Admissions

Welcome

smiling students

Thank you for your interest in Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science as you pave your path toward a rewarding career as a death care professional!

CCMS is the nationally recognized leader in transforming death care education.

We are the oldest mortuary college in the nation with a team of faculty and staff experts dedicated to ensuring the success of every student. 

CCMS offers two fully academic degree programs (AAS and BMS) accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission and The American Board of Funeral Service Education. CCMS also offers the NEW online Funeral Director Certificate program.

Which program is the best fit for you?

Degree and Certificate Program Options

CCMS offers two fully accredited seated academic degree programs and the NEW online funeral director certificate program. Which program is the best fit for you?

Bachelor of Mortuary Science (BMS) For those who want to receive the most comprehensive, HLC and ABFSE accredited death care education available in the United States, this program is for you!

The BMS is a campus-based (in-person) mortuary science degree program regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and professionally accredited by The American Board of Funeral Service Education that qualifies a graduate to take the National Board Examination (arts/science) to pursue licensure in any state, including those states that require a Bachelor’s degree. Earning a fully accredited BMS degree with CCMS paves the way for you to pursue a post-graduate Master’s or PhD because all credits earned are transferrable to any other institution in the nation.

Credits Earned: 62 academic credit hours (transferrable to any other institution)

Delivery: Campus-based (in-person), Monday-Friday, on-site embalming lab

Length: 16 months, 4 semesters (each 14 weeks in length)

Prerequisites: Minimum of 60 qualified* academic transfer credits, including 5 mandatory courses in accordance with CCMS admission requirements 

 

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) For those who already hold a Bachelor degree and/or are looking to complete the required ABFSE accredited 12-month mortuary science course requirements, this program is for you!

 

The AAS is a campus-based (in-person) mortuary science degree program regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and professionally accredited by The American Board of Funeral Service Education that qualifies a graduate to take the National Board Examination (arts/science) to pursue licensure in any state.

 

Credits Earned: 47 academic credit hours (transferrable to any other institution)

Delivery: Campus-based (in-person), Monday-Friday, on-site embalming lab

Length: 12 months, 3 semesters (each 14 weeks in length)

Prerequisites: Minimum of 30 qualified* academic transfer credits, including 5 mandatory courses in accordance with CCMS admission requirements 

 

Funeral Director Certificate (FDC) (Coming Soon!) For those who want a formal education as a funeral director (only) without any academic prerequisites, this program is for you! More detail and application form coming soon!

 

The FDC is a distance-learning online certificate program designed to provide a comprehensive education for individuals pursuing licensure as a funeral director only (not embalmer). This course prepares a student to pass the National Board Examination arts section.

 

Hours Earned: 30 certificate hours (no academic credits are earned)

Delivery: Online, distance-learning, Monday-Friday

Length: 28 months, 2 semesters (each 14 weeks in length)

Prerequisite: High school diploma or GED

 

The FDC program is a certificate only program and does not earn academic credit toward a degree. It is not accredited by The American Board of Funeral Service Education and does not qualify an individual to sit for any national or state board examination that requires completion of an ABFSE accredited program.

Contact

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
Admissions
admissions@ccms.edu
513-618-1926

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