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Embalmer

Embalmers help preserve and restore the person who died, creating a peaceful and lasting image for their family and friends.

You will use chemicals to slow down the process of deterioration. It's often recommended if families want to visit their loved one in a chapel of rest, or when the funeral is not going to take place straight away. Embalming can also help your loved one look more at peace, especially if they died after an accident or illness.

Role Characteristics

  • Look after bodies with care and respect
  • Wash and disinfect bodies and restore the appearance of bodies after injury
  • Remove fluids and gases from the body and replace them with preservatives
  • Wash and style hair and apply make up
  • Work with funeral arrangers to make sure the family’s wishes are met
  • Keep the mortuary clean and complete paperwork

Skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Creative thinking
  • Empathy
  • Operating equipment
  • Record keeping
  • Resilience

Day in the life

Find out more about the day in the life of an Embalmer. 

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

  • Volunteering or work experience
  • GCSEs
  • BTEC
  • A-Levels
  • Undergraduate degree
  • Degree apprenticeship

How to become

There are no formal qualifications required to become an Embalmer, however you may wish to complete a college course in health and social care or religious studies to understand the cultural and religious aspects of funeral practices, which could be useful when dealing with families and funeral processes.

You may find it beneficial to have some volunteering or work experience of working respectfully and sensitively with bereaved people. 

You will normally need 5 GCSEs including English, maths, and sciences, or equivalent. 

It is important to check your preferred course provider's entry requirements for guidance.

It is good practice to be registered with the British Institute of Embalmers.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

With further experience, you could become a Funeral Director, with added responsibility of looking after the funeral home. 

With further training, you could become an Forensic Pathologist, performing autopsies to understand the cause of death.

Location

  • Community Settings

Working hours

  • Full Time
  • Weekdays
  • Part Time
  • Flexible Hours

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