Section 3: Funeral operations

Candidates for the national thanatopractor diploma must have undergone theoretical and practical training, the duration and subjects of which, as well as the terms and conditions of the course, are determined by a joint order of the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Labour. .

Practical training in conservation care is provided by thanatopractitioners qualified under the conditions defined in article L. 2223-45 and working in a public authority, company, association or establishment authorised under the conditions defined in article L. 2223-23. The training centres for thanatopractor trainees are responsible for all theoretical and practical training and must ensure that each trainee is monitored by at least one training supervisor when undergoing practical training in…

Candidates for the national thanatopractor diploma must send the training body the medical certificate drawn up under the conditions mentioned in articles R. 3111-4-1 or R. 3111-4-2 of the Public Health Code when they register for training and at the latest before they begin practical training. The medical certificate is kept in the candidate’s file.

Only candidates who have passed the theoretical tests for the national thanatopractor diploma examination and are ranked in useful order may enter the practical training. A joint order of the Minister for the Interior and the Minister for Health sets the annual quota of places offered for practical training, after consulting the national thanatopractor jury and the professional organisations mentioned in 3° of article R. 1241-1.

The examination for access to the national thanatopractor diploma includes theoretical tests and an assessment of practical in-company training. Only candidates who have completed the entire theoretical training as defined in article D. 2223-122.

The full and alternate members of the national jury responsible for examining candidates for the national thanatopractor diploma are appointed for a period of three years by joint order of the Minister of the Interior and the Minister responsible for Health. This jury is made up of a representative of the Minister for the Interior, a representative of the Minister for Health, three forensic doctors, anatomopathologists or university medical teachers…

The examination regulations, the syllabus for all the tests, the examination procedures and the minimum mark required to obtain the national thanatopractor diploma are defined by a joint order of the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Health issued on the recommendation of the national jury.

The national jury decides on the test subjects.