Mortuary Science

Apply to Ivy Tech First

Students interested in the Mortuary Science program must first submit the Ivy Tech general application and complete requirements for admission to the college. During this application, you should apply as undeclared/undecided program with an interest in Mortuary Science. Admission to the college does not ensure acceptance to the Mortuary Science program, but students can be working on prerequisite courses after admission to the college and before applying to the program itself.

Apply to the Mortuary Science Program

Following completion of prerequisite courses, you may apply for the Mortuary Science program by submitting an admission packet. The program evaluates application packets and admits students during the spring semester ahead of Mortuary Science Core Courses beginning in the summer.

The application deadline for the 2023 cohort is March 31, 2023.

Each admission packet must be submitted in a three-ring binder and should include:

• Binder cover with the words "Application Packet for Mortuary Science" on it along with your name and the date of submission
• Application form (Print page 27 of the application packet)
• Unofficial copies of all previous college transcripts, including Ivy Tech transcript
• An official copy of your High School transcripts or GED certification sealed.

Hand-delivered application packets must be in the mortuary science office no later than the due date. If mailed, the packet must be postmarked by the due date. All information on the application must be completed and all requested documents must be included for the application to be considered complete and valid. Late, unsigned, incomplete/invalid applications may be rejected without notice to the student.

School of Health Science Office
Fairbanks Center, Mortuary Science office F361B

Mailing Address:
Ivy Tech Community College c/o
Mortuary Science Office F361B
9301 E. 59th St.
Indianapolis, IN. 46216

Download Full Application Packet for More Info

Considerations for Transfer Students

Students transferring from another college or university (including a different Ivy Tech Region) must apply for and be accepted into Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana (Indianapolis). Official college transcripts from all other educational institutions (Ivy Tech excluded) must be mailed to the Ivy Tech Community College Office of the Registrar and be evaluated prior to program application. The transcripts must be mailed from the educational institution or walked into the registrar in a sealed envelope. It is the responsibility of the student to provide a course catalog and course syllabi when necessary to evaluate transfer credit. Students should plan to send the transcript a minimum of 90 days prior to application to the Mortuary Science program. Students are also expected to meet with the Mortuary Science Program Chair prior to application.

Questions concerning transfer credit may be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

What If I Don’t Get Admitted?

The Mortuary Science program maintains a waitlist, so it's possible you could be added to the program after this initial application process. However, we welcome all non-admitted applicants to reapply in the next semester’s application cycle. You may also want to meet with your advisor to discuss how to make your application more competitive.

What is Selective Admission? 

The Mortuary Science program is a selective admissions program. Due to the equipment and practicum partner sites required for training, we are only able to accept a small number of students each year.

After a student meets the program admission criteria (outlined below), they must remain in good academic standing so they can register for required program-level courses and become eligible to engage in practical learning at practicum partner sites. Students also need to understand that the practicum site owners and/or embalming preceptors, and not the College, control the practicum settings and who is permitted to use them.

Scoring for Program Acceptance

A weighted point system is used to evaluate applicants for admission. Students must carry a minimum cumulative grade point of 2.5 to be eligible for program acceptance. Student applications are assigned points based on their grades in prerequisite courses. Point totals for applicants receiving admission offers will vary between campuses. Point totals are not shared.

Letter grades received in the prerequisite courses will be assigned a numeric value and the total point value will be calculated. Students with the highest point value will be admitted into the program. Please understand, only prerequisite courses that have been completed will be assigned a point value. Prerequisite courses in progress, will not count toward the overall point value because there will not be a final grade assigned to them. You are encouraged to apply to the program and may be accepted into the program, with the condition that you complete the in-progress courses successfully and maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, but no points will be awarded to in progress courses.

If a course is taken more than once, the highest grade will be used to calculate the overall student score, but the original grade will be reflected in the student’s overall grade point average.

