This academic program is designed to meet specific state or professional needs. It is not accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Students graduating from this program will not have the academic credential for licensure in states where graduation from an ABFSE accredited program is required.

Program Overview

The Certificate in Death Companioning for End of Life Professionals (CDC) is comprised of two courses: BFS315 Death Companioning and BFS316 Applied Death Companioning. We have designed our certificate program for working professionals who are looking to earn additional certification without sacrificing their current position or obligations. The field of end-of-life support is growing rapidly and includes death doulas, death midwives, end of life guides, hospice and palliative care professionals, funeral directors, clergy, community death conversation leaders and clinical professionals. Death Companioning is a service niche between death doulas and funeral directors and offers a way for end-of-life professionals, and those interested in furthering their study of end-of -life issues, a clearly defined area to work which takes into consideration the numerous legal, ethical and professional issues found within any young field. This certificate provides students with a clear framework for expanding their area of practice and to expand their knowledge of the growth within modern American deathcare. Students will also complete self-evaluations related to end-of-life issues and death anxiety, and learn skills which will allow them to more effectively navigate the care for an end-of-life practice.

Career Options
Potential career and industry options may include:

• Funeral Service professions
• Aspiring Doulas
• End-of-life care practitioners
• Family caregivers
• Professionals who work in healthcare
• Long-term care homes 
• Hospice and palliative care volunteers
• Social service agencies 
• Community health organizations
• Ministry and spiritual care providers
• Counseling and integrative therapies
• All who heed the call to embrace dying as part of the natural life cycle with more knowledge and compassion

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Graduation Requirements

To be considered a candidate for graduation from the Certificate in Death Companioning (CDC) Program at Mid-America College of Funeral Service, the following guidelines must be met:

1. The student has successfully completed the CDC program of instruction with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and passing grades in all courses;

2. The student is free of all indebtedness to the College.

Curriculum

The curriculum fulfills the requirements to receive a certificate in Death Companioning for End of Life Professionals. The two (2) courses are as follows:

The Certificate in Death Companioning for End of Life Professionals is not eligible for Financial Aid. Mid-America College of Funeral Service is not regionally accredited and that may limit the transfer of credits to another institution. All transfer credits are dependent on the receiving institution.

The Certificate in Death Companioning is Indiana Post-Secondary Education approved.

Technology Requirements

For suggested information on technology requirements, please review the pdf found, here.