STERLING, VA (JANUARY 24, 2011) — The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association provided Cremation Arranger Certification to 120 students at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois, in December. This was the first time this certification program was administered to mortuary science students; it is typically available through the College of Cremation Services at the ICCFA University each July.
In completing the certification program, students received six hours of training on how to arrange and create meaningful tributes and memorialization for families who select cremation as well as how to best communicate the many options available to them.
“ICCFA’s commitment to the future of our profession includes contributing to the educational process by providing specialized training to better serve today’s consumer,” said Mark Krause, CFuE, president of Krause Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Krause is the ICCFA’s liaison to the American Board of Funeral Service. He served as an instructor for the Worsham certification sessions along with Ernie Heffner, CFuE, president of Heffner Funeral Homes & Crematory, York, Pennsylvania, and Julie A. Burn, CCrE, CSE, director of cremation services for the ICCFA.
Worsham College President Karl Kann and Vice President Stephanie Kann said they were extremely pleased to be the first mortuary college to offer students the cremation arranger certification program. “The more we can educate our students on how to address the wants and needs of today’s cremation families, the better prepared they will be in making a positive difference in the future of our profession,” said Karl Kann.
The next Cremation Arranger Certification program will be held as part of the College of Cremation Services, ICCFA University, July 22-27, 2011, in Memphis, Tennessee. Students at that program also will receive the ICCFA’s Cremation Administrator Certification and Cremation Operator Certification. Details and registration materials will be available in March at www.iccfaconvention.com or by calling 1.800.645.7700.
Founded in 1887, the ICCFA is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization profession. Its membership is composed of more than 7,500 cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories, memorial designers and related businesses worldwide.
