How to Become A Mortician In South Africa

Mortician is a person whose job is to prepare dead people to be buried and to arrange and manage funerals.

What do they stuff dead bodies with?

The chemical formaldehyde is used to preserve bodies. What does it do exactly? Formaldehyde changes the tissue on a molecular level so that the bacteria can’t feed on the tissue.

What is a mortuary certificate?

The consular officer prepares the consular mortuary certificate, which ensures orderly shipment of remains and facilitates S.A. Customs clearance. The certificate is in English and confirms essential information concerning the cause of death.

Does the body sit up during cremation?

While bodies do not sit up during cremation, something called the pugilistic stance may occur. This position is characterized as a defensive posture and has been seen to occur in bodies that have experienced extreme heat and burning.

Career Requirements

Degree LevelAssociate’s degree; some employers prefer a bachelor’s
Degree FieldMortuary science
LicensureLicensure required for funeral directors and embalmers
Training1-3 year apprenticeships typically required
Key SkillsCompassion; interpersonal communication, business, and time-management skills; knowledge of laws and ethics regarding funeral service and preparation
SalaryR 745861.62per year (2020 median salary for all morticians)

Below are steps to Become A Mortician In South Africa

Step 1: Complete Education Requirements

State licensing boards that issue credentials to morticians require candidates have an associate’s degree. Most mortuary science programs accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) are associate’s degrees, although a few are bachelor’s programs. States may require completion of an accredited program for licensing.

Coursework generally includes professional ethics, anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, pathology, embalming, funeral service psychology and counseling, restorative art, federal regulations and mortuary law.

Step 2: Complete an Apprenticeship

The ABFSE requires morticians to apprentice for one to three years. The apprenticeship can be performed before, during or after the formal education process, depending on state requirements. Some states require the apprentice to have an apprentice license. Mortuary apprentices can perform work only under direct guidance and supervision of an experienced professional.

Step 3: Pass a Licensing Exam

Morticians are required to pass a state licensing examination. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age and have already completed an accredited 2-year degree and apprenticeship program to be eligible for licensure.

Subjects covered in the national exam include psychology, business law, funeral service merchandising, funeral service history, microbiology, pathology, restorative arts, anatomy and embalming. Some states issue the funeral director and embalmer license separately.

Step 4: Maintain Licensure

Many states require morticians to participate in continuing education activities in order to maintain licensure. Continuing education will enable a mortician to stay current on laws regarding funeral services, as well as advancements and trends in the industry.

Continuing education options are available through distance or on-site learning. Distance options include webinars, teleconferences and online coursework.

What qualifications do you need to be a mortician In South Africa?

An associate’s degree in funeral service or mortuary science is the typical education requirement for funeral service workers. The syllabus commonly includes professional ethics, anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, pathology, embalming, restorative art, federal regulations, and mortuary law.

How many years does it take to become a mortician In South Africa?

The education for mortuary science takes from 2 years to 4 years, depending on if you get your bachelors degree or your associates degree. However, it will still take you around 3 years to do apprenticeships that allow you to shadow a more experienced mortician.

How do I start a mortuary in South Africa?

To open a new crematorium business you would need to apply for a licence through your local municipality. There is no fee, but the application requires a great deal of work and preparation on your part.

What do they stuff dead bodies with In South Africa?

The chemical formaldehyde is used to preserve bodies. What does it do exactly? Formaldehyde changes the tissue on a molecular level so that the bacteria can’t feed on the tissue.

Do you own your cemetery plot forever In South Africa?

Generally speaking, when you purchase a cemetery plot, it does not expire, and it will always be yours. While the cemetery retains ownership of the land, you are purchasing the right to use the land for a burial.

Can you bury a person on top of another In South Africa?

Companion plots can be two plots side-by-side, or a single plot in which the caskets are buried on top of each other (often referred to as “double depth”). … Because cremated remains take up less space, many cemeteries allow multiple urns to be buried in a single plot.

Is it hard to become a mortician In South Africa?

To be a licensed embalmer is much more difficult. You need to successfully graduate mortuary school, pass the board, then work two full years as an apprentice embalmer. During the two years working under a supervising embalmer you must embalm no less than one hundred human remains.

How many funeral Parlours are there in South Africa?

15,000 funeral parlours

Role players in the formal and informal funeral sectors estimate that at least 70,000 undertakers are active in the domestic death care market and that approximately 15,000 funeral parlours are operational.