Becoming a mortician takes roughly 3–5 years from starting school to working independently. The path is well-defined: a 2-year degree, a supervised apprenticeship, and a state licensing exam. There are no shortcuts, but there are no hidden barriers either.
This guide covers every step using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), O*NET, and state licensing requirements.
The Standard Career Path
Step 1: Associate's Degree in Funeral Service (2 years)
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Step 2: Supervised Apprenticeship (1–3 years, varies by state)
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Step 3: Meet age requirement (21 in most states)
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Step 4: Pass state licensing exam (NBE + state exam)
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Step 5: Continuing education to maintain licenseMost people enter the workforce as a licensed mortician within 3–4 years of starting their education.
Step 1: Education Requirements
What degree do you need?
According to O*NET data, the education breakdown among currently employed morticians is:
| Education Level | Share of Workforce |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree | 73% |
| High school diploma | 15% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11% |
The Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service (or Mortuary Science) is the standard entry point. It typically takes 2 years and covers:
- Embalming and restorative art
- Funeral service law and ethics
- Grief counseling and family communication
- Business management and accounting
- Microbiology and chemistry
- Federal and state regulations (FTC Funeral Rule)
Do you need a bachelor’s degree?
No — 73% of working morticians have an associate’s degree. A bachelor’s is not required for licensure in any state. However, some employers prefer it for management-track positions, and it can help if you plan to own a funeral home.
Accreditation matters
Your program must be accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). Non-accredited programs will not qualify you to sit for the National Board Exam. There are approximately 60 ABFSE-accredited programs in the U.S.
Step 2: Apprenticeship / Internship
After completing your degree, most states require a supervised apprenticeship before you can be licensed independently. Requirements vary significantly:
| Requirement | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1–3 years |
| Cases required | 25–50 embalming cases (varies by state) |
| Supervisor | Must be a licensed funeral director/mortician |
| Age minimum | 18–21 (varies by state) |
During your apprenticeship you’ll work under a licensed mortician, handling actual cases while building the practical skills that school can’t fully teach — family communication, on-call response, and the physical demands of body preparation.
Step 3: Licensing
National Board Exam (NBE)
The National Board Examination, administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB), is required in most states. It has two parts:
- Arts section — embalming, restorative art, pathology
- Sciences section — microbiology, chemistry, anatomy
State exam
In addition to the NBE, most states have their own exam covering state-specific laws and regulations. Some states (like California) have particularly rigorous additional requirements.
Age requirement
Most states require you to be at least 21 years old to obtain a full license. You can complete your degree and begin your apprenticeship before turning 21, but you cannot be licensed until you meet the age requirement.
Continuing education
Once licensed, morticians must complete continuing education (CE) hours to renew their license. Requirements vary by state, typically 6–15 CE hours per renewal period (usually every 1–2 years).
Core Skills for the Job
O*NET identifies these as the most important skills for morticians:
| Skill | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Active listening | Families in grief need to feel heard before they can make decisions |
| Social perceptiveness | Reading emotional states to adjust communication style |
| Service orientation | The job is fundamentally about serving families at their worst moment |
| Coordination | Managing multiple cases, vendors, and family timelines simultaneously |
| Oral expression | Explaining options clearly to distressed family members |
| Time management | Death doesn’t follow a schedule — neither does this job |
| Critical thinking | Problem-solving under pressure with incomplete information |
| Judgment and decision-making | Balancing family wishes, legal requirements, and practical constraints |
Skills that increase your salary
Salary.com data shows these skills command a pay premium:
| Skill | Salary Premium |
|---|---|
| Creativity (service design, memorial customization) | +18% |
| Communication | +9% |
| Continuous learning | +9% |
What the Job Actually Looks Like
Work environment (BLS data):
- 93% work in funeral service establishments
- 5% are self-employed (typically funeral home owners)
- Most positions are full-time
- On-call availability is standard — deaths happen at all hours
- Irregular hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Some positions require more than 40 hours per week
Day-to-day tasks (O*NET):
- Embalming and preparing bodies for viewing or burial
- Meeting with families to arrange funeral services
- Coordinating with cemeteries, crematoriums, and clergy
- Completing death certificates and legal paperwork
- Managing casket and merchandise selection
- Directing funeral services and graveside ceremonies
- Handling transportation of remains
Career Advancement
The clearest path to higher pay is moving into management:
| Role | Median Salary | Step Up From Mortician |
|---|---|---|
| Mortician | $49,800 | — |
| Funeral Home Manager | $76,830 | +54% |
| Funeral Home Owner | Varies widely | Unlimited upside |
Most funeral home managers started as morticians. The transition typically requires 5–10 years of experience, demonstrated business management skills, and in some cases additional education in business administration.
Owning a funeral home is the highest-earning path but requires significant capital investment and business risk.
Is It Worth It Financially?
The honest answer: it depends on your priorities.
The case for it:
- Stable demand — death is not cyclical
- ~5,800 job openings per year nationally (BLS 2024–2034 projection)
- 3% job growth, in line with the national average
- Clear licensing path with no ambiguity about requirements
- Management track can reach $76,830+ median
The honest trade-offs:
- Starting pay ($31,470–$38,470 at P10–P25) is low
- Irregular hours and on-call requirements affect work-life balance
- Emotional demands are real and sustained
- Pay varies enormously by state (see salary by state)
For people drawn to the work itself — serving families, the technical craft of preparation, the ritual significance of the role — the financial picture is reasonable. For people primarily motivated by income, there are faster paths to higher pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a mortician?
Typically 3–4 years: 2 years for an associate’s degree plus 1–2 years of apprenticeship. Some states require 3 years of apprenticeship, extending the timeline to 5 years.
Do you need a license to work as a mortician?
Yes. All states require a license to practice as a mortician or funeral director. Requirements include completing an accredited program, passing the National Board Exam, completing a supervised apprenticeship, and meeting the age requirement (usually 21).
Can you become a mortician without a degree?
In most states, no. The 15% of morticians who have only a high school diploma likely entered the field before current requirements were established, or work in states with older grandfather clauses. For anyone entering today, an accredited associate’s degree is effectively required.
What is the difference between a mortician and an embalmer?
An embalmer focuses specifically on the technical preparation of remains. A mortician (or funeral director) handles the full scope: preparation, family coordination, service arrangement, and legal paperwork. In practice, most morticians do both.
Plan Your Career Finances
Before you start, know what the market pays in your target state. The Mortician Salary Toolkit has the complete 50-state BLS data — so you can evaluate whether your target state and career path make financial sense before you invest in the degree and apprenticeship.
One-time download, $24.99. See what’s included →
Data Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
- O*NET OnLine — SOC 39-4031 skills, education, and work context data
- American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)
- International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB)
- Salary.com — skills premium data
→ See also: Mortician Salary Guide | Mortician Salary by State | Is Becoming a Mortician Worth It? | Mortician Job Outlook