How to Become An Undertaker In South Africa

An Undertaker is a person whose business is preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and making arrangements for funerals.

Why do they call them undertakers?

You may wonder how the word undertaker made the transition from “one who undertakes” to “one who makes a living in the funeral business.” The latter meaning descends from the use of the word to mean “one who takes on business responsibilities.” In the 18th century, a funeral-undertaker was someone who undertook, or

What does a undertaker do at a funeral?

Writing obituaries and organizing the order of service. Preparing the body, i.e. embalming. Arranging the casket, funeral flowers and transport to the burial site. Ensuring the funeral service runs smoothly.

Is an undertaker a mortician?

Mortician and undertaker are synonymous with the title of funeral director the only difference being mortician is an South African term and undertaker is more British. In 1895, people have generally associated the term “undertaker” with death and so has a rather unpleasant connotation for most people.

How to Become An Undertaker In South Africa

To become an undertaker, you must earn a mortuary science degree from an accredited mortuary science school. Most of these programs result in associate’s degrees, though bachelor’s degree programs may also be available.

Typically, an associate’s degree is an acceptable level of education for securing a job as an undertaker. In college, you’ll learn how to perform all roles related to funeral services, taking courses in embalming, grief counseling, funeral service management, and business law.

After graduating from a mortuary science degree program, aspiring undertakers must then enter into an apprenticeship program where they gain practical experience by working under an experienced funeral director, undertaker, or embalmer.

This apprenticeship program usually lasts between one and three years. Most mortuary science schools will work to help students find apprenticeships after graduation, and students can also seek apprenticeships through a local funeral service association or organization.

All states require undertakers to be licensed in order to work in their field. Licensing requirements vary by state, but generally require completion of an associate’s degree and between one and three years of experience as an apprentice.

After becoming licensed, you’ll be able to find work with local funeral homes as an undertaker. Additionally, most states require that licensing candidates be at least 21-years old before applying for an undertaker’s license.

A Day In The Life

When a loved one dies, people commonly visit a funeral home to form funeral, cremation, and burial plans. While most people are familiar with the process of having a funeral, they may not be aware of just how many tasks funeral homes handle.

Undertakers oversee the completion of all tasks, which include the transportation of bodies, the embalming or preservation of bodies, the funeral showing, cremation or burial, and helping with administrative tasks like publishing obituaries or filing life insurance claims.

The undertaker works to make the funeral home a one-stop shop for all death-related tasks. The undertaker’s goal is to alleviate the burden of planning and paperwork on families who are in the process of very new grief.

The undertaker works to handle all preparations for the funeral. He/she may arrange for transporting the body to the funeral home, even from out of state. The undertaker plans the funeral, may be in charge of embalming the body or overseeing the work of an embalmer, and may work with crematories, graveyards, or clergy to finalize funeral plans and tasks.

Another important role of an undertaker is assisting friends and family with death-related paperwork. The undertaker may help write obituaries and schedule them for publication, or he/she may help beneficiaries with filing life insurance claims.

In some funeral homes, the undertaker also helps beneficiaries transfer pensions, bank accounts, and retirements funds to living persons. Additionally, he/she may also be responsible for all accounting and billing tasks, arranging payment plans and billing options with customers.

Typical Work Schedule

Undertakers work full-time schedules, and commonly work overtime. The job of an undertaker is not a 9-5 role they are on-call often to handle emergencies at all hours of the day and all days of the year.

They may be required to go out in the middle of the night to transport a body to the funeral home, or they may have to work over holidays to ensure bodies received are preserved before funerals.

Projected Job Growth

Baby Boomers, who are now at or nearing retirement age, were one of the largest generations in recent history. This large, aging population is expected to increase the demand for undertakers in the coming decades as more individuals will be needed to support end-of-life arrangements for a large population.

Typical Employers

Most undertakers are employed to work for funeral homes. Some may also operate their own small funeral homes and serve as both embalmer and undertaker.

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in undertaker roles:

Work with the friends and family members of deceased individuals to plan funerals and showings

Transport bodies to funeral homes and gravesites, or to crematories

Assist family members with administrative tasks, such as writing obituaries, filing life insurance claims, and transferring pensions and retirement funds

Work to prepare bodies for showings and funerals by performing embalming responsibilities or overseeing a hired embalmer

Prepare funeral homes for showings and funerals

Undertaker Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

National Anual Salary

 Low Range

R 555998.82

 Average

R 812755.24

 High Range

R 1257861.06

National Hourly Wage

 Low Range

R 260.74/Hr

 Average

R 383.45/Hr

 High Range

R 598.18/Hr

What qualifications do you need to be an undertaker In South Africa?

You could take a Diploma in Funeral Arranging and Administration, or a Certificate in Funeral Service, while you work. As you take on more responsibilities, you could do the Diploma in Funeral Directing or the Diploma in Funeral Service.

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.

How long does it take to become a undertaker In South Africa?

Most programs take about two to four years to complete depending on the degree you select. Some prospective funeral directors may choose to take business courses if they are interested in opening their own mortuary in the future.

How many years of college does it take to be a mortician In South Africa?

Education. In order to be a mortician, you’ll need either an associates degree or bachelors degree. This can take anywhere from 2 to 4 years. You’ll want to do an apprenticeship during this time as well, which can take another 3 years.

Is it hard to get a job as a funeral director In South Africa?

The Funeral Services Industry is a small industry dedicated to arranging and conducting funerals according to the wishes of its clients. It is a difficult industry to find work in as many businesses are family owned. Training typically occurs after someone has been employed by a funeral company.

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

Morticians require an associate’s degree in funeral service or mortuary science. Aspiring morticians can prepare for this degree by studying biology, chemistry and business at high school. Aspiring morticians should obtain an associate’s degree accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).

Is being a funeral director a good career In South Africa?

Morticians, who are also known as funeral directors or undertakers, work long hours in a somber environment. While this may not be appealing to many people, there are several advantages to being a mortician. A career as a mortician offers excellent employment opportunities and good wages.

Are morticians and funeral directors the same In South Africa?

Funeral directors are also frequently referred to as morticians or undertakers. They provide organized and thoughtful services in preparing the deceased, while also giving consolation to the grieving loved ones.