Techniques de thanatologie
On completion of this course, you will be qualified to provide funeral services to individuals or families who have lost a loved one. The main aspects of an embalmer’s work are twofold: funeral direction and embalming (thanatopraxy).
About the program
Program objectives
This program trains individuals to become thanatologists working in the area of funeral services. It also fulfills one of the conditions required in order to obtain a Quebec embalmer’s licence, issued by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
Thantologists provide funeral services to meet the needs of those who have lost a loved one. Their work involves two main aspects: overseeing funerals and embalming. The task of overseeing funerals involves greeting the bereaved, providing them with information and advising them on planning the funeral as well as organizing and coordinating the funeral ceremony and rites. Thantologists generally guide the bereaved throughout the funeral process and take care of urgent succession formalities. They are also given the task of transporting the deceased from the location of death to the funeral home or forensic examination facility. The second main task of thantologists involves embalming the bodies of the deceased and preparing them for viewing.
Thantologists practise their profession in the province’s many funeral establishments. The tasks these specialists are entrusted with vary depending on the structure and size of the business and the composition of their team. They must therefore be extremely versatile and flexible. Thantologists can work in close collaboration with existing management or take over a family business. Given the context in which they work, thantologists must adapt to varied locations and unconventional work organization. Mastery of specialized equipment is part of the requirements of this particular job.
Thantologists are called upon to interact with individuals from various walks of life, cultures and religions during a very difficult time in their lives when they are particularly vulnerable. As such, they have a high level of social responsibility. They also have an obligation to protect public health through the proper handling and treatment of human remains and must respect the numerous regulations the profession is subject to. Graduates of the Funeral Service Technology program can become members of the Corporation des thanatologues du Québec.
This program trains individuals to become thanatologists working in the area of funeral services. It also fulfills one of the conditions required in order to obtain a Quebec embalmer’s licence, issued by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
Thantologists provide funeral services to meet the needs of those who have lost a loved one. Their work involves two main aspects: overseeing funerals and embalming. The task of overseeing funerals involves greeting the bereaved, providing them with information and advising them on planning the funeral as well as organizing and coordinating the funeral ceremony and rites. Thantologists generally guide the bereaved throughout the funeral process and take care of urgent succession formalities. They are also given the task of transporting the deceased from the location of death to the funeral home or forensic examination facility. The second main task of thantologists involves embalming the bodies of the deceased and preparing them for viewing.
Thantologists practise their profession in the province’s many funeral establishments. The tasks these specialists are entrusted with vary depending on the structure and size of the business and the composition of their team. They must therefore be extremely versatile and flexible. Thantologists can work in close collaboration with existing management or take over a family business. Given the context in which they work, thantologists must adapt to varied locations and unconventional work organization. Mastery of specialized equipment is part of the requirements of this particular job.
Thantologists are called upon to interact with individuals from various walks of life, cultures and religions during a very difficult time in their lives when they are particularly vulnerable. As such, they have a high level of social responsibility. They also have an obligation to protect public health through the proper handling and treatment of human remains and must respect the numerous regulations the profession is subject to. Graduates of the Funeral Service Technology program can become members of the Corporation des thanatologues du Québec.
Condition of admission
Before applying to a program leading to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS), applicants who studied in Québec must meet the following three requirements:
The applicant must have a Secondary School Diploma and be in one of the following situations:
The applicant has a Secondary School Diploma (SSD)*
NOTE: a SSD holder that has not passed the following courses may be required to complete remedial courses:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
Secondary 4 Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Physical Science
Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education or Secondary 4 History of Quebec and Canada
The applicant holds a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) and has successfully completed the following subjects*:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
The applicant has training deemed equivalent by the College.
The applicant has training and experience deemed sufficient by the College and has interrupted full time studies for at least 24 months.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, the special conditions for admission established by the Minister which specify the program prerequisites*.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, any special conditions for admission established by the College for each of its programs.
*If the applicant is enrolled in school and completing his or her secondary studies at the time of application, the grades sent by the school must demonstrate that the applicant is passing in all the courses required to complete the SSD and required to fulfill the admission requirements.
The applicant must have a Secondary School Diploma and be in one of the following situations:
The applicant has a Secondary School Diploma (SSD)*
NOTE: a SSD holder that has not passed the following courses may be required to complete remedial courses:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
Secondary 4 Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Physical Science
Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education or Secondary 4 History of Quebec and Canada
The applicant holds a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) and has successfully completed the following subjects*:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
The applicant has training deemed equivalent by the College.
The applicant has training and experience deemed sufficient by the College and has interrupted full time studies for at least 24 months.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, the special conditions for admission established by the Minister which specify the program prerequisites*.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, any special conditions for admission established by the College for each of its programs.
*If the applicant is enrolled in school and completing his or her secondary studies at the time of application, the grades sent by the school must demonstrate that the applicant is passing in all the courses required to complete the SSD and required to fulfill the admission requirements.
Collège de Rosemont - In French
3 years
Technical Program