Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Funeral Operations
This course prepares you to work in a funeral home or mortuary, supporting families through arranging and conducting funerals.
- How long it takes
- 1 to 2 years
- typical for this level
- Taught by
- 1 provider
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Funeral Operations asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in supporting people through grief
- a calm and respectful manner with families
- good communication skills in sensitive conversations
- care and attention when following procedures
Before you start
N/A
Where this course can take you
No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.
Jobs this course can help with
None of these jobs needs a set qualification.
Funeral Director
Funeral directors arrange and run a funeral, from the first phone call through to the burial or cremation, handling the paperwork, logistics and ceremony details for a family in the middle of grief.
Median pay$68,600 (estimate)
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.
Where you can study this course
There's one place you can study this course. No provider pays to be listed here.
- Website for Tobin Brothers Bayside Funerals (opens in a new tab)
Tobin Brothers Bayside Funerals
What you’ll learn
14 units: 4 that everyone takes and 10 you choose.
- Supporting grieving clients
- Funeral industry protocols
- Responding to grief and loss
- Infection and contamination control
- Body preparation support
- Funeral and burial arrangements
See all 4 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares you to work in a funeral home or mortuary, supporting families through arranging and conducting funerals. You learn to talk with grieving people, explain burial or cremation options, and cover infection control and safe handling. The role is done with a fair amount of independence, and it leads to Funeral Director.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
The qualification itself has no entry requirements, though individual providers can set their own conditions. Check with the provider you choose.