state and/or national board licensing examination
• An internship or apprenticeship ranging from one to three years
• Many states require funeral directors to meet continuing education requirements to maintain licensure

What is a  Mortician?

A mortician is a funeral director who preserves bodies, plans funerals and manages all tasks that relate to an upcoming funeral. Morticians have training in embalming, cremating and organizing funerals. They also help customers understand their options, selling the products and services of the funeral home. A mortician is a crucial part of directing the afterlife plans of their customers.

Morticians have many duties and responsibilities, including:

• Obtain legal documents, including death certificates or burial permits

• Meet with families to plan funerals

• Coordinate vendors for upcoming funerals or memorials

• Complete embalming on decedendents to prepare them for viewing

• Identify marketing efforts to increase sales

• Schedule funerals, burials or cremations

• Discuss arrangement and funeral costs with customers

• Plan services around special requests and customs of customers

• Prepare obituary notices for the newspaper

• Offer counseling to bereaved families

Working as a mortician can be rewarding and has a lot of advantages. Here are a few pros of being a mortician:

Morticians work closely with family members who have lost someone, which allows them to provide bereavement and support when they need it most. Funeral directors also get the opportunity to work with people of all types, offering them support and guidance at an important time in their lives. Morticians help family members understand their options and may help them find unique ways to honor their loved ones.

The educational path to working as a mortician is shorter than other careers, which may make it a good opportunity for those who don't want to spend a lot of time or money on college. While some training and an associate degree may be a requirement depending on where you live, many can complete all the requirements in two to four years. Some may also begin their careers in other funeral home positions while working toward becoming a mortician. This allows them to earn a salary while they train to become a mortician.

Morticians have the opportunity to earn a competitive income.  When compared to other careers with similar educational and training requirements, morticians earn a good salary. Some morticians may also choose to open their own funeral home, where they have even more control over how much they make.

Morticians can expect consistent work, especially with an aging population. The funeral industry tends to be less competitive than other industries, also offering good job security. Many morticians may spend their entire careers working for the same funeral home. The skills that a mortician uses, including communication, technical and logic skills, can also transfer to other positions, either in a funeral home or in another industry, which can increase job opportunities even further.

Morticians may also enjoy a work environment that's primarily indoors. They often work alone or on very small teams, which may be preferable to some. They may manage the funeral home in which they work, which means they have flexibility over their schedules. There's also a higher chance of self-employment, with many morticians operating their own funeral homes.

As with any job, it's important to consider the challenges when deciding if being a mortician is right for you. Here are a few considerations that come with working in this industry:

Morticians may have to work nontraditional work hours. While tasks like meeting with customers may occur during normal business hours, preparing for upcoming funerals or embalming bodies may require night work. On-call or long work hours may also be a requirement, as morticians may respond to family requests during the night. There may also be less flexibility when it comes to the working environment, as morticians typically have to work on-site.

Self-employed morticians may be able to overcome this challenge by controlling the number of customers they accept. They may also hire additional staff to manage busy times or to take on certain tasks. Learning to be flexible with your work schedule can also help morticians handle the diverse and often nontraditional needs of the position.

Working as a mortician may lead to a career stigma for some. People may also have a lot of questions for people who work as a mortician. This can be because of a misunderstanding or lack of clarity on what a mortician does. This image, or social stigma, may change when a person has personal experience working with a mortician and finds that they're important in offering bereavement support to families.

Working with death and families in grief can be emotionally challenging. Morticians are around death daily and frequently hear stories that may be emotionally draining, which can affect their outlook on life. Practicing self-care and remind themselves that they're doing an important job in offering guidance and support to families when they need it most may help manage the difficulties that can come with the career.

Working as a mortician requires a diverse set of skills and knowledge. In addition to meeting with families, morticians may need finance skills to help families stay within budget. They may need technical skills to update customer records. Good problem solving and project management skills are also necessary when preparing the body according to state and federal laws.

Morticians can continue expanding their skills by attending ongoing training. Some morticians may also choose to further their training and knowledge by obtaining certifications in the field. A few certifications that a mortician may consider include Certified Crematory Operator , Certified Funeral Service Practicer or Certified Preplanning Consultant.

Please note that none of the certifications mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Morticians handle corpses, which can put them at risk of infection or disease. While this is rare, proper training and equipment are an important part of preventing it. Morticians may also continue their training in this to ensure they have the appropriate knowledge when handling afterlife care. Some morticians may also choose to outsource this work, but they may still be responsible for overseeing it.