The goal of a mortician is to honor and celebrate the life of the deceased. Though it may seem like a dreary field to work in, it is much more than that. Morticians act as counselors, makeup artists, and often find themselves providing compassion to the family and friends of the deceased. They strive to preserve and restore the body being sensitive to the family’s wishes.
To become a mortician, you should first earn a degree in funeral service. At Eastwick College, earning an associate degree in funeral services takes 24 months when taken during the day and 27 months when taken at night. Our program prepares students to enter the workforce as a licensed practitioner qualified to work in positions such as embalming, funeral directing or arrangements and even certain roles in a medical examiner’s office.
Students in the program will develop and expand their knowledge of the funeral service industry, learn about each phase of a funeral service and develop proficiency and skills necessary to the profession. The program also covers the bigger picture surrounding the high standards of ethical conduct and responsibility to the community.
To become a mortician in New Jersey, students must graduate from an accredited program by the American Board of Funeral Service Education and receive passing scores on the National Board Exam, the Mortuary Jurisprudence Examination and the Practical Examination to meet the license requirements.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of morticians, undertakers and funeral directors in the NY/NJ metro area is $60,820.
Learn more about Eastwick College’s Funeral Services Associate Degree today!