Embalmer
Embalmers preserve and prepare bodies for burial or cremation.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As an embalmer you could:
- look after bodies with care and respect
- wash and disinfect bodies and restore the appearance of bodies after injury
- remove fluids and gases from the body and replace them with preservatives
- wash and style hair and apply make up
- work with funeral arrangers to make sure the family's wishes are met
- keep the mortuary clean and complete paperwork
Working environment
You could work in a laboratory, at a funeral home or at a research facility.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- become self employed and work independently with several funeral directors
- do further training to specialise in HIV or tuberculosis or join a team responding to disasters
- become a funeral director
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- physical skills like movement, coordination and dexterity
- a desire to help people
- the ability to use your initiative
- knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and Requirements
You might need vaccinations to be an embalmer.
As a minimum, your employer should offer you vaccinations against hepatitis, tetanus and tuberculosis.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- specialist courses run by a professional body
You could apply to do a Mortuary Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, or Embalmer Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.
These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
If you're already working in the funeral industry, you could train to become an embalmer with support from your employer.
You might find it useful to have work experience in a funeral service, mortuary or funeral home when applying for trainee roles.
Training course
You'll usually need to complete an online or classroom based training course approved by the British Institute of Embalmers. You can take
Courses can take between 2 and 3 years to complete. You'll have practical sessions in an embalming theatre.
There are no set entry qualifications but GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, maths, chemistry or biology might be helpful.
When applying, you might have an advantage if you know about different faiths and cultures and the way they deal with death.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the British Institute of Embalmers to find out about professional development opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Further information
You'll find more details about working as an embalmer through the British Institute of Embalmers.
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This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.