Who is an embalmer?
The roles of a mortician and an embalmer are different. A mortician is a person who arranges for the final disposition of the deceased who may or may not prepare the deceased. An embalmer is someone who has been trained in the art and science of embalming and may not have any contact with the family, although many people fill both roles. Embalming training commonly involves formal study in anatomy, thanatology, chemistry and specific embalming theory (to widely varying levels depending on the region of the world one lives in) combined with practical instruction in a mortuary with a resultant formal qualification granted after the passing of a final practical examination and acceptance into a recognized embalming body. Examples of nationally recognized courses can be found found here[6] and here[7]. Legal requirements over who can practice vary geographically. Some regions or countries have no specific requirements as to who may practice embalming. Additionally, in many places embalming
