Skills and Attributes Funeral Celebrants Need

You will need the following personal qualities, attributes and skills to become a successful funeral celebrant:

• Good literary and writing skills including the ability to write concisely, grammatically and effectively
• A good public speaking voice and confidence to speak in front of anything from 10 to 300 people
• Smart appearance
• A mature, calm, reassuring manner and sensitive interviewing skills
• Use of a computer and confident computer skills, with good experience of using Microsoft Word
• Access to and ability to use e-mail is essential.
• Availability on weekdays
• A genuine interest in providing a quality service and improving the choice and quality of funerals available to the bereaved

There is no upper age limit for those wishing to train for this work. On successful completion of the course, funeral celebrants work on a self-employed basis, or employed by their organisation. We include training on self-employment.

Funerals present varied, unpredictable problems. These situations call for good working relationships with funeral directors, crematorium managers, and others. Celebrants need to develop and maintain local networks with such organisations.

We do not stipulate any particular academic qualifications but there are exacting demands on writing and questioning abilities and on the applicant's self-confidence.