Online Education

Online Continuing Education Courses

In Conjunction With

Online Continuing Education Courses

The OACFP has partnered with CCFS to provide you access to numerous on-line continuing education courses that are available for professional development and have been accredited for CE hours toward license renewal. Each course is set up so that a participant can either complete it in one session or they may access it over time at different intervals. Upon completion of the course, OACFP will send the participant a certificate of completion. Each completed course is equivalent to three (3) hours of credit.

Course Fees (each course): OACFP Member - $149.00 Non-Member - $199.00

Available On-Line Courses:

World Religions Part 1 – Christianity, Judaism and Islam

This course has been revised and newly updated. This course introduces the funeral director to the “main” world religions. It is not a theological compendium of world religions but rather a summary of funerary practices as found in different religions. This course is the first part of a two-part series of courses on different cultures and religions. Once you have finished this course, you may complete the second part of this course.

World Religions Part 2 – Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism

This course has been revised and newly updated. This module is part two in the series of courses on religion. In this module, you are introduced to the Eastern religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. Like the initial course, this module is a summary of the history of the religion and its funeral practices. This course completes the initial two-part series; however, stay tuned for further modules on some of the other many religions that we as funeral professionals encounter with the families that we serve.

Effective Conflict Resolution

Conflict in the workplace is an unwelcome occurrence. The funeral home is no different; in fact, it may be more prevalent as a result of our work surroundings. Many of our funeral homes are fast-paced, time-restricted, emotionally charged environments, and the demands placed on us by families and our employers can stretch us to our limits. Understanding how to constructively deal with conflict instead of running away from it is important to maintain a healthy work environment. When conflict is mishandled, it can cause tremendous harm and hurt to both professional and personal relationships. When handled in a respectful and positive way, however, conflict provides an opportunity to reinforce the relationship between parties. By understanding what conflict is and learning how to resolve conflicts, you can maintain the strength of your personal and professional relationships.

Overworked and Overworked – Stress, Burnout and the Funeral Service Professional

The typical funeral professional will find themselves under a great deal of stress, and possibly feeling the effects of burnout. Stress is a normal part of our everyday life. We cannot eliminate stress completely from our lives, but we can implement strategies and preventative measures in order to minimize the effects of stress and burnout in our personal lives, and contribute to a healthier work environment in the funeral home. This course will define and describe stress and burnout and will examine their contributing factors. The course will also assist a funeral service professional to cope under pressure as it will uncover stress and burnout management strategies.

The Funeral Home’s Obligations to Provide Quality Embalming

This course will discuss the roles, responsibilities, and obligations of funeral service professionals in providing the best embalming results possible and a positive viewing experience for the family. Quality embalming should not start in the embalming room. This course will explore the responsibilities and obligations that a funeral director has in making funeral arrangements and how this can be used to enhance the family’s viewing experience. All staff members in the funeral home have a role in contributing to the viewing experiences that families will have. Whether this role is a large one or a small one, topics discussed in this course will describe the roles and responsibilities of all staff members involved. The key is customer satisfaction.

Negotiation - How to Reach Agreement

Negotiation is an important part of our everyday lives. Through our daily actions, we encounter many opportunities where it is necessary to negotiate certain issues, whether they are minor or more complex. Some of us are good at it while others are not. This continuing education module will introduce you to different negotiation styles and help you to identify and develop your negotiation skills.

Specialty Chemicals

This course will help identify the specialty chemicals required to treat a specific case and will also discuss the cause of the condition, the problems faced by the embalmer, the best approaches for treatment, and the proper methods of using the chemicals for each case.

Organizational Change – Succeeding & Implementing Change in the Workplace

The Funeral Service profession has seen dramatic changes in the last few decades. As in other professions, change has been both embraced and avoided. This continuing education module will introduce you to the issues involved with change and provide you with strategies to implement change in your workplace.

Time Management - Using Your Time Wisely

This course is to provide you with an understanding of time management while also supplying you with tools to help you develop your skills. The course is intended for anyone within the Funeral Profession whose time is often stretched.

