An associate's degree in mortuary tech is required for any career involving funeral services. The American Board of Funeral Service Education requires at least 60 hours of academic course work per semester. Twenty-five percent of your course work will be general, non-technical education as well as hands-on experience working in an operating funeral home. After you earn your degree and complete your apprenticeship, you will be required to pass the National Board Examination, after which you will be awarded a license. Licensing requirements vary by state.
The curriculum at mortuary tech schools includes courses in microbiology, pathology, chemistry, anatomy, embalming and restorative art. Business courses are also required, especially for those wishing to run their own funeral home. These courses cover small business management, funeral home management and computer skills. Required social science courses include the history and sociology of funeral service, the psychology of grief and bereavement counseling. Those interested in a career in funeral service must also be educated on the law and take courses in business law, funeral service law and funeral service ethics.
Scholarships vary by college, but the American Board of Funeral Service Education offers a general $500 to $2,500 scholarship. Students are eligible for this scholarship once they complete one term of mortuary study. The scholarship is awarded to at least half of the applicants each year. The application must include two essays, college transcripts and letters of recommendation. The scholarship committee meets twice a year to distribute the award.
Mortuary science and mortuary tech degrees prepare students for careers as funeral directors. Many morticians are self-employed and work at family-run businesses where they act as both a funeral director and an embalmer. According to College Grad, the job outlook for those with a mortuary tech degree is promising, especially for those who can also embalm. You may have to relocate to find a job.