Level 4 Diploma in Advanced Practice Funeral Celebrancy

The answer is in the course title – it is ADVANCED PRACTICE. With this NOCN Level 4 qualification you will hold the very highest national qualification possible in funeral celebrancy. This qualification is at the same level as a first year of a degree course and the course content reflects this standard. Funeral directors can choose to use celebrants from a growing number who approach them. It is becoming increasingly essential to develop your skills further and learn new techniques to improve the service you offer. Not only do funeral directors question celebrants more closely, some also have Service Level Agreements in place and centralised application systems to select the celebrants their branches will work with. This closer scrutiny is to be welcomed but it does require that celebrants develop further skills.
Most celebrant associations or institutes require CPD, and the Diploma in Advanced Practice will more than cover the requirement for this.

It is easy for ceremonies to become rather ‘samey’ to some extent so an injection of new skills and ideas will provide additional variety and choice. Apart from a few additional NOCN Level 4 short courses in specialised areas, there has, until now, been no progression or further development available for celebrants since the Level 3 Diploma was introduced by Civil Ceremonies in 2004. This is why the NOCN Level 4 Diploma in Advanced Practice Funeral Celebrancy has been developed by Civil Ceremonies with awarding body NOCN (National Open College Network).

Who is the course for?
The Diploma in Advanced Practice is for ANY practising celebrant and the criteria for acceptance on to the course is detailed here: www.civilceremonies.co.uk/level-4-funeral-celebrancy-how-to-apply

Qualification details
As a Level 4 national qualification, this course is equivalent to the first year of a bachelor’s degree and is considered as advanced learning. Level 4 qualifications indicate a greater level of understanding and a higher learning level than ‘A’ Level or a Level 3 qualification.

The qualification number is 610/2743/1 and has:
• 58 credits and 19 units
• 395 Guided Learning Hours
• 580 Total Qualification Time

www.nocn.org.uk/Data/Asset_Downloads/QSL4DiplomainAdvancedPracticeFuneralCelebrancy-V1.pdf

“The need for further progression for celebrants is clear, not only to benefit the funeral industry with the increasing client expectations but for individual celebrants who currently have limited opportunities to enhance their skills beyond Level 3. Changes within the funeral industry are happening faster than ever before with the demands and expectations of both clients and funeral directors increasing quite dramatically. With regulation on the horizon for the funeral industry there will be closer scrutiny of practises and choices offered to the clients. Therefore, celebrants need the opportunity to develop their skills further through continued professional development, especially higher level accredited qualifications to meet the current demands and the challenges ahead.” Nicola Jarmaine, Chair to the Governors of the Independent Funeral Directors College.