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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Mortician 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
122235  Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Mortician 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner-Services SETA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
QCTO - Quality Council for Trades and Occupations  OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Intermediate Occupational Cert  Field 11 - Services  Personal Care 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  156  Not Applicable  NQF Level 03  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0822/24  2024-03-07  2029-03-07 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2030-03-07   2033-03-07  

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 qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
104621  Occupational Certificate: Mortician  Not Applicable  NQF Level 03  150  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mortician.

A Mortician communicates with and advises the bereaved; removes and prepares the deceased prior to refrigeration; completes documentation and conducts administrative functions; conducts coffining and visitation preparation; plans prepare and delivers a professional burial and exhumation service; and market self, organisation, products, and services.

In addition, learner attributes include but are not limited to problem-solving, selecting and applying appropriate procedures; summarising and interpreting information from a range of sources, discussing the issues and reaching a resolution based on available information, and complying with ethical standards.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Communicate effectively with the bereaved.
  • Remove and conduct pre-cooling preparation of the deceased.
  • Perform documentary and administrative functions relevant to the mortician.
  • Coffin and prepare the deceased for a visitation.
  • Provide professional burial and exhumation and marketing service.

    Rationale:
    The Occupational Certificate: Mortician expires in June 2023 and was therefore reviewed and aligned to meet qualification policy requirements.
    This qualification is needed due to the shortage of qualified Morticians that meet current transformational challenges in South Africa to address all types of cultures, customs, and religious services without any racial or ethnic biases.

    Key industry representative bodies, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the United Funeral Association of South Africa, (represented by nominated representatives), as well as a range of small, medium, and large funeral parlours from various provinces in South Africa, participated in the development and verification of this qualification.

    Typical learners of this qualification are those who are interested in providing professional funeral services to the bereaved. The Elementary Occupational Certificate: Mortician will contribute to the development of the learner by providing learners with the skills, knowledge, insights, and competence to enable them to provide professional burial and exhumation services, advice, and care to a range of customers.

    This occupational qualification will benefit the society, sector, and the economy as it provides a foundation in funeral services and practices that will allow persons to enter a formal career in the funeral services industry. It will promote professional standards and cost-effective services in the funeral sector and will assist in addressing the current challenges faced by the industry to provide new entrants to the industry to obtain a recognised national qualification. The typical occupations related to this qualification include embalming, beauty, and funeral-related occupations.

    Professional registration is not a requirement for this occupation or learning process. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL for Access:
    Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors.

    RPL for Exemption from Modules:
    For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

    RPL for Awarding Credits:
    Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved. For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep record of such evidence. Upon successful completion of the EISA/FISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO.

    Entry Requirements:
    An NQF Level 2 qualification. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

    Knowledge Modules
  • 516304-000-01-KM-01, Customs, Cultures, Religion and Communication within the Funeral Industry, NQF Level 3, 4 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-KM-02, Removing and Pre-cooling Preparation of Deceased, NQF Level 3, 7 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-KM-03, Documentation and Administration Relevant to the Mortician, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-KM-04, Coffining and Preparing Deceased for Visitation, NQF Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-KM-05, Professional Burial and Exhumation Service, NQF Level 3, 20 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-KM-06, Product Services Relevant to the Mortician, NQF Level 3, 3 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-KM-07, Ethics and Customer Services, Level 3, 4 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-KM-08, Workplace Safety, NQF Level 3, 4 Credits

    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 56


    Practical Skill Modules
  • 516304-000-01-PM-01, Communicate Effectively and Provide Counselling within the Funeral Industry, NQF Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-PM-02, Remove and Conduct Pre-cooling Preparation of deceased, NQF Level 3, Credits 7
  • 516304-000-01-PM-03, Complete Documentation and Administration Relevant to the Mortician, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-PM-04, Conduct Coffining and Prepare Deceased for Visitation, NQF Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-PM-05, Plan, Prepare and Deliver Burial and Exhumation Service, NQF Level 3, 20 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-PM-06, Provide Marketing and After-service Care Relevant to the Mortician, NQF Level 3, 3 Credits

    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 50

    Work Experience Modules
  • 516304-000-01-WM-01, Communicate Effectively within the Funeral Industry as A Mortician, NQF Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-WM-02, Provide Removal and Pre-cooling Services for a Funeral Parlour, NQF Level 3, 7 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-WM-03, Complete Documentation and Administration Relevant to the mortician, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-WM-04, Provide Coffining Services and Prepare Deceased for Visitation in a Funeral Parlour, NQF Level 3, 6 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-WM-05, Provide a Professional Burial and Exhumation Service for a Funeral Parlour, NQF Level 3, 20 Credits
  • 516304-000-01-WM-06, Provide Aftercare and Marketing Services Relevant to the Mortician, NQF Level 3, 3 Credits

