ABFSE American Board of Funeral Service Education

Welcome

The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)
The ABFSE serves as the national academic accreditation agency for college and university programs in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Education. Although its roots go back to the 1940's, the ABFSE became an autonomous agency in 1962. The accrediting function of ABFSE is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

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ABFSE 64th Annual Meeting - Friday, April 17, 2026
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Livestream Link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/m26045161516744

Accreditation

COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED.

Find an ABFSE Accredited Program or School

Review of Standards

ABFSE engages in a review of the Accreditation Standards every five (5) years. The process was initiated in summer/fall 2022 and recommended changes were presented for comment.

Acceptance of the Accreditation Standards was finalized at the COA Meeting in April 2024.
Click here for Standards (PDF) - effective January 1, 2025

About Embalming: History, theory, practice
(available March 2022)

Embalming: History, Theory, and Practice
Sixth Edition: 9781260010077:
Medicine - Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

To obtain instructor resources for Embalming: History, Theory, and
Practice, 6e, email Sydney Keen (sydney.keen@mheducation.com)

Download Press Release (PDF)

How to order from Amazon

www.amazon.com

Embalming Textbook - Click here for details

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Meet the Scholarship Recipients

In the past academic year, ABFSE received 78 undergraduate scholarship inquiries in October 2025. Four (4) Graduate scholarship applications were received.

Eight (8) undergraduate scholarships were awarded for a total of $12,500.

Four (4) Larry Cleveland Graduate Scholarships were awarded for a total of $8,000.

Meet our recipients. Scholarships are made possible due to the generosity of the Scholarship Sponsors recognized below.

ABFSE Scholarship Recipient - Cassie Balfanz

ABFSE Scholarship Recipient - Kaitlynn Ross

ABFSE Scholarship Recipient - Monica Weisfeld

Shannen Camp
Salt Lake Community College
Undergrad

Elijah Frieson
Mercer College
Undergrad

Cassie Balfanz
Worsham College
Undergrad
View bio here

Kaitlynn Ross
Worsham College
Undergrad
View bio here

Monica Weisfeld
Worsham College
Undergrad
View bio here

Andrea Hardesty
Carl Sandberg College
Undergrad

Latoia Russell
Mid-America
Undergrad

ABFSE Scholarship Recipient - Brittany Carrington

ABFSE Scholarship Recipient - Stephanie Kelly

ABFSE Scholarship Recipient - Kelly McBride

ABFSE Scholarship Recipient - Jennifer Sheehan

Rosa Soiparz
Carl Sandberg College
Undergrad

Brittany Carrington
NE Texas Community College
Graduate
View bio here

Stephanie Kelly
Salt Lake Community College
Graduate
View bio here

Kelly McBride
San Antonio College
Graduate
View bio here

Jennifer Sheehan
Piedmont Technical College
Graduate
View bio here


Learn more about:
•	ABFSE Calendar
•	ABFSE 2026 Annual Conference
•	ABFSE Accreditation Standards
•	Funeral Service Profession
•	Where are the accredited programs?
•	Accreditation/COA
•	Questions for COA
•	Degree Mills
•	Resource Links
•	Contact Us
You served your country in the armed forces. What’s Next? Have you considered the Funeral Service Profession? Click here for more information.
•	Town Hall and Professional Development notes Click here for more info

The National
Scholarship Program
of the American
Board of Funeral Service Education provides financial awards to students enrolled in funeral service or mortuary science programs to assist them in obtaining their professional education.

Apply for your Scholarship Online!