SIU one of five organizations to offer crematory continuing education certification in Illinois

August 07, 2024

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. - As the home of the only university-housed crematory in the country and one of six mortuary science and funeral services bachelor's degree programs in the U.S., Southern Illinois University Carbondale is expanding its leadership in the field with a continuing education program for crematory operators.

Robert Broomfield, associate instructor, said SIU is one of five organizations in the state to offer a program that meets new state regulations for crematory operators to receive 2 hours of continuing education every five years.

"This is a pretty big deal for us," Broomfield said.

At the forefront

SIU's mortuary science bachelor's degree, the only such program in the state, is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. SIU graduates are eligible to obtain a license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to become funeral directors and embalmers. Since the vast majority of programs offer associate degrees, this makes SIU graduates more competitive, officials say.

SIU offers one of just eight approved crematory training programs in the state, giving students yet another experience to add to their portfolio. A full cremation certification training course is offered as part of the regular curriculum for on-campus mortuary science and funeral service students, and those who successfully complete Broomfield's class will graduate with their crematory operator certification, approved by the Division of Pre-need Licensing and Certification Enforcement (PLACE), within the Illinois Comptroller's Office.

Serving professionals in the field

The cremation continuing education course is a two-hour, self-paced class. The first class is Aug. 25, and a new course will begin each Wednesday thereafter. Details and registration for the Cremation License Continuing Education Course are available online on the Events and Outreach website. Information will soon be available on the mortuary science and funeral service program website as well.

In addition to leading classes for SIU students, Broomfield recently began teaching the full crematory operator certification course in-person for working professionals at scheduled times. Broomfield said numerous people can benefit from earning the credentials, including funeral home and crematory operators, vault company employees, and even communities, individuals or organizations that install crematories. People will soon be able to register for the online crematory operator certification course through SIU's Events and Outreach as well.

SIU also offers an online bachelor's degree completion program in MSFS for working professionals.

Hands-on training and record of success

SIU's crematory was installed in early 2023. At this time, Broomfield said, just two other higher education institutions - a community college and a private college - have crematories.

All bodies that are donated to the SIU School of Medicine at Carbondale come to the MSFS program for cremation after their time in the medical school is finished. In addition, as a public service for local coroners who must find a resolution for abandoned bodies, SIU will provide crematory services for a nominal maintenance fee. The crematory doesn't offer services to the public or funeral homes though.

Along with the crematory, SIU's MSFS program features an embalming lab, a model selection room featuring coffins and urns, a space for practice funerals, restorative classes, preparation for funeral service counseling and green funeral services and much more.

The National Funeral Directors Association anticipates there will be a shortage of funeral service workers in the next five years as more than 60% of the country's funeral home directors indicate they plan to retire, and there was already a decline of more than 1,100 in the number of funeral homes between 2010 and 2021, according to government data. The median pay in 2023 was $60,580, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

SIU's program has a 92% graduation rate, and 83% of graduates are employed in the field within two years of graduation. There are currently 143 students enrolled in the program, with 135 on campus and the rest enrolled as online learners in the bachelor's degree completion program. Officials anticipate the crematory certification will further enhance Saluki employability as the cremation rate continues to climb in the United States, hitting 57.4% in 2022.

For additional information

Learn more about the Cremation License Continuing Education Course or SIU's mortuary science and funeral services programby visiting the websites or by contacting Anthony Fleege, program director and associate professor, at [email protected] or Robert Broomfield, associate instructor, at [email protected].

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