WHEELING, IL— The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is pleased to announce the opening of registration for 2023’s final cohort for the CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist training. The program is designed to provide funeral professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to take their service to the next level.
The CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) training is an online program that spans 17 weeks and comprises eight courses. The program covers a range of topics, including FTC compliance, engaging phone shoppers, discussing embalming preferences, and more. Participants can earn up to 11 hours of continuing education (CE) credits across a variety of required categories.
Each class in the program offers engaging and thought-provoking content, which is designed to be easy to navigate, with fill-in-the-box reflections and active guidance from CANA staff. The courses are taken on-demand, allowing participants to pause and resume the training to accommodate their busy schedules.
CANA encourages funeral professionals who are looking to advance their careers to enroll in the program and enhance their skills.
“CANA is proud to offer the CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist Training to funeral professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and skills,” said Lindsey Ballard, Chair of CANA’s Education Advisory Group and Owner of Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation in Jordan, Minnesota. “We recognize that the funeral industry is constantly evolving, and we are committed to providing relevant and high-quality training to ensure that the profession is well-prepared to meet the needs of its client families.”
To date, this new credential has 75 graduates, representing practitioners from all stages of their careers, who have gained confidence to go further with the families they serve. “Recently I was able to keep and serve a family because I asked what information they needed to feel better about having to go through this time: the process and each step or the final price point,” shared Rebekah Heath, a CCS graduate. “They told me they chose to work with me because I listened and explained each question they had about the process. In the past, I would have started talking about what each price point was for each step and not what each step meant in caring for their loved one.”
Registration for the final cohort of 2023 opens June 1 and the course begins July 17. Space is limited so funeral professionals should act soon to join. Registration closes July 16, and must include payment of the one-time fee of $615, discounted to $465 for CANA Members. Learn more about becoming a CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist at goCANA.org/CCS
About CANA
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,500 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.
