How long does the online certificate in funeral directing take to complete?

The online program takes 9 months if you do not transfer in with the needed general education credits. If you possess all of the general education credits, you can complete the online program in only 6 months.

What are general education courses?

The general education courses are core courses completed at another accredited college that can be transferred into our online program. The courses are: Biology, English, Psychology, College Algebra, and U.S. History.

What times during the year can I enroll?

If you have all of the general education courses completed and you plan to transfer them into our program, you can begin in January or July. If you are planning to take the general education courses online, you can begin in April or October.

What do I need to do in order to enroll?

Please submit your completed application via mail along with the $50 application fee, an official high school or GED transcript, and official transcripts from every college, junior college, vocational school, technical school, and/or university you may have attended. If you have been married or divorced, or had a name change we will need a copy of your name change form.

Does Commonwealth Institute charge out-of-state tuition?

No, we do not charge out-of-state tuition to our students.

Will my education from Commonwealth Institute be recognized by my state?

Commonwealth Institute’s certificate in funeral directing is currently recognized in certain states. Contact your state agency to see if our certificate in funeral directing will be recognized in the state in which you plan on seeking licensure.

Will I ever need to go to Houston, Texas for the online class?

No, you will be able to complete the online certificate program from the comfort of your own home, and your books will be shipped to you.

How can I get in touch with Commonwealth Institute?

You can email us at or give us a call at (281) 873-0262 or (800) 628-1580.

What are the first steps of becoming a licensed funeral director?

Check with your state agency for licensing requirements; contact Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service for an application or download it from our Web site; find out the dates of our next enrollment term; send in the required paperwork to Commonwealth for acceptance; and begin classes.