Diploma in Funeral and Allied Health Services

Learn about all aspects of funeral service while developing the skills you need to work as a funeral director andor embalmer. Although you may choose to pursue only one of these avenues as a career, you benefit from having a solid understanding of each.
The most effective funeral directors are open-minded, compassionate, non-judgmental and responsive communicators. In this career, you meet bereaved people who rely upon your support, good organizational skills and knowledge of the products and services available to them when making funeral arrangements.
Embalmers have the technical skills required to perform sanitation, preservation and restoration of a deceased human body.
In this program, you acquire the skill and confidence to work efficiently. You learn the importance of teamwork and become familiar with the technical language and medical terminology used by health professionals.

Career options
Most graduates choose to work as funeral directors and embalmers, but employment options are many; graduates work as morgue attendants, funeral planners, aftercare counsellors and funeral service educators.
Graduates are also hired by hospital and university laboratories, crematoria, answering services for funeral homes and businesses specializing in cemetery management, funeral stationery, transfer services and the manufacturers of embalming chemicals, caskets and monuments.

High School Graduation Diploma or equivalent

This program is open to applicants from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador provinces.

A valid Class 5 driver's licence

If you've not obtained an apprenticeship with a funeral home prior to beginning the program, you'll be required to take part in a work/volunteer observation experience under a licensed Funeral Director. Before approaching a funeral home to set up the work/volunteer observation experience, NSCC Admissions will provide you with the required documentation.

If you have obtained an apprenticeship prior to beginning the program, you're required to submit a letter of recommendation from the funeral home in support of your application. This letter should outline your work experience at the funeral home and confirm that you'll complete your apprenticeship with that funeral home.

Copy of board-attested or direct-issued Certificate issued by All India – Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), All India – Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), or State Boards of Higher Secondary Education.

Copy of Statement of Marks/Mark Sheet for Grade 12. School-issued transcripts/records with marks are not acceptable.

Official transcripts – You must submit your official transcript(s) for courses required for admission.

Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTest) – average score of 4.5.

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) – minimum Level 8 on each test. Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) is not accepted.

Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) – minimum Band 60.

Michigan English Test (MET) – minimum score 59.