Piedmont Technical College

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The Funeral Service Education program provides the educational foundation needed to seek a South Carolina or other state licensure, both as a funeral director and an embalmer.

The Funeral Service Education program at Piedmont Technical College is accredited by the: American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, MO 64506, (816) 223-3747, www.abfse.org.

Program Location: Greenwood

Contact Information: Nancy Wilkie

Required Courses

Additional Program Information

Day Program

Updated 4/3/2013

Additional Program Information

The annual passage rate for first-time takers on the National Board Examination (NBE) for the most recent three-year period for this institution and all ABFSE accredited funeral service education programs is posted on the ABFSE Web site at www.abfse.org.

Candidates for the associate degree or the certificate in Funeral Service Education must meet the requirements for graduation of the college. In addition, students enrolled in the Funeral Service Education program leading to the associate degree or the certificate must progress in meeting the requirements of their program according to the following policy:

1. Students must complete all of their required classes with a "C" or better. Students may repeat a specific Funeral Service Education course one time to achieve a grade of "C" or better. Students who need to repeat a Funeral Service Education course are required to submit an appeal to the Funeral Service Education Department.

2. Students must have acceptable health status that allows required performance within the practicum or clinical environment. Students must inform the Funeral Service Education program of any pre-existing conditions that could interfere with completion of the embalming practicum class.

3. All students must take the National Board Exam before graduating.

4. All potential students will have to meet with a Funeral Service Education faculty member prior to entering into the Funeral Service Education program.

5. All potential students must submit three professional letters of recommendation before enrolling in their first Funeral Service Education course.

6. A student must complete the Funeral Service Education course load within two consecutive academic years.

7. Students must complete their general education requirements before consideration into the Funeral Service Education program.

8. If the student plans on working in South Carolina, they are allowed to complete their two year apprenticeship concurrently while attending Piedmont Technical College.

9. Students must obtain a Student Permit from the South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service prior to enrolling in the Funeral Service Education program. Failure to obtain the Student Permit will limit your ability to complete certain classes within the program.

10. If a student fails more than two Funeral Service Education core classes (last three semesters), they will be dropped from the program.

11. All academic transcripts must be submitted to Student Records prior to starting the FSE curriculum.

12. The Funeral Service Education program does not accept FSE courses over two years old.

13. Students will be required to pay a lab fee for each semester they are on campus.

14. Students will be required to conform to a dress code. All students must purchase designated shirts and wear approved matching khaki style pants/skirts.

15. After students complete their general education classes, they must submit an application and be approved before starting their FSE cohort.

16. The SC Board of Funeral Service may refuse to issue or renew a license or student license to an individual with a conviction of a felony or a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude.

In accordance with the South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service, an individual must be at least 18 years old; have a high school diploma or the equivalent; have completed at least a 60-credit program of study with an accredited school and approved by the board (with a full associate degree required for an embalmer); have completed two years of approved apprenticeship; not have been convicted of a violent crime, felony or crime of moral turpitude; and have successfully passed the South Carolina and National Examining Board licensing examinations for embalming and/or funeral directing.

General Aims and Objectives of Funeral Service 

Aims:

Piedmont Technical College and the Funeral Service Education program have as its central aim recognition of the importance of Funeral Service Education personnel as:

• members of a human services profession;

• members of the community in which they serve;

• participants in the relationship between bereaved families and those engaged in the funeral service profession;

• professionals knowledgeable of and compliant with federal, state and local regulatory guidelines (in the geographic area where they practice) as well as

• professionals sensitive to the responsibility for public health, safety and welfare in caring for human remains.

Objectives:

• To enlarge the background and knowledge of students about the funeral service profession.

• To educate students in every phase of funeral service, and to enable them to develop the proficiency and skills necessary for the profession, as defined in the Preamble above.

• To educate students concerning the responsibilities of the funeral service profession to the community at large.

• To emphasize high standards of ethical conduct.

• To provide a curriculum at the postsecondary level of instruction.

• To encourage student and faculty research in the field of funeral service.

Health Requirements:

Students enrolled in Funeral Service Education courses are required to provide evidence of annual tuberculosis screenings and evidence of vaccination against tetanus within the last 10 years. Students shall have on file prior to entry into the practicum courses or clinical work, one or more of the following: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization record or antibody titer showing a positive antigen response to HBV. Students are not eligible to participate in the practicum or clinical works until this information
is completed and on file.

Transportation to Practicum Sites:

Each student is responsible for transportation to and from any practicum or clinical sites.

Attendance Requirements:

The Funeral Service Education program adheres to the college's attendance policy. In addition, students are expected to attend all practicum activities. Make-up time for missed practicum experiences will be determined at the discretion of the faculty and availability of practicum facilities. Faculty may require withdrawal of any student who has missed sufficient practice to prevent completion of the practicum objectives.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Purpose Statement – The purpose of the Funeral Service Degree is to educate and prepare individuals not only to contribute to the funeral service profession, but also the community in which they serve. We strive to give students the knowledge, principles, and skills which are essential to become a funeral director and embalmer.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify and research the background information about  the funeral service profession

2. Identify, practice and apply skills in every phase of the funeral service profession

3. Application of knowledge; communicate effectively in oral and written grammar the responsibilities of the funeral service professionals to the community at large

4. Interpret and apply numerical, graphical and pictorial data to aid in daily calculations needed in funeral service professions

5. Demonstrate the ability to use technology to research the field of funeral services 

Updated 5/24/2011

Advisement Information

Advisement Information updated 9/8/2011

• All students are to complete their general education requirements before taking any FSE classes. Only FSE faculty advisors may enroll students in FSE course work. Enrollment advisors may enroll FSE students in any general education course work listed on the curriculum chart.
  Note: HIS 101 or higher (HIS 102, HIS 201, and HIS 202 may be substituted); MAT 155 or higher.

• It may be possible for a student to take one general education class in conjunction with FSE classes. This is decided on a case-by-case basis with Dedrick Gantt or David Martin.

• Graduates must have a high school diploma or GED to be licensed. Encourage non-high school graduates to earn the GED within the first two semesters. They should have the GED before taking FSE courses.

• Funeral Service courses are scheduled in the afternoons, two days a week.

• Encourage students to meet their health requirements before entering into their FSE classes.

• Reading is vital for program success and for passing National and State Examining Board licensing exams.

• FSE students must complete all General Education and FSE courses with grades of “C” or better. Students may repeat FSE courses one time to achieve a grade of “C" or better.

• Students must take the National Board Examination (NBE) before graduation.

• All transfer courses from another mortuary college will need to be approved by the PTC Funeral Service Education department.

• The Funeral Service Education program at Piedmont Technical College is accredited by the:

  American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)
  3432 Ashland Avenue, Suite U
  St. Joseph, MO 64506
  (816) 223-3747
  Web: www.abfse.org/

• Students in the Funeral Services Education (FSE3) program must come to the campus to meet the faculty and tour the facilities before starting their first FSE coursework.

• Students will not be registered into any FSE courses within 10 business days of the start of any semester, unless all their paperwork is complete.