Students learn how to embalm and prepare the bodies of the dead for viewing and eventual disposition at embalming school. The exact curriculum varies depending on the legal requirements for embalmers, but it usually includes theoretical education in the classroom as well as practical skills in the lab. Following graduation, someone can apply for a license to practice as an embalmer, which may require passing a government-administered exam.
Embalming is the process of removing the deceased’s blood and replacing it with embalming fluid. In the classroom, students learn about the chemistry of embalming and discuss additional theoretical skills that may be useful. They can practice embalming and activities related to body preparation in the lab, such as how to position the body, compose the face and apply makeup, and techniques for preventing seepage while the body is waiting to be buried.
Restorative arts are also a crucial component of embalming education. An embalmer can use restorative techniques to give a body a more familiar, lifelike appearance if it has been damaged by disease or accident. Techniques such as fabricating replacement body parts for parts that are injured or lost in an accident, restoring facial structure for a decedent with severe facial damage, or restoring a body after an autopsy so that it can be viewed by family members are all examples of restorative arts.
Students at embalming school learn not only about the practical techniques involved in the process, but also about embalming safety so that they can work safely and effectively. They are also given classroom training in areas of law that are relevant to their work. Embalmers typically learn about workplace safety requirements, for example, in order to keep the facilities where they work legal.
In some cases, an embalming school also offers internships to students interested in gaining work experience. The school may also provide job placement services, allowing students to begin working as soon as they complete embalming school.
People who want to work as funeral directors can get additional training and coursework, which is often available at schools that also offer embalming education. Becoming a funeral director necessitates additional education and coursework, as well as passing the funeral director’s exam. Once a funeral director has earned certification, he or she may choose to concentrate on dealing with family members and the logistics of funeral planning, delegating embalming to a licensed embalmer.