Your Career in Funeral Care

Colorado welcomes individuals into funeral service at various stages of their education and experience. Many establishments are open to training motivated candidates on the job, while others prefer applicants with prior experience or formal education.

Most establishments require that candidates be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED. A criminal background check may also be conducted.

Entry-level duties often include general maintenance, transport assistance, and supporting funeral home or crematory staff. Funeral directors are frequently on call 24/7, with long days and weekend availability common — especially early in a career.

Funeral service may be a strong fit if you:

• Are compassionate and genuinely desire to help others during difficult times

• Have an interest in human biology and the sciences

• Want to be actively involved in your community

• Are comfortable working in a business and administrative environment

• Are seeking a meaningful second career

A funeral service professional is a caregiver, administrator, and community resource all in one. Day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Providing support and sensitive guidance to grieving families

• Arranging and directing funeral and memorial ceremonies

• Coordinating removal of the deceased from the place of death

• Preparing the body in accordance with family wishes and legal requirements

• Securing and filing death certificates and other required legal documents

• Assisting families with death benefit claims and administrative details

• Providing post-death counseling and grief support resources

A high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum standard to begin a career in funeral service in Colorado. From there, most professionals pursue formal education to qualify for licensure under SB 173.

It is strongly advisable to gain some prior work experience at a funeral establishment, crematory, or cemetery before enrolling in a mortuary science program.

Arapahoe Community College in Littleton offers Colorado's accredited mortuary science program and is the recommended starting point for those serious about a long-term career in the profession.

Learn About ACC's Mortuary Science Program

The ABFSE-accredited curriculum covers four core areas:

• Public Health & Technical Sciences — microbiology, anatomy, chemistry, pathology, embalming, restorative art

• Business Management — funeral arranging, merchandising, FTC Funeral Rule, accounting, computer applications

• Social Sciences — psychology of grief, funeral directing, counseling, history of funeral service, communication

• Legal, Regulatory & Ethics — business law, funeral service law and regulation, professional ethics

Licensing examinations are administered through the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. Learn more about accreditation standards at ABFSE.org.

With more than 21,000 funeral homes across the United States, demand for well-trained funeral service professionals remains steady. Graduates who pair technical training with business and communication coursework are especially well-positioned for management and leadership roles.

Colorado's growing population and the implementation of SB 173's new licensing framework means the profession is actively evolving — and there has never been a better time to become a credentialed funeral professional in this state.

CFDA supports funeral professionals at every stage of their career — from entering the field to staying current through continuing education, compliance support, and professional community.

Learn About CFDA Membership