    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 50 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Communicate effectively with the bereaved, including counselling.
    2. Remove and conduct pre-cooling preparation of the deceased.
    3. Complete documentation and administration relevant to the mortician.
    4. Coffin and prepare the deceased for a visitation.
    5. Plan, prepare and deliver a professional funeral/memorial service, including burial, cremation, or repatriation.
    6. Provide marketing and product services relevant to the mortician. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
    ELO 1: Communicate effectively with the bereaved, including counselling.
  • Present information related to the personal care industry and the business environment in a structured and informed manner.
  • Explain and apply statutory provisions that regulate the funeral industry.
  • Provide funeral services with due consideration of customs, cultures, and religions.
  • Provide funeral services to meet industry standards of customer service, quality, and business ethics.
  • Recognize and illustrate the needs of the bereaved through effective communication.
  • Deliver death related counselling and advising practices in a manner sensitive to the needs of the bereaved.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
    ELO 2: Remove and conduct pre-cooling preparation of the deceased.
  • Conduct the removal of the deceased in terms of industry accepted processes and practices.
  • Conduct cleaning, sanitation and setting requirements in accordance with industry accepted standards and norms.
  • Conduct Pre-cooling preparation and the cooling process in accordance with industry accepted standards and norms.
  • Meet the legal requirements, customary, cultural and religious considerations for the removal of the deceased.
  • Prepare and remove the deceased in accordance with industry accepted standards and norms.
  • Prepare the deceased for cooling in accordance with industry accepted standards and norms.
  • Uphold health, safety, and environmental protection standards throughout all the activities.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
    ELO 3: Complete documentation and administration relevant to the mortician.
  • List and complete documents required by law with respect to death and burial and exhumation.
  • List and complete standard documentation utilised by the funeral industry, not required by law.
  • Describe death-related processes, including removal, cooling, service, burial, and cremation.
  • Complete and administer financial records and documents in accordance with workplace policies and statutory requirements.
  • Conduct information and communication technology (ICT), record-keeping, and administration in accordance with workplace policies and statutory requirements.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
    ELO 4: Coffin and prepare the deceased for a visitation.
  • Demonstrate coffin sales and product knowledge during interaction with customers.
  • Apply coffining and embalming processes in accordance with accepted industry standards and practices.
  • Prepare the deceased for visitation, including the application of cosmetic in accordance with accepted industry standards and practices.
  • Conduct coffining and visitation processes in accordance with customary, cultural, religious, and legal considerations, and protocols.
  • Prepare visitation of the deceased in accordance with accepted industry standards and practices.
  • Uphold health, safety, and environmental protection standards throughout practical activities.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
    ELO 5: Plan, prepare and deliver a professional funeral/memorial service, including burial, cremation, or repatriation.
  • Apply project and event management tools and techniques when planning and directing a funeral, plan and direct memorial services.
  • Deliver funeral/memorial service in accordance with customary, cultural, religious, and legal requirements, and expectations.
  • Deliver burial and cremation services in accordance with customary, cultural, religious, and legal requirements, and expectations.
  • Deliver follow-up processes related to a funeral/memorial service in accordance with the accepted industry standards and norms.
  • Conduct the repatriation of a deceased in accordance with the accepted industry standards and norms.
  • The bereaved, colleagues, suppliers and other parties liaise with customary, cultural, religious, and legal requirements.
  • Uphold health, safety, and environmental protection standards throughout practical activities.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
    ELO 6: Provide marketing and product services relevant to the mortician.
  • Discuss estates and wills as they relate to the mortician.
  • Explain common goods and services provided by the funeral industry as they relate to the mortician.
  • Explain after-service care in terms of the funeral industry.
  • Apply sales and marketing tools and techniques as they are relevant to the mortician.
  • Conduct market range of appropriate products, services and sales processes in terms of customer needs.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessments.
    Formative assessments are conducted throughout the training of learners. A range of formal, nonformal, and informal ongoing assessment activities are used to focus on teaching and learning outcomes to improve learner attainment. Formative assessments are conducted continuously by the facilitator to feed into further learning, to identify strengths and weakness, and to ensure the learner's ability to apply knowledge, skills and workplace experience gained. Formative Assessments are conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP), and a variety of ongoing assessment methods may be used, for example, quizzes, assignments, tests, scenarios, role play, interviews. Continuous feedback must be provided.

    Integrated Summative Assessment
    Integrated Summative Assessments conducted Internally.
    Integrated Assessment involves all the different types of assessment tasks required for a particular qualification, part-qualification or occupational skills programme, such as written assessment of theory and practical demonstration of competence. To achieve this, the Internal Assessment Criteria (IAC) for all modules as found in the QCTO curriculum document must be followed. An accredited SDP should implement a well-designed, formal, relevant, final internal Summative Assessment strategy for all modules to prepare learners for the EISA. These assessments evaluate learning achievements relating to the achievement of each module of the relevant components of the qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme.

