SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Preparing human remains for embalming 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14159  Preparing human remains for embalming 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Funeral Services 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Personal Care 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard forms part of the Qualification, National Certificate in Funeral Services Practice and is registered at Level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework. Learners working towards this standard will be learning towards the full qualification, or will be involved in or working within a funeral services environment, specialising in embalming and restoration, where the acquisition of competence against this standard will add value to each individual and the Funeral Industry as a whole.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Preparing the embalming facility
  • Preparing the human remains for embalming 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learners accessing this qualification will have demonstrated competency in:
  • Numeracy at NQF Level 2 or equivalent.
  • English, verbal and written communication at NQF Level 2 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Range statements which are applicable to the unit standard titles, specific outcomes and assessment criteria are found beneath the applicable assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Prepare the embalming facility 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. All necessary materials and equipment for embalming are made available 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Instruments are packed out ready for use 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Facility is cleaned of anything which may clutter the area to avoid accidents and for easy disinfecting 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Health, hygiene and safety regulations are followed throughout the preparation process 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Instruments not being used are packed away for protection and hygienic purposes 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare the human remains for embalming 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Human remains are placed on a table in supine position and laying straight 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Post mortem sutures are removed from human remains 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Viscera are placed into storage containers with formaldehyde 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Human remains are shaved as per instructions before embalming takes place 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Clothing and personal effects are removed and disposed of according to instructions 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Valuable and personal effects are recorded and placed in safe custody 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Valuable and personal effects will include clothing, shoes, watches, rings, chains, broaches or other jewellery items
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers offering learning towards this standard will be accredited and assessors registered by the relevant Education Training Quality Assurance body (ETQA) 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • A basic understanding of methods and techniques for working in an embalming facility
  • A general understanding of methods and techniques preparing human remains for embalming
  • A general understanding of administrative procedures for recording personal effects
  • A broad understanding of principles of the embalming process
  • A general understanding of health, hygiene and safety regulations for working in an embalming facility or with human remains
  • A basic understanding of instruments and fluids related to embalming 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems pertaining to embalming preparation. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, evaluate, organise and critically evaluate information in order to prepare the facility or human remains for embalming. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems where proper preparation for embalming human remains improves the actual embalming process. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  21787   National Certificate: Funeral Services Practice  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SERVICES 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.