FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells and Wayne Community College President Dr. Patty Pfeiffer sign an academic agreement for Funeral Service Education on Oct. 31, 2024.
Wayne Community College President Patty Pfeiffer speaks as Dr. Marks Sorrells looks on.
Fayetteville Technical Community College has added Wayne Community College to its list of partner institutions to expand access to Funeral Service Education.
Leadership from the two colleges met at Wayne CC’s Goldsboro campus to sign an educational agreement allowing Wayne students to attend their local community college to earn their general education credits before seamlessly completing their Funeral Service Education courses through FTCC’s curriculum program.
The FTCC program, which is led by a team of faculty who are all licensed funeral professionals, is the only American Board of Funeral Service Education-accredited program in the state. The majority of the coursework can be completed online, and the program includes a capstone course for National Board Exam review.
The State Board of Funeral Service of North Carolina requires that students complete an apprenticeship or resident traineeship at a licensed funeral home before being eligible for licensure.
The 2-year program has three courses that require in-person training. This agreement allows Wayne students to do that training at local funeral homes in their community or to travel to FTCC’s campus to complete the training through lab hours.
Wayne joins five other community colleges to sign Funeral Service Education agreements with FTCC. Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Vance-Granville, and Brunswick community colleges have also partnered with FTCC to provide educational opportunities in regions where access to Funeral Service training is limited.
“There is a statewide shortage in this industry, and FTCC is joining with our educational partners to provide these opportunities,” said Dr. Sharon Gallagher, the dean over FTCC’s Funeral Service program.
FTCC has also partnered with other community colleges on other programs, with a goal of expanding educational opportunities to meet workforce needs across various industries.
Over the past 18 months, FTCC made agreements with Richmond Community College in Respiratory Therapy, Funeral Service, Paralegal, Speech Language Pathology, and Electric Utility; with Robeson Community College in Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting, Funeral Service, and Truck Driving; and with Bladen Community College in Truck Driving.
Leadership from Fayetteville Technical Community College and Wayne Community College at the signing of an academic agreement for Funeral Service Education.
FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells and Wayne Community College President Dr. Patty Pfeiffer speak during the signing.
