All states require morticians to earn at least an associate degree in mortuary science, and some states prefer or require a bachelor's degree. An associate degree typically takes two years to complete, while a bachelor's degree takes four. Some bachelor's of mortuary science programs may require students to complete a certain number of prerequisite general education courses before transferring into the professional program. The American Board of Funeral Service Education lists 56 accredited associate degree programs and seven baccalaureate programs in the U.S.
Mortuary science students complete a period of apprenticeship that typically lasts from one to three years. During this time, they work under the supervision of a licensed mortician, and they may need to complete the embalming of a particular number of bodies in order to be eligible to be licensed, depending on the state. In some states, mortuary students can complete their apprenticeship training at the same time that they complete coursework. In other cases, students can perform apprentice work either before or after they have earned their degree.
Although coursework varies by school and degree type, mortuary science courses usually cover topics such as anatomy, embalming, pathology and microbiology. Students also take courses relevant to the human services aspect of mortuary science, including the sociology of death and the psychology of bereavement. Since many morticians go on to run their own funeral homes, they also need classes in accounting, funeral home merchandising and other business-related topics. Many programs cover funeral home ethics and state funeral laws, and some programs may include general chemistry and mathematics courses.
All states require morticians to be licensed, though exact regulations vary by state. Typically, morticians must complete the necessary education and training for their state and be at least 21 years old. They also need to take a qualifying national exam, administered via computer at test centers throughout the U.S. For morticians who wish to work in multiple states, some states offer reciprocal licensure. In many states, continuing education is required for morticians to remain licensed, and may be expressed as a particular number of hours of coursework over one to two years.