Funeral Service Education
The Funeral Service Education (FSE) program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, located in Kirkland, Washington, offers a Certificate of Completion, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Funeral Service Education.
The Certificate of Completion in Funeral Attendant prepares students for employment in funeral service as a funeral ambassador or funeral attendant. Students will develop the professional skills necessary to work in various areas of the funeral home that do not require state licensure. The FSE AAS degree prepares students to achieve entry-level proficiency as embalmers and funeral directors.
The BAS in Funeral Service Education will provide students applicable knowledge of issues and trends currently related to funeral service. The degree will have many opportunities for professional and personal growth, while empowering students to become innovative leaders in the funeral service industry. Funeral service professionals provide counsel, service, and emotional support for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Students also learn how to manage a successful business in the high-tech global economy.
New! Funeral Service Education AAS Will Be Offered Online
Starting this Fall 2022, the AAS degree in Funeral Service Education will be offered online, as well as in-person on-campus in Kirkland, WA. This pilot program will be offered to Washington State students only and space is limited. On campus labs will be required in the last quarter of instruction for one week. Learn more about how to get started.
Learn More About Funeral Service Education
Careers with a Funeral Service Education Degree
Graduates may find employment in: crematory and cemetery operations, funeral home management in family owned businesses and corporate business. It will also allow for employment in other Health Sciences professions that desire funeral industry experience.
Graduates of the Funeral Service Education program will demonstrate a factual, conceptual, and applied understanding of:
- Funeral service marketing and merchandising
- Business management practices
- Small business management
- Funeral service counseling
- Regulatory compliance
- Cemetery and crematory operations
- Funeral service sciences
Our faculty believe that success in the program requires a commitment of time and energy to your studies. To help with this requirement, the college offers an advisor to assist with planning your path and career goals.
Program Learning Outcomes
The central objective of the Funeral Service Education AAS degree at Lake Washington Institute of Technology is to educate students in every phase of funeral service so that program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in funeral service.
In support of this objective the following are the Program Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the importance of funeral service 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
Year |
Total Enrolled |
Number of New Students |
Number of Grads |
Timely Grad* |
Graduation Rate** |
Did not finish*** |
Overall Percent Employed |
Employed In FS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 40 | 16 | 14/16 | 88% | 11 | 94% | 75% |
| 2020 | 59 | 21 | 12 | 11/12 | 75% | 9 | 100% | 100% |
| 2019 | 52 | 28 | 1 | 1/1 | 14% | 8 | 100% | 100% |
*Timely graduation = complete program in 1.5 times designated program length
**Graduation rate reflects cohort graduation rate (% of students from original cohort completing in the designated year)
***Left before completing the program; did not finish
Single Year |
School Pass Rate |
National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Arts | 93% | 68% |
| 2020 Arts | 89% | 73% |
| 2019 Arts | 67% | 72% |
Single Year |
School Pass Rate |
National Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Sciences | 85% | 57% |
| 2020 Sciences | 78% | 64% |
| 2019 Sciences | 60% | 63% |
Podcasts/Interviews
- May 17, 2022 - Member Talks! by WA State Funeral Directors Association: w/LWTech
- September 28, 2021 - Washington State Funeral Director Association Member Talks: Jennie Fredrickson at 2021 CANA Convention
- August 31, 2021 - Washington State Funeral Director Association Member Talks: Kelsey Hasson
Videos
- March 18, 2021 - Washington State Funeral Director Association Member Talks: Please Welcome Jennie Fredrickson
- Washington State Funeral Director Association Member Talks: with Funeral Service Student, Bridget Frost
- National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Podcast: A Brush With Death, Class of 2021
Admission Requirements
Associate Degree
If you have not already taken classes at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, entry into the Funeral Service Education program requires completion of the online admission application to receive a Student ID number and an LWTech issued email address. You will not be able to fill out the FSE AAS application without completing this step.
Online Program Pilot
Starting this Fall 2022, the AAS degree in Funeral Service Education will be offered online, as well as in-person on-campus in Kirkland, WA. This pilot program will be offered to Washington State students only and space is limited. On campus labs will be required in the last quarter of instruction for one week.
If you are interested in this online track you must
- Contact Associate Dean Lisa Meehan via email Lisa.Meehan@lwtech.edu or call (425) 739-8155
- Complete the online questionnaire
Prerequisites
High school completion or GED or satisfactory completion of nine semester based or 13.5 quarter based post-secondary credits, exclusive of developmental courses.
Funeral Service Education program admissions prerequisites are available in the College Catalog.
Application Deadline & Submission
Admission Deadline
September 19, 2022
Financial Aid Priority Deadline
June 15, 2022
Entry Date
Next Entry: Fall Quarter 2022
Application Preview
To apply for the AAS degree, you must create a Self Service Center account. You may preview the application by downloading a PDF of the first page.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission should contact their respective state boards of funeral service regarding that state board's approval of this particular program of instruction.
Have your high school or previous college directly mail official transcripts to:*
Enrollment Services
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
11605 132nd Avenue NE
Kirkland, WA 98034
*To comply with the American Board of Funeral Service Education Standard 9.2.3.a Transcript of high school or college work, received directly from the institution from which the credits were received.
At LWTech we welcome all students as an open enrollment college and we are committed to your inclusion at the college. The Funeral Service Education program of study leads to an industry or specific employers that may require a full or partial background check as well as a drug test before you start the job.
Bachelor of Applied Science Degree
Advance your funeral service career with an applied baccalaureate degree. Students with a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Funeral Service Education have many opportunities for professional and personal growth. Students will gain applicable knowledge of the issues and trends currently related to funeral service. Coursework will empower LWTech students to become innovative leaders in the funeral service industry.
The Bachelor of Applied Science degree will be offered in a distant learning (online) format. Instruction will include management, leadership, professional communication, and much more.
BAS in FSE Curriculum Information
Application Information
Applicants will be selected on competitive basis. The following requirements must be met before applying to the BAS in Funeral Service Program:
- Must be a graduate from an ABFSE accredited Funeral Service Program
- Earned an overall minimum GPA of 2.5
Additional Application Information
Application Deadline & Submission
Deadline
- Spring 2023 Priority: February 13, 2023
Entry Date
Next Entry: Spring Quarter 2023
Application Fee
$50 non-refundable
Application Preview
To apply for the BAS degree, you must create a Self Service Center account. You may preview the BAS application by downloading a PDF of the first page.
Information Sessions
Information sessions and individual advising is available and encouraged before applying to the program.
Location
Virtual via Teams Meeting.
Teams Help
- Teams can be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone or you can call in.
- Teams does not require registering for an account.
- Learn More for more information and help videos.
Information Session Dates
- July 6, 12 p.m.
- August 16, 5 p.m.
Accreditation
The Funeral Service Education AAS degree program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), in the Directory of Accredited Programs, 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: abfse.org
The certificate of completion is not accredited by the ABFSE.
Gifted Body Program Acceptance Dates
Gifted body program accepts donations on the following dates:
- August 1 - November 20
- December 1 - March 15
For more information call (425) 739-8306