Students with the highest total score will be admitted into the program until the program reaches maximum enrollment of 30 students. Students who are not accepted into the program may be put on a waiting list, or may reapply for program acceptance for the following year. Students reapplying to the Mortuary Science program must resubmit the application packet in full.

Tie Breaker

In the case of identical scores among the lowest ranking students, the student grade point averages will be noted to 2 decimal places. The student with the highest-grade point average will be admitted.

American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)-Accredited Program

Ivy Tech is proud to be accredited by ABFSE, the national academic accreditation agency for college and university programs in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Education.

The information below is provided in accordance with accreditation requirements.

Mortuary Science Program Learning Outcomes

The central mission of an ABFSE-accredited program must be to educate students in every phase of funeral service so that program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in funeral service.  In support of this mission, a program must adopt at least the following Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of an accredited program, students will be able to:

• Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.
• Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.
• Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral services in order to ensure compliance.
• Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.
• Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.
• 2.1.6 Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.
• Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.
• Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.
• Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.
• Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.

Program Contact

Jonathon DeHart
317-921-4325
jdehart13@ivytech.edu
Lawrence Fairbanks Campus, Office 361D

Accreditation

Program Accredited by ABFSE:  Associate of Applied Science - Mortuary Science

• Initial Accreditation 2008
• Last comprehensive review 2018
• Next comprehensive review 2025
• Re-accreditation:  October 2018 for period of 7 years
• Most recent Accreditation decision: October 2018 re-accreditation with no stipulations following receipt of updated assessment plan.

Indianapolis Program Statistics

*Timely graduation = complete program in 1½ times designated program length.
**Graduation rate reflects cohort graduation rate (% of students from original cohort completing in the designated year)
***Left before completing the program; did not finish.

NATIONAL BOARD STATISTICS - Ivy Tech Community College-Central Indiana

School pass rate is based on 1st time test takers within one year of graduation.

Additional Information

The Mortuary Science associate degree program at Ivy Tech Community College – Central Indiana is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org.

Degree Offered:  Associate of Applied Science

Distance Learning – General Education Courses ONLY

The annual passage rate of first time takers of the National Board Examination (NBE) for the most recent three year period for this institution and all ABFSE accredited funeral service education programs is posted on their website https://www.abfse.org/html/dir-in.html.

National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates,  and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

To request a printed copy of this program’s pass, graduation, and/or employment rates you can go to the mortuary science office room FC 361 Office B or submit your request via e-mail at jdehart13@ivytech.edu or over the phone at 317-921-4325.

Scheduling Your Exam

While Ivy Tech's Mortuary Science program is designed to prepare you for the national board examination, you must schedule and pass the exam in order to start practicing as a mortician following graduation.

The national board examination is created by the International Conference of Funeral Service
Examining Boards. Their web address is www.theconferenceonline.org. Their web site offers a
great deal of information in reference to the exam.

Your program chair will also work with you when it is time to schedule the exam. The exam is only available at the Pearson Vue Professional Testing Centers. You can find a location near you at the web address above, along with other information. Please plan to visit this site regularly.

Just Passed Your National Board Exam? Here's What to Do Next!

1. Celebrate! This is a GREAT accomplishment. Thank your instructors and family for their support, as they'll surely want to celebrate with you, too.
2. Contact your program chair to share the good news and provide copies of your results.
3. Contact the Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Services through the Indiana
   Professional Licensing Agency (or the State Board of Funeral Service in the State you wish
   to work in).
   
   For Indiana information, Visit http://www.in.gov/pla/
   On the left-hand side, click the link ‘Professions’
   Under this link, scroll down to Funeral & Cemetery
   Scroll down to License Applications and Instructions
   Click on the Funeral Director Intern Link
4. Download and complete the Internship application.
5. Submit the application and supporting paperwork along with any associated fees and start
   your internship.
   
   Job hunting should start early in the Mortuary Science Program (or before).
   Ivy Tech does not guarantee employment after you complete the program, but the
   program has enjoyed high employment rates for graduates.