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Funeral directors

OaSIS code 62201.01

Funeral directors coordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services.

Overview

Also known as

  • Funeral director

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Consult with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service, the disposition of the remains and funeral costs
  • Transfer, or arrange for the transfer of, the remains from the place of death to the funeral home
  • Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible
  • Issue death notices to newspapers
  • Oversee the preparation of the remains, plan and schedule funeral services, coordinate burials and cremations and complete legal documents
  • Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients
  • Manage funeral home operations including hiring and directing staff, maintaining financial records, preparing accounts and ordering merchandise
  • Supervise embalmers, funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff
  • May perform same duties as embalmers.

Additional information

No data has been provided for this section.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Bereavement counsellor (in 41301.00 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies)
  • Funeral home attendant (in 65329.03 Funeral home attendants)
  • Funeral services general manager (in 00014.00 Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

6 – Sales and service occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

62 – Retail sales and service supervisors and specialized occupations in sales and services

Sub-major group

622 – Specialized services occupations

Minor group

6220 – Specialized occupations in services

Unit group

62201 – Funeral directors and embalmers

Occupational profile

62201.01 – Funeral directors

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
5 - Highest Level
Assisting and Caring for Others
4 - High Level
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
4 - High Level
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
4 - High Level
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
4 - High amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Funeral homes

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Categorization Flexibility
3 - Moderate Level
Deductive Reasoning
3 - Moderate Level
Fluency of Ideas
3 - Moderate Level
Inductive Reasoning
3 - Moderate Level
Information Ordering
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Management of Financial Resources
4 - High Level
Management of Personnel Resources
4 - High Level
Negotiating
4 - High Level
Time Management
4 - High Level
Coordinating
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Concern for Others
5 - Extremely important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: ECS

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Social (S)

Social occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the interaction with others to inform, train, aid, develop, cure, or enlighten. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others, teaching, working or communicating with people.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • Completion of a one- to two-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program is usually required for funeral directors.
  • Funeral directors require licensure in most provinces and territories.
  • Funeral directors may be required to be licensed embalmers depending on provincial requirements.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Client Service
3 - Advanced Level
Hospitality
3 - Advanced Level
Performance Measurement
3 - Advanced Level
Business Management
2 - Intermediate Level
Clerical
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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