Mortician

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mortician. A Mortician communicates with and advises the bereaved; removes and prepares the deceased prior to refrigeration; completes documentation and conducts administrative functions; conducts coffining and visitation preparation; plans, prepares and delivers a professional interment service; market self, organisation, products and services. A qualified learner will be able to: • Communicate effectively with the bereaved, including counselling. • Remove and conduct pre-cooling preparation of the deceased. • Complete documentation and administration relevant to the mortician. • Coffin and prepare the deceased for a visitation. • Plan, prepare and deliver a professional interment service. • Provide after-services relevant to the mortician subsequent to the interment. This qualification addresses the competencies required by morticians in that role and not as managers or owners of the funeral business. Further qualifications in specialised areas where one would conduct embalming, funeral insurance, and business management, to achieve the competencies required in running the funeral business still need to be developed.

This qualification is designed to meet current transformational challenges in South Africa. This is reflected by the scope and structure of this qualification to address all types of cultures, customs, and religious services without any racial or ethnic biases. This qualification provides a foundation in mortician practices that will allow persons to enter into a formal career in the funeral services industry. Qualified persons will be able to deliver professional services as morticians with due regard for personal and environmental safety. The qualification will promote professional standards in the funeral services industry and will assist in addressing the current challenges faced by the industry to provide new entrants to the industry with access to learning programmes. Key industry representative bodies, the National Funeral Directors Association and the United Funeral Association of South Africa, (represented by nominated representatives), as well as a range of small, medium and large funeral parlours from various provinces in South Africa, participated in the development and verification of this qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for Access to the Qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • NQF Level 2 qualification with Language communication.

• Communicate effectively with the bereaved, including counselling.
• Remove and conduct pre-cooling preparation of the deceased.
• Complete documentation and administration relevant to the mortician.
• Coffin and prepare the deceased for a visitation.
• Plan, prepare and deliver a professional funeral/memorial service, including burial, cremation or repatriation.
• Provide after-services relevant to the mortician subsequent to interment.