Arranging a funeral deserves the same careful consideration you'd give to writing a will or buying a home. Before making any decisions, here are the steps we recommend:

• Get price lists in writing. Colorado funeral establishments are required to provide a General Price List you can keep. Request one before making any commitments, and don't hesitate to ask questions.

• Compare at least three establishments. Costs, services, and personal fit vary widely. Contact multiple funeral homes in your area before making a final decision.

• Verify registration with DORA. All funeral establishments and crematories in Colorado must be registered annually with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). You can verify status and check for disciplinary actions online at colorado.gov.

• Ask about preneed licensing. If a funeral establishment is asking for payment in advance, they must be licensed as a Preneed Contract Seller through Colorado's Division of Insurance. Any individual selling an insurance policy to fund funeral arrangements must also hold an Insurance Producer license.

• Ask about CFDA membership. CFDA members subscribe to a code of ethics and pledge to uphold local, state, and federal laws. You can search for CFDA member funeral establishments using our Find a Funeral Home directory.

• Bring support. It can be helpful to bring a trusted friend or family member along when visiting funeral establishments.

The funeral industry has evolved beyond traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. Today, you may encounter storefront operations, funeral brokers, and businesses that subcontract services to other providers. Here are important questions to ask:

Does this establishment have a physical location of its own?

What services are performed on-site versus at a separate care center or third-party facility?

Where is embalming or cremation handled, and who performs it? Does the establishment own its own crematory, or is cremation outsourced?

What services are handled directly by establishment employees, and what is subcontracted? (Transport, embalming, and cremation are commonly handled by outside providers.)

Can you provide a complete list of all third-party providers? Colorado law requires that outside providers be disclosed when you contract for funeral goods and services.

The information on this page is intended to assist consumers and is not to be considered legal advice. If you have legal questions, consult an attorney.

More Colorado families are discovering that preplanning a funeral — even years in advance — offers real peace of mind. When arrangements are made ahead of time, families are spared the burden of making difficult decisions during an emotionally overwhelming moment, and your wishes are more likely to be honored exactly as you intend.

Preplanning does not mean prepaying. You can document your preferences with a funeral director without entering into any financial agreement.

If you do choose to prepay, keep copies of all paperwork in a safe place and make sure a trusted family member or friend knows where to find it.

Preplanning is simply documenting your wishes. Your funeral director can walk you through options and provide cost estimates — with no payment required.

Preneed is a financial contract with a funeral establishment to provide services in exchange for advance payment. If a funeral director is asking you to pay through deposits, installments, or an insurance policy, this is a Preneed Contract and the establishment must be licensed as a Preneed Contract Seller with the Colorado Division of Insurance. The individual selling an insurance policy must also hold an Insurance Agent license through that same agency.

Always ask for license verification before signing any preneed agreement.

• A Guide to Funeral Service in Colorado

• Death Notification Checklist

• DORA — Funeral Establishment & Crematory Registration

• DORA — Division of Insurance

CFDA members are committed to ethical, professional service under Colorado law.

Find a Funeral Home [LINK DIRECTORY}

All funeral establishments and crematories in Colorado must be registered annually with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). DORA's Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services investigates complaints and enforces disciplinary actions against those who violate the Mortuary Science Code and applicable program rules.

Complaints must be filed online through DORA's official complaint portal.

File a Complaint with DORA

You can also learn more about DORA's funeral and mortuary oversight program, including registration requirements and how to verify the status of a licensed establishment, at the link below.

DORA Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services

Professional licenses for funeral directors, embalmers, mortuary science practitioners, cremationists, and natural reductionists are administered through DORA. If your complaint involves the conduct of a licensed individual, the same complaint process applies.

File a Professional License Complaint

The State of Colorado does not require prior education or experience to enter the funeral service profession. An individual may acquire on-the-job training in funeral directing, embalming and/or cremation under the supervision of an experienced funeral professional at a licensed funeral establishment or crematory.

Most funeral establishments require that applicants be 18-years of age and have completed high school or GED requirements, and a criminal background check may be conducted for potential employees.

