Choosing a career in funeral service often begins with understanding the key roles within the profession. Two of the most commonly referenced titles: funeral director and mortician, are often used interchangeably, yet each carries distinct responsibilities, educational focuses, and day-to-day expectations. While both careers share the purpose of serving families with dignity and professionalism, their work can differ in meaningful ways that matter to recent graduates and career changers exploring the field.
This article is designed to help prospective professionals understand how these roles overlap, where they differ, and which career path best aligns with their interests, strengths, and long-term goals.
Covered in This Blog:
This guide outlines the day-to-day functions of both funeral directors and morticians, highlights the unique skills each role relies on, and explains the educational and state licensing requirements you’ll need to plan your career with confidence.
The Roles & Responsibilities Of Funeral Directors & Morticians
For those exploring funeral service careers, funeral directors and morticians can initially appear very similar. While both careers serve the same purpose of honoring life through the compassionate practice of funeral services, the daily responsibilities of these jobs often differ in meaningful ways.
Understanding the distinction between these career paths can help prospective students and career changers to choose the role best aligned with their interests and career goals:
Funeral Directors Roles & Responsibilities
Funeral directors primarily focus on managing funeral home operations and coordinating services for families and loved ones. While their responsibilities can sometimes overlap with those of a funeral home owner, who handles the business and administrative side, funeral directors typically concentrate on planning, organizing, and ensuring that each service runs smoothly and compassionately. Their primary responsibilities include:
- Managing funeral arrangements
- Coordinating services
- Supporting grieving families through counseling
- Coordinating with cemeteries or crematoriums
- Arranging necessary documentation
- Following religious and ethical protocols
- Coordinating with funeral home owners and embalmers
Funeral directing combines many of the skills learned through mortuary science degree courses, including logistical organization, legal compliance, and interpersonal skills.
Key Takeaway:
Funeral directors serve, provide, organize, and communicate. They may be called upon to be grief counselors, event organizers, and salesmen throughout the course of one day.
Morticians Roles & Responsibilities
Morticians usually work behind the scenes in funeral homes, focusing on the technical aspects of funeral arrangements. These include:
- Body preparation
- Embalming
- Restorative art
- Death investigation
Rather than working directly with the families of the deceased, morticians often work behind the scenes to guarantee professional care using their scientific knowledge and clinical experience.
Occasionally, the role of a mortician is carried out by the funeral director to provide a streamlined service or in a funeral home with fewer staff. This may require additional certifications and internships in embalming and body preparation.
Education Requirements For Funeral Directors & Morticians
The academic paths for both funeral directors and morticians begin with the same foundational work in mortuary science before branching off into differing apprenticeship and licensure requirements. Though the individual requirements can vary by state, the following chart summarizes the broad differences between the two careers:
| Career | Education | Path-Specific Subjects | Apprenticeships | Licensure | Skills |
| Funeral Director | Associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited mortuary science institution such as AAMI | Funeral law, business management, funeral ethics, funeral sales, grief counseling | 1-2 years supervised by a licensed funeral director | National Board Examination (Arts) | Communication, empathy, business management, regulatory compliance, logistics |
| Mortician | Associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited mortuary science institution such as AAMI | Human anatomy, microbiology, embalming, restorative art, chemistry | 1-2 years supervised by a licensed embalmer | National Board Examination (Sciences) | Anatomy, dexterity, hygiene, health regulations, and mortuary codes |
Bonus – AAMI offers flexible online and campus-based programs to help working adults and new students create a schedule that fits their needs. Professors and staff also help students schedule the correct classes for their intended field and sign up for the correct licensure exams, internships, and apprenticeships in their state.
How Funeral Directors & Morticians’ Roles Overlap
While funeral directors and morticians have distinct primary responsibilities, their roles often intersect. Many state licensure programs cover both career paths, equipping professionals with a combination of management, technical, and interpersonal skills. Empathy, organization, and a strong understanding of funeral service procedures are essential for both positions, enabling professionals to provide families with compassionate and seamless care.
In smaller funeral homes, it’s common for individuals to perform dual roles, handling both logistical planning and body preparation to ensure high-quality services without needing additional staff. Additionally, in states where licensure and apprenticeship requirements are similar or equivalent, professionals can transition between roles more easily, allowing flexibility to explore different aspects of funeral service and align their career with personal strengths and long-term goals.
Choosing The Right Funeral Service Career Path
Deciding between a career as a funeral director, mortician, or another funeral service profession depends on your strengths, interests, and personal preferences. For instance, someone drawn to the technical and scientific aspects of funeral services may excel as a mortician, while individuals who enjoy working closely with families, coordinating events, and providing emotional support may find funeral directing more fulfilling.
Both career paths reward attention to detail, ethical standards, and compassionate care, offering stable, purposeful, and meaningful long-term opportunities in the funeral service field. Professionals can also use prior experience to transition within the industry over time, though state licensure updates may be required to pursue new roles.
Start Your Funeral Service Education At AAMI
Choosing between a career as a funeral director or mortician doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At AAMI, a nationally recognized and accredited mortuary science institution, both young students and career changers receive flexible, career-focused academic guidance designed to support success. Our Associate Degree in Funeral Service combines rigorous academic standards with online and hybrid learning options, ensuring students are prepared for licensure and a meaningful career in funeral services. Apply online AAMI.edu to begin your journey today.