If you’re considering an online funeral service degree, you probably have two questions right away. How soon can I finish? And how do I fit it around everything else in my life?
The answer depends mostly on you. Online programs let you choose how many courses you take each term, so the timeline can range from under two years to about three. This guide breaks down how the math works, shows sample timelines for different course loads, and explains what to plan for after graduation.
The basic building blocks
To estimate how long an online funeral service degree takes, you need four numbers:
- Total credits. Associate degrees in funeral service typically require 60 to 70 credits. A 69-credit program is a common example.
- Credits per term. Online programs often let you set your own load, sometimes up to a maximum of around 14 credits.
- Terms per year. Some programs run only fall and spring. Others run spring, summer, and fall, which adds a full extra term each year.
- Completion window. Many programs set a deadline to finish, such as three years from your start date.
Divide the total credits by your credits per term, and you get the number of terms you need. Then look at how many terms the school offers each year. That gives you a realistic estimate for your online funeral service degree.
Sample timelines by course load
Here’s how a 69-credit online funeral service degree plays out in a program with three terms a year:
- Full-time, about 14 credits per term: 5 terms, or roughly 20 months
- Heavy part-time, about 10 credits per term: 7 terms, or roughly 2 years and 4 months
- Moderate part-time, about 8 credits per term: 9 terms, or roughly 3 years
- Light part-time, about 6 credits per term: 12 terms, or roughly 4 years
These are estimates. Your actual timeline depends on course sequencing, start dates, and when in-person sessions fall. Still, the pattern is clear. A full or heavy part-time load gets you through quickly, while a very light load can push you past a typical completion window.
That last point matters. If your program requires you to finish within three years, you need to average around 8 credits per term across nine terms. Plan your online funeral service degree with that limit in mind from the start, rather than discovering it halfway through.
Can you finish in under two years?
Yes, if you study full-time in a year-round program. Taking about 14 credits per term over five consecutive terms puts you at the finish line in under two years. That’s the fastest common path through an online funeral service degree.
It’s also demanding. A full load usually means 30 or more hours of study per week, which is hard to combine with a full-time job. Students who choose this path often work part-time, have savings to lean on, or have strong support at home. If that’s not your situation, a slightly lighter load may get you to the same place with less strain.
What can slow you down
Several things can stretch the timeline of an online funeral service degree:
- Prerequisites. Many courses build on earlier ones. Anatomy follows introductory science, and advanced embalming follows the principles of embalming. Skipping ahead isn’t possible, so a missed prerequisite can delay several later courses.
- Taking a term off. Life happens. A semester away from school adds months to your finish date.
- Withdrawing from courses. Dropping a class means retaking it later. It can also affect your financial aid, so talk with the financial aid office first.
- Clinical requirements. In-person embalming and restorative art must be completed on campus. If you don’t meet the clinical requirements during your scheduled session, you may need extra time on campus.
- Failing a course. Retaking a course adds time, especially when it’s a prerequisite for others.
Most delays come from choices made under pressure. A clear plan made at the start of your online funeral service degree helps you avoid them.
What can speed you up
On the other side, a few steps can shorten your path:
- Start as soon as possible. Programs with several start dates a year let you begin without waiting months for a fall term.
- Study year-round. Taking summer terms adds a full term of progress each year.
- Follow the recommended sequence. Taking courses in the intended order keeps every later course open to you on time.
- Use transfer credit. Prior college coursework may count toward some requirements, depending on the school’s transfer policy.
- Increase your load when you can. If your job has a slow season, use it to take an extra course.
Small gains add up. One extra course in each of a few terms can shorten an online funeral service degree by a full semester.
Planning for the in-person portion
Every accredited online funeral service degree includes hands-on training that can’t be done remotely. This usually covers clinical embalming, restorative art, and a funeral home practicum, completed on campus on scheduled dates.
In many programs, this in-person work takes place in your final semester. That timing affects your plan. You’ll need to know the dates well ahead of time, arrange time off from work, and budget for travel and lodging. Treat those dates as fixed points on your calendar from your first term, and build the rest of your online funeral service degree around them.
What comes after the degree
Finishing your online funeral service degree is a big step, but licensure usually requires more:
- The National Board Exam, which covers the arts and sciences of funeral service
- An apprenticeship or internship under a licensed professional, with length set by each state
- A state law or rules exam in many states
- A license application with fees and documentation
Apprenticeship requirements vary widely, from several months to a few years. Some states allow you to start part of it during school. Check your state licensing board’s rules early so you can line up your degree and your apprenticeship without gaps. With good planning, the time between graduation and licensure can be much shorter.
Building your own timeline
To map out your online funeral service degree, start with these steps:
- Look up your state’s licensing requirements, including the apprenticeship.
- Decide how many hours a week you can study, based on your job and family commitments.
- Choose a starting course load that matches those hours.
- Count the terms you’ll need and compare that with the program’s completion window.
- Mark your expected in-person session dates.
- Meet with an admissions or academic advisor to confirm your plan.
Revisit the plan every term. Your work schedule, finances, and family needs may change, and an online funeral service degree gives you room to adjust as long as you stay on track for the deadline.
Plan your online funeral service degree with AAMI
American Academy McAllister Institute (AAMI) has prepared funeral service professionals since 1926, has been ABFSE-accredited since 1950, and has offered online coursework since 2005. Our online program awards the same 69-credit Associate in Occupational Studies degree as our New York City campus.
At AAMI, every course is offered every semester, and there’s no minimum number of credits per term. You can take up to 14 credits per term and have up to three years to complete your degree. Full-time online students can finish in as few as five semesters. Required in-person work in Restorative Art, Clinical Embalming, and the Funeral Home Practicum takes place at our NYC campus during your final semester, and about 90% of our graduates find employment in the field.