Criteria for job candidates is determined by each Funeral Establishment or Crematory. Some businesses prefer to hire candidates with prior funeral service experience, while others desire to train on-the-job. 

Statutory requirements are mandated through licensed funeral establishments and crematories for individuals who practice under the titles of "Funeral Director", "Embalmer", "Cremationist" and "Mortuary Science Practitioner."

Individuals who seek a long-term career in funeral service should consider attending an accredited mortuary science program, such as Arapahoe Community College.

Expectations

Funeral directors are often on call 24/7. Long workdays are common, including evenings and weekends. Duties for entry level personnel may include general maintenance duties, removal and transport assistance, and providing support to funeral home or crematory staff.

A career in funeral service might be a good choice if you:

• Are compassionate and have a desire to help others.

• Have an interest in human biological sciences.

• Want to get involved in your community.

• Like to work in a business environment.

• Looking for a second career after retirement.

A Funeral Service Professional:

• Works with the bereaved, providing sensitive, effective intervention during a time of emotional need.

• Is a professional caregiver who enables families and communities to express their concern for life and the living.

• Is a motivated man or woman who practices a unique vocation and who is legally required to possess certain professional qualifications.

• Is involved in a variety of activities within the community.

• Carries out administrative and logistical tasks required by law, custom and accepted practice.

Duties and responsibilities of a funeral service professional:

• Provides support to the bereaved during initial stages of their grief.

• Arranges and directs funeral ceremonies.

• Arranges for removal of the deceased from the place of death.

• Prepares the body according to the wishes of the survivors and requirements of the law.

• Secures information for legal documents.

• Files death certificates and other legal papers.

• Assists survivors with details for filing claims for death benefits.

• Helps individuals adapt to changes in their lives following a death through post-death counseling and support group activities.

Why should you enter funeral service?

• You are a caregiver who desires to serve others.

• You believe that ceremony is an effective means of expressing feelings and meeting needs.

• You are tolerant of ways in which people of different faiths and cultures express their feelings and practice their beliefs.

• You are interested in the technical sciences.

• You exhibit sensitivity and compassion for those with whom you are in contact.

• You are interested in learning all aspects of a business.

Educational Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is the mininum standard to begin a career in funeral service in the State of Colorado. Some establishments prefer to employ individuals with no prior experience in funeral service and may provide supervised, hands-on training in a work environment.

It is advisable to have some prior work experience at a funeral establishment, crematory or cemetery before enrolling in a Mortuary Science Program.

Basic educational requirements required for a license in most states include:

• A high school diploma or equivalent.

• An Associate Degree, or its credit hour equivalent, a portion of which is in funeral service education. (Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado, has an accredited mortuary science program.)

• Passing a state and/or national board licensing examination administered through the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. In Colorado, passing the national board exam is required for Mortuary Science Practitioners (under title protection statute) and for CMSP certification.

• An internship or apprenticeship ranging from one to three years. (MSP internship is one year in Colorado.)

• Many states require that funeral directors meet continuing education requirements to maintain licensure. (Six hours of continuing education is required to maintain Active status with the Colorado Funeral Service Board.)

• In most states, funeral directors and embalmers must be licensed through a state-regulated agency. In Colorado, voluntary certification is available through the Colorado Funeral Service Board in lieu of licensing.

The funeral service curriculum, approved by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), the United States' funeral service accrediting agency, includes courses in:

• Public Health and Technical Area - microbiology, anatomy, chemistry, pathology, restorative art and embalming.

• Business Management Area - business management, funeral arranging, funeral merchandising, funeral home management, computer applications, Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule and accounting.

• Social Science Area - sociology of funeral service, psychology of grief, funeral directing, history of funeral service, communication skills and counseling.

• Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Area - business law, funeral service law and regulation and professional ethics.

Career opportunities

With more than 21,000 funeral homes in the United States, there is always a need for well trained funeral service professionals. Demand is great for graduates who have prepared themselves for management positions by selecting business and communications courses as part of their college program.