Funeral Services (A.S.)
Associate in Science (A.S.)
Program Code: 2161
This is a Limited Access program.
The Funeral Services program has been named an approved distance learning (online) program by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). This new approval means that qualified students may now take all courses online, except for the two clinical laboratory embalming courses. These laboratory classes are offered at the embalming lab located at FSCJ’s North Campus, with special attendance opportunities available for students from outside the service area.
The Associate in Science (A.S.) in Funeral Services degree program strives to meet the needs of northern Florida for qualified funeral directors and embalmers by providing a funeral director training program that is supported by the local funeral services community. Students in the funeral services program are trained to be knowledgeable and compliant with federal, state, provincial/territorial and local regulatory guidelines in the state of Florida.
To educate students in every phase of funeral services so that program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in funeral service.
Additional Costs/Fees
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Funeral Services Program at Florida State College at Jacksonville, students will be able to::
- Explain the importance of funeral services 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.
Accreditation
The Associate in Science in Funeral Services degree program at Florida State College at Jacksonville is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097, (816) 233-3747. Web: abfse.org.
National Board Examinations pass rates, graduation rates and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at abfse.org.
Student Success Rates
National Board Examination Statistics
National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.
| Year | Total Enrolled | # New Students | # of Grads | Timely Grad | Graduation Rate | Did Not Finish | Overall % Employed | Employed in F.S. |
| 2021 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 52% | 4 | 100% | 45% |
| 2020 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 9/9 | 60% | 3 | 100% | 78% |
| 2019 | 30 | 15 | 9 | 7/9 | 47% | 8 | 78% | 78% |
| Year | Arts | Sciences | ||
| School Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | School Pass Rate | National Pass Rate | |
| 2021 | 89% | 68% | 56% | 57% |
| 2020 | 50% | 73% | 67% | 64% |
| 2019 | 67% | 72% | 33% | 63% |
Program Notice
Application Deadline(s)
The application deadline is May 15 of each year with classes starting in the fall ter
Application Requirements
Applicants must take 10-credit hours of prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of C or better and a minimum combined grade point average of 2.0 prior to the application deadline for the Funeral Services program and prior to beginning the Professional coursework (FSE prefix) phase of the Funeral Services program. Additionally, students must take the HESI-A2 entrance exam and a score of at least 65% on three combined sub-tests is required: grammar, reading comprehension and vocabulary, prior to applying to the Funeral Services program.
Refer to the Funeral Services page in the College Catalog for additional admission requirements.
If you are considering employment in a state other than Florida, click here to ensure the program curriculum meets the requirements to sit for licensure or certification testing in that state.