For Professionals Who Lead With Care: CANA Opens Cremation Specialist Training
Registration deadline is July 31, 2026
WHEELING, IL—The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has opened registration for its Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) program, inviting funeral professionals to deepen their skills in communication, ethics, and family-centered cremation care.
Created for practitioners who view funeral service as both a profession and a calling, CCS moves beyond procedures and compliance to focus on the human elements that shape families’ experiences. The program helps professionals use clarity and compassion to strengthen how they listen, communicate, and guide families who choose cremation.
“As cremation continues to be a central part of death care, the CCS program supports the people behind the service—those who sit with families, ask the hard questions, and help create meaning in moments of loss,” said CANA Executive Director Barbara Kemmis. “This certification reflects the values many professionals already hold and gives them additional tools to serve with confidence.”
The CCS curriculum is grounded in research and real-world practice, reinforcing core competencies that define excellent service. This includes ethical decision-making, verbal and nonverbal communication, understanding grief expressions, and challenging the “cremation vs. burial” mindset. Participants gain practical insights they can apply immediately at the arrangement table.
Now that 150 years have passed since the first cremation in a modern U.S. crematory, investing in professional cremation education means joining a community of experts and practitioners who honor the field’s history while advancing its future. As cremation continues to rise as the preferred form of disposition, funeral professionals must be prepared to meet evolving expectations with knowledge, skill, and confidence.
“You can become the most amazing rock star arranger ever, but it just takes a little bit of training and a little bit of knowledge of how to be still and how not to slap down the first contract and say, ‘Here you go,’” explains Glenda Stansbury of InSight Books, who contributed to the program. “That’s probably the true benefit of all of this work: to have a full-fledged curriculum that is cremation-based to help that cremation professional.”
Offered online and self-paced, the CCS program is designed to fit the realities of busy schedules while allowing professionals to continue growing in the work they take pride in doing. Graduates frequently report feeling more confident, more engaged, and more connected to the families they serve.
Registration for the upcoming CCS cohort is now open.
· Program Dates: self-paced, participants can submit completed coursework July 1 or October 1 to earn their certificate
· Registration Deadline: registration is accepted on a rolling basis from April 1 through July 31
· Program Cost: $615, discounted to $465 for CANA Members
Learn more to see whether CCS aligns with your commitment to meaningful, intentional care.
For additional details and to register, visit: cremationassociation.org/CCS
About CANA
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.