    Internal Summative Assessments are developed, moderated, and conducted by the SDP at the end of each module or after integration of relevant modules, e.g., applied knowledge tests, workplace tasks, practical demonstrations, simulated tasks/demonstrations, projects, case studies, etc. The results of these final formal summative assessments must be recorded. These results, which include the Statement of Work Experience results, where applicable, contribute to the Statement of Results (SoR) that is a requirement for admission to the EISA.

    A Statement of Results (SoR), using the template provided by the Quality Partner, is issued by the accredited SDP for qualifications and part qualifications. The SDP must produce a valid Statement of Results for each learner, indicating the result and the date on which the competence in each module, of each component, was achieved. Learners are required to produce this SoR, together with their ID document or alternative ID document, at the point of the EISA. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Qualifications and training programmes from the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada were selected for comparison to the South African qualification as national training standards are recognised in these countries. The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) offers Funeral Arranging and Administration (FAA) Certificate. The NAFD represents the interests of the entire spectrum of funeral directing businesses including independent businesses, co-operatives and major funeral groups who conduct more than 80% of UK funerals every year. The Canadian College of Funeral Service (formerly Western School of Funeral Service) offers a Funeral Service Foundation Program. The College of Funeral Service is Canada's only post-secondary institution that is dedicated solely to the funeral service profession.

    The United Kingdom (UK):
    The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) in the UK offers the Funeral Arranging and Administration (FAA) Certificate, endorsed and quality assured by the Birmingham City University. Certificates in the UK are typically at a Level 3 or 4 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). The Certificate is offered online and can be concluded over a period of 18 months including work experience. The entry requirements are specified as a minimum of 9 months experience as a funeral arranger/administrator.

    Structure of the content:
  • Module 1: Introduction to funeral arranging and administration. Understanding bereavement and grief, client care within the funeral service, communicating with clients within the funeral service.
  • Module 2: First call, including care and presentation of the deceased. Responding to the initial notification of death. Care and presentation of the deceased.
  • Module 3: Legislation (country specific to the learner). Health and safety for funeral arrangers, registration of death, and procurator fiscal procedures human cremation: law and Practice. Human burial: law and practice.
  • Module 4: Arranging the funeral. Understanding funeral rites. Arranging a funeral. Arranging a funeral for a child and baby. Office practice and administration within the funeral service.
  • Module 5: Understanding client liability, entitlement, and consumer regulations within the funeral service.
  • Work Experience: Completing a minimum of 36 funeral arrangements.

    Similarities
    The Funeral Arranging and Administration (FAA) Certificate in the UK is like the Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Mortician in terms of content (all aspects covered), and level (Certificates in the UK are at approximately a level 3 of the South African NQF).

    Differences
    The Funeral Arranging and Administration (FAA) Certificate in the UK differs from the Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Mortician in terms of duration. The Administration (FAA) Certificate is a bit longer (18 months) than the occupational qualification (12 months).

    Canada:
    The Canadian College of Funeral Service offers the Funeral Service Foundation Program. The duration of the Foundation Program is 10 months combining in-school sessions and on-line delivery but no work experience. Entry requirements are not specified, and the program is not linked to a specific Level.

    The course content includes:
  • Embalming theory 1.
  • Safety, sanitation, and hygiene 1.
  • Embalming practicum 1.
  • Dying, death and disposition 1.
  • Funeral practices.
  • Funeral law 1.
  • Funeral service ethics.
  • Communications 1.
  • Funeral practicum 1.

    Similarities
    The Funeral Service Foundation Program in Canada is like the Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Mortician in terms of content (all aspects covered).

    Differences
    The Funeral Service Foundation Program in Canada differs from the Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Mortician Foundation Program in terms of duration. The Canadian program is a bit shorter (10 months) than the occupational qualification (12 months), however, it does not include work experience. As Canada does not have a Federal NQF it is not possible to compare programmes in terms of NQF levels.

    Conclusion:
    The Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Mortician compares favourably with the qualifications in the UK and Canada used for international comparability in terms of content and competencies covered. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification provides opportunities for the following articulation options.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Dispatching and Receiving Clerk, NQF Level 3.
  • National Certificate: Vocational, NQF Level 3.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Social Counselling Support Worker, NQF Level 4.

    Diagonal Articulation:
  • National Certificate: Vocational, NQF Level 4. 
    		•

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    The Quality Partner is responsible for the management, conduct and implementation of the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), in accordance with QCTO set standards. Competence in the EISA is a requirement for certificating a learner.

    For entrance into the EISA, the learner requires a valid Statement of Results issued by the accredited institution indicating:

    The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge, Practical and Work Experience modules

    OR

    The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge and Application Components.

    Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:
  • None.

    Criteria for the accreditation of providers
    Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code are: Mortician: 516304-000-01-00.

    Encompassed Trade:
  • This is not a Trade qualification.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP)
  • Services Seta. 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    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.