Funeral Service Education
“Show me the manner in which a nation or community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect for law of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.” – William Gladstone
Spring 2026 Mandatory Orientation for funeral director ONLY certificate students
The spring 2026 mandatory orientation for funeral directing only students will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, in Room 107 of the Harold Martin Building on the Jefferson Campus (ensure you come to the right campus at 2601 Carson Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35215). The orientation will begin at 9:00 a.m. sharp and will last until around 2:30 p.m. You must pre-register for the orientation by emailing Dr. Jzyk Ennis at [email protected]
In order to qualify for acceptance into the certificate only program, you must have a current and valid funeral directors’ apprenticeship registered with the state board of funeral services AND have the two prerequisite college courses (English 101 and Math 116 or Math 100).
This orientation is separate from the college orientation. This orientation is only for anyone wishing to complete the unaccredited funeral director only certificate program required for licensure as a funeral director only. The completion of this certificate allows students to sit for state only examination for funeral directing. This academic program is designed to meet specific state or professional needs. It is not accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Students graduating from this program will not have the academic credential for licensure in states where graduation from an ABFSE accredited program is required.
Anyone interested in the ABFSE-accredited degree option (that includes embalming) should contact Dr. Ennis by emailing to [email protected] There is a secondary application process for the degree option, and the next cohort will be in August of 2026 (fall semester 2026). There is a deadline to have all pre-requisites and an application by May 25, 2026.
For more information, please contact Dr. Jzyk Ennis at [email protected] or 205-856-7852.
The Funeral Service Education Program is based upon the concept of cooperative education. It is designed for those who have a state board sanctioned apprenticeship and who are actively seeking to satisfy their particular state licensing requirements. Students must complete an apprenticeship specified by the state in which they expect to practice before they will be eligible for licensure.
The Funeral Service Education associate degree program at Jefferson State Community College is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. www.abfse.org.
Please note: If you have attended JSCC in the past or made an application and did not attend or missed a semester, you will need to submit a NEW application for enrollment. If a student attended the mandatory orientation in the past and plans to restart the FSE Program, they must attend the mandatory orientation again.
The student is given a broad understanding of funeral home operation, funeral directing, public health and embalming along with a foundation in communication skills, social science and applied science. The graduates can complete the National Board Examination given by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards or the state board examinations given by the Alabama Board of Funeral Service. www.theconferenceonline.org and/or www.fsb.alabama.gov.
Program Changes – Spring 2025 – See Requirement and Deadlines
IMPORTANT NOTE: These changes only apply to students seeking admission to the Spring 2025 semester and beyond.
National Board Exam Passing Rate
- National Board Exam Rate
- National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.
- To request a printed copy of this program’s scores and rates, contact – Venus N.R. Smith, CFSP Funeral Service Education, Jefferson Campus, Harold Martin Building, Room G-9 (205) 856-7841 [email protected]
Funeral Service Education Program Objectives:
The Funeral Service Education Program at Jefferson State Community College and American Board of Funeral Service Education’s objectives are to educate students in every phase of funeral service so that this FSE Program graduates are prepared for entry level employment in funeral service. The FSE Program has adopted the following Learning Outcomes and the student will be able to:
- Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
- Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
- Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.
- Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
- Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
- Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
- Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
- Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
- Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
- Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.
Funeral Service Education Career Outlook
