Northeast Funeral Service Partnership
Employee Certification Course

Move your career forward with confidence.

Course overview
The Northeast Funeral Service Partnership Employee Certification Course is a six-month, live and online program designed for funeral service professionals who want to sharpen their skills and advance their careers. Across six (6) 90-minute interactive sessions and optional on-demand electives, participants will learn to communicate with compassion and clarity, present themselves with confidence in both private and public settings, apply modern technology responsibly, and understand the financial and ethical foundations that support a successful funeral home.

Each session is led by experienced educators and practitioners and is built to be both practical and flexible—you can join live and revisit recordings anytime. By the end of the program, you’ll gain the insight and confidence that matter most: empathy, professionalism, and the ability to guide families and teams with care and competence.

Participants who complete all six live sessions plus at least four electives will earn the Northeast Funeral Service Partnership Employee Certification—a credential that reflects professional commitment and readiness for the future of funeral service.

Why it matters

This program is about real-world skills:
  • Communicating with grieving families in a way that is clear, kind, and professional
  • Leading teams and representing your funeral home in the community
  • Using new technology without losing personal connection
  • Keeping financial decisions transparent and sustainable

A professional certification program for today’s funeral service employee

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Program At-a-Glance

Live sessions (90 minutes each) run from 2:00 - 3:30pm ET

Each module includes an optional elective (60 minutes each) you can review on your own time.
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Requirements

Attend all six (6) live sessions and complete at least four (4) electives.

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What You'll Get

Six (6) Live Sessions

Six live 90-minute sessions with experienced funeral service leaders

Six (6) On-Demand Electives

Six (6) on-demand electives to go deeper into key topics

One Certification

A certification that reflects both professional commitment and readiness for the future of funeral service.

Your Facilitator

Leili McMurrough, J.D., LFD/LE

President and Program Director,
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Leili is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and attorney who speaks nationally on workforce development and education in funeral service. She brings both practical know-how and a deep commitment to the profession.

The Program

November 5, 2025
December 3, 2025
January 8, 2026
February 4, 2026
March 4, 2026
April 8, 2026
November 5, 2025 @ 2:00 PM ET

Technology in Funeral Service: Tools, Trends, and Trust

Topics:
  • Digital memorialization: livestreaming, tribute videos, photo collections
  • Social media and website management: tone, timing, trustworthiness
  • Understanding the role and boundaries of AI, biometrics, and other emerging tools
  • Ethical considerations of technology use in funeral service
  • Data privacy and professionalism in all digital interactions
Post-Session Elective:
Social Media Strategy for Funeral Homes
Isabel Knight
Human-centered designer in deathcare | President of the National Home Funeral Alliance
January 8, 2026 @ 2:00 PM ET

Building a Culture of Professionalism and Ethics

Topics:
  • Confidentiality and ethical responsibilities in client and team interactions
  • Time management, attendance, and self-accountability
  • Navigating complex dynamics in small and family-run funeral homes
  • Modeling respectful behavior and mentoring others in workplace professionalism

Post-Session Elective:
Burnout Prevention and Emotional Self-Care in Funeral Service
Leili McMurrough, J.D., LFD/LE, 
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
February 4, 2026 @ 2:00 PM ET

Modern Technical Proficiency: Preparation and Presentation

Topics:
  • Understanding medical treatments, implants, and chemical impacts on preparation
Post-Session Elective:
Special Topics in Restorative Art
Dominick Astorino, LFD/LE
Wayne State University | Worsham College of Mortuary Science |
Wujek Calcaterra & Sons Inc
March 4, 2026 @ 2:00 PM ET

Presence and Presentation in Public and Private Spaces

Topics:
  • Public speaking: confidence, tone, pacing, pausing, and pitch
  • Eye contact and body language in group settings
  • Delivering messages clearly during services, announcements, and team meetings
  • Professional presence and how it influences trust and credibility
  • Representing the funeral home in community settings: school visits, lunch-and-learns, career fairs
Post-Session Elective:
Crafting a Signature Arrangement Presentation Style
Lacy Robinson
Johnson Consulting Group | Worsham College of Mortuary Science | End of Life Partners
April 8, 2026 @ 2:00 PM ET

Communicating with Compassion and Confidence

Topics:
  • Non-verbal communication essentials
  • How people receive and process information (including grief-influenced perception)
  • Active listening skills
  • Conveying empathy and compassion through both verbal and non-verbal cues
  • Building rapport and trust with families and coworkers through intentional communication
Post-Session Elective:
Conflict Resolution in High-Emotion Family Situations
Leili McMurrough, J.D., LFD/LE, 
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
December 3, 2025 @ 2:00 PM ET

Financial Foundations and Business Insight for Funeral Professionals

Topics:
  • Reading, interpreting, and creating a General Price List (GPL)
  • Budgeting basics and understanding funeral home financial structure
  • Overhead, staffing models, and how they affect service and pricing
Post-Session Elective:
Explaining the GPL with Transparency and Confidence
Joe Rago, LFD/LE, CPA
Rago Bros Funeral Home
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