Code of Ethics
Disputes Resolution
Careers in Funeral Service
Careers in Funeral Practice
Funeral Service Industry Qualifications
The Funeral Service Training Trust
Relevant Contacts
Funeral Service Industry Qualifications
Qualifications in the New Zealand funeral service industry include:
- National Certificate in Funeral Directing
- National Certificate in Embalming
- Diploma in Funeral Service
National Certificate in Funeral Directing
Training and education to achieve Funeral Service industry qualifications is normally through full time employment in the industry combined with formal study. The formal training programmes are provided by the Wellington Institute of Technology (WIT).
The National Certificate in Funeral Directing is awarded to people who have demonstrated competence in Funeral Directing.
People awarded with this qualification are able to:
- Apply knowledge of the law and use philosophy of funeral directing to funeral directing practice
- Arrange, organise and direct a funeral
- Organise post-funeral activities
- Communicate and support bereaved families and refer them to support services
- Prepare a casket for viewing and burial or cremation
Prerequisites:
Candidates are required to be aged 20 years or more and have a minimum of one year's work experience in the industry
National Certificate in Embalming
The National Certificate in Embalming is the nationally recognised qualification for individuals who work as an embalmer. It combines with the National Certificate in Funeral Directing to form the Diploma in Funeral Service
People awarded this qualification are able to:
- Apply knowledge of the philosophy of embalming to embalming in practice
- Design and set up a mortuary
- Apply health and safety practices to working in a mortuary
- Apply knowledge of the sciences to embalming
- Embalm and restore a body: prepare a funeral casket and finally present a deceased person
Prerequisites:
Candidates are required to be aged 20 years or more and have a minimum of one year's work experience in the industry.
Diploma in Funeral Service
The National Certificate in Funeral Directing combines with the National Certificate in Embalming to form the Diploma in Funeral Service.
The Funeral Service Training Trust
The Funeral Service Training Trust (FSTT) is the Industry Training Organisation for the funeral industry in New Zealand. It is responsible for:
- Developing industry training programmes
- Setting up national skill standards to be registered on the National Qualifications Framework
- Arranging for the delivery of training (on and off the job)
- Developing arrangements for monitoring the training and assessment of trainees (on and off the job)
The FSTT is made up of two members from FDANZ, two members from the New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA), two representatives from WIT, and a secretary/treasurer.
Relevant contacts
Executive Officer
FDANZ
PO Box 10 888
Wellington
Tel: 04-473 7475
Fax: 04-473 7478
Email: fdanz@xtra.co.nz
Careers Services
Careers Services is a government organisation that provides career advice, planning and information. This web site provides job outlines, industry overviews, training information and links to other relevant web sites.
New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority co-ordinates qualifications in secondary schools and in post-school education and training, maintains national standards, ensures recognition of overseas qualifications and administers national secondary and tertiary examinations. This link will take you to information on the National Diploma in Funeral Services. Choose the Service Sector option on this page, and then choose Funeral Services from the following page.
Funeral Services Training Trust
Executive Officer
PO Box 10 872
Wellington
Phone: 04 385 9503
Fax: 04 385 9504
NZ Embalmers Association
P O Box 877
Gisborne
Phone: 06 867 9150
Fax: 06 868 5312
www.nzembalmers.co.nz