Training Apprentices/Interns - Sponsor Training Course

This course will introduce you to effective methods of training apprentices. Many apprentices do not receive proper training that supports them and prepares them for the demands of a funeral service professional. This course will guide you to maximize the potential of the training process. Upon the completion of the course, participants will be able to fulfill their role as a sponsor/mentor to provide effective leadership that will enable them to properly train apprentices by being a good role model and to challenge, support and effectively communicate with apprentices.

CJD – A Deeper Understanding

This course looks at Creuztfeld Jacob Disease and its implications to the embalmer. The student will learn the necessary precautions that the embalmer should take in preparing the “CJD case.” These precautions are suggested within the context of the nature of the prion that causes the disease. Relevant and up to date research is presented to the student and evaluated from an embalmer's perspective.

Embalming for Long-Term Preservation

This course suggests how a body should be prepared for “long-term preservation.” The complications that an embalmer may encounter in holding a body for extended periods of time are studied as well as the procedures and treatments to overcome them.

Is Your Chemical Disinfectant Killing Everything?

This course looks at the various microbes that the embalmer must deal with in the preparation room and their effective destruction. The various types of disinfectants and their effective use are studied.

Memorialization – New Approaches to an Old Theory

As part of our grieving process, we memorialize the deceased in ways that are meaningful to us, which aids in our grief work. This typically involves holding a service and keeping something from the service for you to remember the deceased; possibly a flower from the spray, a memorial card from the service, or maybe even some cremated remains in a piece of keepsake jewelry. While these are all acceptable means of memorialization, the trends in this day and age are to have something more personal, something that the bereaved can display or keep with them permanently or pay tribute to the deceased in a way that matches their personal characteristics. Memorialization helps to ensure that our family and traditions live on. As funeral service professionals, we need to embrace the needs of our everchanging consumers and keep educated on the new and emerging opportunities that one can do with regards to memorializing their loved ones

Ethics – A Basic Understanding

This course is a short introduction to “Aristotelean-Thomistic” ethics. The participant is asked to examine the unique character of the bereaved/funeral director relationship. The course demonstrates that funeral business should operate on a unique set of business principles. The participant is challenged to examine the decision-making process and the outcomes of making ethical choices.

West Nile Virus and Superbugs – Are We Safe?

This module will introduce you to the important aspects of West Nile Virus, Superbugs and their embalming implications. West Nile Virus is present in Canada and will continue to be a concern in the summer months, as long as mosquitoes are around. Superbugs are becoming a great concern and the number of cases affected is continuing to increase. The chance of human remains with West Nile Virus and Superbugs coming across your embalming table is a reality. Are you prepared to handle these cases? Are you safe? This module will assist you to gain knowledge about West Nile Virus and Superbugs. You will learn how these diseases are transmitted, how they affect the body, the safety concerns, the risks and proper handling, treatment and precautions that must be taken. Proper knowledge of these diseases will allow an embalmer to handle these cases with confidence and to create a safe and healthy work environment

Are You Ready for the Pandemic?

This course identifies the specific concerns and issues that funeral service professionals will face during a pandemic and how to cope with them. It includes a step-by-step preparation & response plan that can be easily adopted by any size firm allowing continued and uninterrupted care to the bereaved.

Jaundice and Edema – An Embalmer’s Guide

This course will cover the causes of jaundice and edema; the problems and issues that the embalmer faces; and the treatments and approaches that should be considered. The information shared in this course will guide you to understand the issues involved and the proper treatments to overcome them so that the best possible results can be achieved. For the embalmer that wants to better their skills, the content in this course will help you to get more comfortable in handling these cases and will guide you in understanding the reason and purpose of various approaches. An embalmer needs to understand the issues at hand and to evaluate as to which treatment will be the best approach to take. The knowledge gained in this course can help you to become more competent in handling these two tough cases to get the best possible results.

Hair Restoration – An Embalmers Guide

This course was created by an experienced wig maker, make-up artist and educator and was developed specifically for the funeral service profession. The knowledge gained in this course will increase the embalmer’s skills to a whole new level, thereby contributing in making the viewing experience much more positive for bereaved families. The leaner will acquire knowledge about hair direction and the process for matching current hair texture, length and style. You will also learn how to utilize photographs of the deceased as reference pictures when performing hair restoration. The course is delivered in a written document and supplemented with numerous images, photographs and instructional video presentations. (A strong wired internet connection is highly recommended when completing this on-line course due to the streaming of the video content.)

