Online mortuary school can work, but “online” rarely means every part of the path is remote. Funeral service education still has accreditation rules, lab work, clinical requirements, state licensing rules, exams, and apprenticeship steps. The safe question is not only “Can I take classes online?” It is “Will this program satisfy the license rules in the state where I plan to work?”
This guide is for students comparing online, hybrid, or distance education mortuary science programs in the United States. Use it with the School Finder and Mortician Licensing Wizard before you apply.
Quick Answer: Can You Do Mortuary School Online?
Yes, some ABFSE-accredited funeral service or mortuary science programs offer distance education, online coursework, or hybrid delivery. But you still need to verify accreditation, in-person lab or clinical expectations, state licensing acceptance, National Board Exam preparation, and apprenticeship timing before enrolling.
ABFSE’s 2025 directory reports 58 accredited programs or institutions. It also reports that 51 accredited programs offer some distance education, and that almost half of graduates completed more than half of their courses through distance modality. That does not mean every program is fully online, available in every state, or accepted for every license type.
What “Online Mortuary School” Can Mean
The phrase can describe several different formats. Treat the delivery label as a starting point, not proof that the whole license path can be completed remotely.
| Format | What it usually means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Fully online coursework | Most lectures and general education courses are remote | Whether labs, restorative art, embalming, or clinical requirements require travel |
| Hybrid program | Some online courses plus scheduled campus, lab, or clinical sessions | How often you must appear in person and whether the schedule fits work and travel |
| Distance education approved by ABFSE | The accredited program has approval to deliver some education remotely | Whether that approval covers the specific program and cohort you plan to enter |
| Online general education only | Non-funeral-service courses may be online, while technical courses remain in person | Whether the funeral service core is actually remote |
| Out-of-state online study | You study through a school in another state | Whether your target work state’s board accepts that education path |
If a school page says “online,” ask what percentage of the accredited funeral service curriculum is online, which courses require attendance, and how clinical or case requirements are completed.
Accredited Online or Distance Education Programs to Investigate
The examples below are not an endorsement or a complete current enrollment list. They are starting points because the ABFSE 2025 directory marks them with distance education language. Delivery formats can change, so verify with the school, ABFSE, and your state licensing board before applying.
| Program | State | ABFSE directory distance education note | Best next check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson State Community College | Alabama | Distance Education - YES | Ask which funeral service courses are remote and how clinical requirements work |
| University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana | Arkansas | Distance Education - YES | Confirm the distance pathway and any Arkansas-specific site or clinical rules |
| Arapahoe Community College | Colorado | Distance Education - YES; part-time option listed | Ask how part-time sequencing affects graduation, apprenticeship, and license timing |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Florida | Distance Education - YES | Confirm whether the current cohort is approved for distance delivery |
| St. Petersburg College | Florida | Distance Education - YES in the ABFSE directory | Ask about lab, clinical, and Florida board acceptance before enrolling |
| Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service | Georgia | Distance Education - YES in the ABFSE directory | Compare tuition, debt, graduation outcomes, and target-state licensing rules |
Use the School Finder to compare tuition, debt, degree type, completion data, and program pages. Then use the state guide for the place where you plan to work, not only the state where the school is located.
Does Online Mortuary School Count for State Licensing?
It can count if the education is from an accepted accredited program and the state board recognizes the path for the license type you want. The risk is that state rules are written around license type, exam timing, apprenticeship timing, and case documentation, not only the word “online.”
Before you rely on an online program, verify these items:
- The program is ABFSE-accredited for the credential you plan to earn.
- The program’s distance education delivery applies to your cohort and degree path.
- Your target state accepts that education for funeral director, embalmer, or combined funeral service licensure.
- Required labs, clinical work, case reports, or embalming experience can be completed in a way the board accepts.
- The program prepares graduates for the National Board Exam if your state requires it.
- Any apprenticeship or internship can be started before, during, or after school according to state rules.
The safest sequence is: target state, license type, accepted education, school format, clinical plan, apprenticeship plan, then cost.
How Much Does Online Mortuary School Cost?
Online delivery does not automatically make mortuary school cheap. Tuition, fees, books, technology charges, travel for labs or clinical work, lost income, and licensing fees all matter.
Use this cost checklist before comparing programs:
| Cost item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition | Public programs may be far cheaper for state residents |
| Out-of-state tuition | Online students may still pay nonresident rates |
| Required travel | Campus labs, exams, clinical sites, or orientation can add real cost |
| Lost income | Part-time and online delivery may reduce lost wages, but can extend the timeline |
| Apprenticeship pay | Some students earn less during supervised practice than after licensure |
| Licensing and exam fees | National Board Exam, state law exams, application, renewal, and background check fees vary |
For a financial estimate, compare schools in the School Finder, then model tuition plus lost income in the Career ROI Calculator.
