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Clinical & Practicum Requirements

Clinical & Practicum Requirements

As part of your funeral service education, you will complete hands-on learning experiences that prepare you for real-world practice. These experiences give you the chance to apply your classroom knowledge in a professional setting and develop essential skills under supervision.

Below you will find detailed information on each required area.

Embalming Clinicals

What are Embalming Clinicals?

Embalming clinicals are supervised, hands-on embalming experiences that allow you to practice and demonstrate technical embalming skills, safety procedures, and professional standards. You will learn firsthand how to prepare and care for a decedent, follow proper procedures, and document your casework as required in funeral service.

What Is Required

  • Affiliation with a clinical site and preceptor by the end of Week 8 of COR 220: Embalming I. (Clinical site and preceptor approval includes completion of an affiliation agreement, preceptor application, submission of copies of clinical site and preceptor’s licenses, formaldehyde test results, completion of a preceptor training quiz, and virtual site inspection)
  • Twelve embalming cases. Eleven of which are completed at an approved clinical site under an affiliated clinical preceptor.
  • One final embalming case completed on-campus under qualified faculty supervision
  • Completion and submission of all required clinical documentation and case reporting.

Where Do These Take Place 

  • At an affiliated clinical site such as a funeral home or mortuary. On occasion they may also be completed at the college campus.

When Will I Complete Them?

  • Cases 1–6 during COR 222: Embalming Lab I
  • Cases 7–11 during COR 226: Embalming Lab II
  • Final (12th) case during the last week (week 11) of COR 226

Who Can Help if I Have Questions?

Your Academic Coordinator is your main point of contact for clinical site approvals, documentation guidance, and general embalming clinical questions.

Funeral Directing Practicum

What is the Funeral Directing Practicum?

The Funeral Directing Practicum is a professional practice experience where you will practice performing and documenting real funeral service responsibilities necessary to assist families. This practicum prepares you for the interpersonal, administrative, and ceremonial aspects of funeral service.

What Is Required

You must complete and document the following:

  • Five first calls
  • Five arrangement conferences
  • Five funeral service observations
    • At least one must be live/in-person
    • Services must be different types (liturgical, graveside, cremation, etc.)
  • One removal demonstration
  • One dressing, casketing, and preparation demonstration
  • Use/creation of all required forms at least once (G.P.L., death certificate, authorizations, FTC-compliant price lists, etc.)
  • Participation in a mandatory online funeral arrangement simulation day In COR 207 and COR 213. (Required to sit for the final exam)

Where Do These Take Place

  • In COR 207 and COR 213, a funeral arrangement simulation day will be hosted online by the instructor to aid in the completion of these items.
  • If not completed in COR 207 and COR 213, they may be completed at an approved clinical affiliation site like a funeral home or mortuary service.
  • At least one funeral service must be attended live
When Will I Complete Them
 
  • Throughout COR 207 – Funeral Directing and COR 213 – Funeral Service Sociology
  • Simulation day occurs as scheduled in your syllabus (absence disqualifies you from sitting for your final exam)
Who Can Help If I Have Questions
 
  • Your Academic Coordinator supports practicum documentation and general questions.

Restorative Art Lab

What is the Restorative Art Lab?

Restorative Art Lab provides hands-on training in anatomical restoration, feature modeling, and cosmetic applications used in funeral preparation. You will practice facial modeling, tissue restoration, feature setting, cosmetizing, and lighting techniques, building skills essential for dignified and compassionate service.

What Is Required

  • Completion of hands-on restorative art lab on campus at the end of your sixth quarter (week 11)

Where does this take place

  • On-campus during the final week of COR 236 (week 11)

When Will I Complete This 

  • During the last week of COR 236 (week 11)
Who To Ask If I Have Questions?
 
  • Your Academic Coordinator is available to help with additional information on lab times, submitting assignments, and preparing for on-campus sessions.

View the Full Clinical & Practicum Requirements

For complete details, policies, and documentation requirements, please click below:

View the Clinical, Laboratory, and Practicum Requirements Document (hyperlink this PDF)