Crematory Operator Certification from the comfort of your office?
Yes. You read that right. It is now possible to get crematory operator certification online, through the Cremation Association of North America. For over thirty years, CANA has been offering crematory operator certification, and it has become known as the gold standard among the programs offered through various associations. There are currently twenty states that require certification, and two more states are expected to pass legislation requiring it this year. CANA’s in-person class is accepted – and often mandated – in all twenty of those states. The online version of the course has already been approved for certification in nine states, and the others are reviewing the course as of this posting.
Watch the video above to hear Barbara Kemmis, CANA executive director, talk about the new online certification program.
Why is this such a big deal? Online education has been slow to be utilized within the industry, and the fact that the CANA COCP has received so many approvals from the states is encouraging news. Additionally, industry practitioners are so excited to have this option that registrations started coming in as soon as the news was released, a sure sign that the online course fills a need.
What need? When employers can provide high quality training for employees without having to add the burden of travel expenses and time out of the office on top of the registration fee – more employees can become certified. And, while not all states currently require certification, many employers still choose to have their operators certified. The online version is certainly a great option for these businesses. It will be especially appealing for those in rural areas where travel may be challenging and travel costs are prohibitive.
Certification is a valuable tool for several reasons.
- First, it is a way to ensure consistent training is provided across the industry for crematory operators. With cremation rates rising, and law suits at an all-time high, businesses can’t afford not to have operators who have been trained through a quality program. This helps reduce legal risk.
- Second, it sends a message to employees that they are valued and an important part of the business. When you invest in training, especially voluntarily, employee morale is higher and performance and efficiency increase. They also tend to stay longer, reducing employee turnover.
- Finally, it helps the overall business efficiency because an operator can go on vacation or miss a day of work due to illness, and there will be other employees available to help keep the business running.
And, with technology and consumer trends changing at a rapid pace, recertification is important to stay knowledgeable and ensure your business and employees are continuing to incorporate best practices.
CANA is thrilled to be leading the way in making crematory operator certification accessible for all employers. For more information, or to see if your state will accept the online version for certification and/or continuing education, please visit gocana.org/cocp.