Online vs In-Person Mortuary School
Online school is strongest when it lets you keep working, avoid relocation, or complete general education and lecture-heavy courses remotely. In-person school can be stronger when you need structured lab access, local funeral home relationships, and hands-on support.
| Decision factor | Online or hybrid may fit if | In-person may fit if |
|---|---|---|
| Work schedule | You need to keep a job while studying | You can attend a fixed weekday schedule |
| Local access | You already have a funeral home or clinical contact | You need school help finding local placements |
| Learning style | You are disciplined with remote coursework | You learn better with live lab supervision |
| State rules | Your target board accepts the program and clinical plan | Your state or license path creates too much uncertainty |
| Budget | Avoiding relocation lowers total cost | Local public tuition is cheaper than online nonresident tuition |
Do not choose online only for convenience. Choose it when the license path, clinical plan, and total cost still work.
Questions to Ask Before Enrolling
Send these questions to admissions or the program director before you apply:
- Is this specific funeral service or mortuary science program ABFSE-accredited?
- Is distance education approved for the current cohort and credential?
- Which courses are online, hybrid, or in person?
- How often must students travel to campus or an approved site?
- How are embalming, restorative art, clinical, or case requirements completed?
- Does the program publish National Board Exam outcomes for distance education students?
- Which states do graduates most commonly seek licensure in?
- Does the program help students secure apprenticeship or internship placements?
- What is the total estimated cost after tuition, fees, travel, and supplies?
- If I plan to work in a different state, what should I verify with that board?
Keep written answers. If a state board later asks how your education or case work was completed, documentation helps.
When Online Mortuary School Is a Bad Fit
An online or hybrid program is risky if you cannot confirm state acceptance, cannot complete required clinical work, need heavy hands-on supervision, or would pay high out-of-state tuition without a clear salary payoff.
Be especially cautious when:
- The school is not ABFSE-accredited for funeral service or mortuary science.
- The program uses vague language like “career training” without license alignment.
- The school cannot explain lab, clinical, or apprenticeship requirements.
- Your target state separates funeral director and embalmer licenses and you are unsure which path you need.
- The program costs more than a nearby public option but does not improve your license timeline.
If any of those apply, compare local options in the School Finder before committing.
FAQ
Is there a fully online mortuary science degree?
Some programs offer substantial distance education, but many students still need labs, clinical work, supervised cases, exams, or apprenticeship steps that are not fully online. Verify the exact delivery format with the school and the state board.
Is online mortuary school accredited?
Online delivery can be part of an ABFSE-accredited program. The key is not whether a class is online; it is whether the underlying funeral service or mortuary science program is accredited and accepted for your target license.
Can I go to online mortuary school in one state and work in another?
Possibly, but you must verify the target state’s license rules before enrolling. A program may be accredited and still require careful review if the work state has specific education, apprenticeship, case report, or exam timing rules.
What is the best online mortuary school?
The best online mortuary school is the accredited program that satisfies your target state license rules at the lowest realistic total cost. Compare tuition, travel, outcomes, exam preparation, clinical access, and apprenticeship support before ranking schools.
Can online mortuary school help me become a funeral director faster?
Not always. Online delivery may help you keep working while studying, but the license timeline still depends on state rules, exams, apprenticeship or internship requirements, and whether you can complete clinical obligations on schedule.
Related Tools and Guides
- School Finder - compare ABFSE-accredited programs, tuition, debt, and outcomes
- Mortician Licensing Wizard - check state education, exam, apprenticeship, and renewal items
- Career ROI Calculator - model school cost, lost income, and 10-year return
- Mortician License Requirements by State - verify state-specific license rules
- Is Mortuary School Worth It? - compare debt, pay, and career fit
Sources
- American Board of Funeral Service Education - directory and accreditation information
- The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards - licensing requirements
- NFDA Licensing Boards & Requirements
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
How This Page Was Built
- Primary source: ABFSE 2025 directory text extracted into the local research folder, plus local ABFSE school and College Scorecard datasets used by the School Finder.
- Method: this page separates verified accreditation and distance education signals from enrollment claims. Program examples are included only as starting points where the ABFSE directory uses distance education language.
- Limits: delivery format, cohort approval, tuition, clinical requirements, and state board acceptance can change. Always verify current details with the school and the licensing board for the state where you plan to work.