Online Continuing Education - Recorded Events

Recorded Education Sessions

Session Fees - Various

Available Recorded Events:

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Mandate to Be Great - The 5 Traits of Techno-Resilient People and Organizations

In this presentation, Dr. Rob Graham will share research-based insights on how the organizations he studied were able to do more with less, and overcome as opposed to being overcome by technology. He will specifically address some of the bereavement sector's 'pain points' based on the information gathered during the focus group session held with OACFP members.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Introduction to Bereavement Sector Ethics, Presented by Jane Ann McLachlan

This webinar will provide an overview and introduction to ethics as they relate to bereavement sector professionals. This is the first part of a series of presentations specifically developed for the OACFP and Ontario bereavement professionals and will be part of our new Creating a Climate of Ethical Choices in the Bereavement Profession micro-certification credential.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: The Right Way of Death - The Problem

On Demand Webinar: The Right Way of Death, The Problem - Presenter, Eric Layer

Author Eric Layer has spent his career helping brands navigate the winds of change, after spending most of his life in and around the family business of funeral homes and cemeteries. He leverages that unique perspective to paint a vivid picture of what today’s bereavement professionals are getting right—and what they’re doing wrong.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: The Right Way of Death - There is Hope

On Demand Webinar: The Right Way of Death, There is Hope - Presenter, Eric LayerA

The current uncertainty around death care is not the sector’s fault, but it is their problem. The calling is hamstrung by mixed messages. It’s tough for a modern bereavement professional to decide whether to be a leader or a follower, salesperson or confidant. But there is a right way to do death, and funeral professionals are experts. The future of the business will require a recognition of that truth so that those who work in death care can reclaim the soul of the calling and guide families with care and confidence.

2021 Crematorium Operators Certification and Training - Now On Demand

This is the only recognized course for the certification of crematorium operators in the province of Ontario. This program will ensure you have the necessary training required under the FBCSA. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the cremation process, consumer protection for cremation clients, and best service practices and standards. This program is open to anyone involved with any aspect of the cremation process including counsellors, funeral directors, full and part-time operators and owners. This program is the first phase towards operator certification. Full certification will be granted upon successful completion of the self-administered exam AND verification that the participant has completed fifty (50) cremation cases (second phase), for which participants have one full year from the date of the program to complete. The OACFP recommends that anyone who has not attended a crematorium training program within the last five years should attend.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Emotional Intelligence for the Bereavement Sector

This presentation will provide an overview of research into Emotional Intelligence and work stress along with practical advice on how to improve Emotional Intelligence to enhance happiness, improve client satisfaction and, improve productivity. Drawing on discoveries she made while working on her Ph.D. in Psychology, Melanie will share some of the key findings from her book " Emotional Intelligence for Funeral Directors "

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Building Your Compassion Fatigue & Vicarious Trauma Toolkit

You will learn how to assess your own risk factors for Compassion Fatigue Vicarious Trauma, workplace and individual strategies for reducing the effects of Compassion Fatigue Vicarious Trauma, and evidence-based strategies for working well in high-stress, trauma-exposed work. CE Credit 1 hour Category B.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: The Why Behind EDI, Laura Williams

Navigating diversity and inclusion issues has always been complex and multifaceted but, in this past year, this area has become increasingly critical and challenging for workplaces. Given that organizations are facing more scrutiny than ever before with respect to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, understanding obligations and ensuring expectations have been clearly communicated to employees, clients, and relevant stakeholders are more important than ever before.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Looking Back to Leap Forward, Siobhan Calderbank

It is common to look to our past when planning for the future. However, do you dwell on mistakes or choose to focus on lessons learned? It can be problematic when we allow our past to define who we are and limit our ability to achieve success. Instead, we need to embrace our past and lean into our future so that we can leap forward. This will help you to define your purpose, harness your power and boost your effectiveness. In this keynote, we will explore four ways to maximize your potential so that you create the story you want to tell about yourself.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: Alkaline Hydrolysis Overview

Tour Kawartha Aquamation and learn about the Alkaline Hydrolysis process along with the legal, municipal and regulatory requirements for establishing and operating an alkaline hydrolysis business in Ontario.