Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

The Work

Embalmers use chemicals and medical instruments to prepare the body of someone who's died for burial or cremation. This is done for three main reasons. Firstly, to keep the body preserved until the funeral. Secondly, for presentation - relatives and friends may want to view their loved one in a peaceful and natural state. Thirdly, sanitation - embalming ensures that there are no health risks to those who come into contact with the body.  
 
Embalmers inject chemicals, sometimes using electric pumps, into the arteries, and these chemicals preserve the body. Waste body fluids are then drained and removed. It may be necessary to do some cosmetic work, such as hairdressing and application of make-up.  
 
In some circumstances, perhaps if the deceased has been involved in an accident, the embalmer will need to do some restorative work. While embalmers are trained in all aspects of the job, some specialise in restorative work.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Conform to laws of health and sanitation and ensure that legal requirements concerning embalming are met.
• Apply cosmetics to impart lifelike appearance to the deceased.
• Join lips, using needles and thread or wire.
• Close incisions, using needles and sutures.
• Incise stomach and abdominal walls and probe internal organs, using trocar, to withdraw blood and waste matter from organs.
• Clean and disinfect areas in which bodies are prepared and embalmed.
• Dress bodies and place them in caskets.
• Make incisions in arms or thighs and drain blood from circulatory system and replace it with embalming fluid, using pump.
• Remove the deceased from place of death and transport to funeral home.
• Perform the duties of funeral directors, including coordinating funeral activities.

Further Information

• Embalmer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Embalmer - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Some applicants apply on the basis of building expereince and learning on the job, in tandem with skill building via courses. 

Ideally, the applicant should have completed:

Leaving Certificate or an equivalent qualification.

Anatomy and Physiology would be an advantage.

Previous experience working in a mortuary set-up is also an advantage.

All interested students must sit in the Introductory Course in anatomy & physiology: People branch in careers from courses & learning via FET courses in preparation for entering embalming specific training;

FET Centre Traineeships Healthcare skills NFQ level 5 Search FET Traineeship

PLC Post leaving cert courses Healthcare (anatomy & physiology), Psychology, social studies, Social care NFQ level 5 NFQ level 5 Search our PLC coursefinder 

Professional Development 

In Ireland, embalming practice is cross departmental regulated regulated HSPC Embalming best practice, you do not need to do any course or hold a certification specific to Embalming Skills/Training in order to start working as an embalmer. Best practice is a care, health, and social qualification to support your work. 

Assessment Procedure

The tutor provides continuous assessments of the students and provides feedback. It is usually done at every end of each module or every end of the units in the case of longer modules.

Final assessments are provided by external examiners – Deathcare Academy Examinations Board of Mortuary Science (DCAEBMS).

Upon successful completion of all the Modules, the student will be put forward by the Course Provider to sit the Final Theory exam which is set and corrected by an approved examiner from the DCAEBMS.

Objective Structured Practical Examiantion (OSPE)

Upon successful completion of the Final Theory Exam and completion of the minimum case requirements set by the Exam Board, the student (with the approval of the Course Provider) may apply for the OSPE.

Qualification

The course is approved by the Deathcare Academy Examinations Board of Mortuary Science (DCEBMS) and the Professional Embalmers’ Association of Ireland (PEAI).

Professional Embalmers Assoc of Ireland PEAI Upon successful completion of the Final Theory and OSPE set by the Examinations Board, students will be entitled to apply for Full Membership of the PEAI.

Last Updated: July, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €54k

Salaries vary by employer, duties, role, experience, and location.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Salary expert/ Eirieri/ Indeed

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was strong for this occupation, particularly between 2021 and 2022. Census data shows that employment grew across all roles in this group between 2016 and 2022, with the strongest growth for pharmaceutical technicans.

The number of online job adverts for pharmaceutical technicians grew strongly in 2022 (+14%); skills in demand included, among others pharmaceutical knowledge, the ability to provide customer service & advice, and business skills, such as product sales.

A small number of employment permits were issued in 2022 for cardiac physiologists and paramedics. The available data sources do not signal any issues in relation to supply and demand for health associate professional occupations; however, if employment was to continue to increase, recruitment issues may emerge.

• Irish Association of Funeral Directors

  • Mespil House, Mespil Business Centre,Sussex Road, Dublin 4
  • 0818 935 000
  • Click Here

• British Institute of Embalmers

  • 21c Station Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0HL, United Kingdom
  • +44 (0)1564 778991
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Professional Emblamers Assoc of Ireland

  • Unit 3, Union Road Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo, F91 AKW5, Ireland
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here