Funeral Pre-Planner

White rose with lit candles in the background

Credential Type

Ontario College Certificate

Field of Study

Health, Hospitality, Social and Community Services
Emergency, Legal and Community Services
Healthcare

Program Code

07761

Contact

Michelle Clarke | Program Co-ordinator | Funeral Service Education Program | (416) 675-6622, ext. 4260 | michelle.clarke@humber.ca
Programs may not be offered every semester. For more information and program availability, please contact the Registrar’s Office at extension 416-675-5000 or directly contact the Academic School.

Need Help?

  Chat with the OLC
  enquiry@humber.ca
  1.877.675.5660

Humber’s Funeral Pre-Planner certificate program prepares you to work with people who wish to plan their funeral in advance. Our program is the only English-speaking Funeral Pre-Planner certificate in Ontario recognized by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO). The curriculum has been developed according to the BAO’s professional competencies for this personal license.

Courses are designed with industry input, ensuring that you are studying the most current and relevant information. You will learn all aspects of the pre-need side of the funeral service industry, everything from gaining skills for working with families to learning about financial investment options.

The ethics course prepares students for the great number of ethical issues that funeral professionals face, while the business operations course provides the basics of working in or operating a business including a focus on applicable legislation. The Grief Issues course provides the foundation to understand the psychological concepts in the areas of grief, bereavement, and mourning.

Note: Due to provincial licensing requirements, this program is available only to domestic students.

Work Placement

The provincial regulator, Bereavement Authority of Ontario, has approved that students shall complete a three-month paid work placement before they can be licensed. It is strongly advised that interested applicants secure a work placement before applying for studies, as some funeral establishments do not use pre-planners, making the work placement potentially difficult to find.

Want To Apply?

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

  • Provide an accurate explanation of the rationale behind his/her actions, grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the relevant policies, practices and financial implications that guide the performance of all scope practice of the Funeral Pre-Planner role.

  • Communicate clearly, sensitively and respectfully with potential purchasers all relevant information related to various options and possible implications of decisions made at the time of purchase, as permitted by the legislative scope of practice for the specified licence classification including:

    • explaining funeral service and disposition options including arterial embalming and restoration.
    • explaining clearly and accurately prearranging and prefunding services, product knowledge and merchandise and financial implications.
    • managing effectively and sensitively all applicable contractual negotiations and obligations, financing options, and requirements for service and product delivery.
    • referring to other licensed professionals when outside the legislative scope of practice.

  • Communicate and apply an accurate and comprehensive understanding of prearranging and prepayment including investment vehicles, insurance, trust reconciliation and financing of prepaid contracts within the legislative scope of practice.

  • Conduct oneself in a manner consistent with principles and accepted practices of the funeral sector, using professional language.

  • Contribute to relevant and appropriate aspects of funeral establishment business operations in a legal, ethical, safe and efficient manner across a broad range of predictable and unpredictable contexts.

  • Pre-arrange and document funeral services, disposition details and follow-up services with the purchaser in an effective, professional, caring and creative manner.

  • Engage in, and plan for, ongoing personal and professional development, networking/community relations and inter-professional collaboration.

  • Contribute effectively to the supervision and mentoring of all team members, including licensees, support staff and/or interns in a professional, caring and creative manner through providing appropriate direction as it relates to prearrangement activities.

  • Participate effectively in funeral establishment work teams consisting of licensees, support staff and/or interns, demonstrating at all times the ability to learn, grow and work together.

  • Complete prepaid contract related documents and related financial matters in accordance with applicable legislation.

  • Coordinate and deliver the selected follow-up services effectively, professionally and consistent with, and supportive of, the wishes of the legal representative.

 

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