Section 3: Funeral operations

Agents who perform one of the funeral services listed in Article L. 2223-19 must provide proof of sixteen hours’ professional training. This training covers funeral legislation and regulations, health and safety, and the psychology and sociology of mourning.

Agents who coordinate the various ceremonies that take place from committal to burial or cremation of a deceased person must prove that they hold the diploma mentioned in article D. 2223-55-2, issued under the conditions defined in subparagraph 5 of this sub-section.

Agents who welcome and provide information to families must provide proof of forty hours’ professional training. This training covers funeral legislation and regulations as well as health and safety (sixteen hours); the psychology and sociology of bereavement (eight hours); funeral protocol, the practices and symbolism of the various funeral rites including cremation (sixteen hours).

Agents who determine directly with the family the organisation and conditions of the funeral service must prove that they hold the diploma mentioned in article D. 2223-55-2, issued under the conditions defined in subparagraph 5 of this subsection.

Agents in charge of an agency, establishment, branch or office where families who come to conclude a contract relating to funeral services are received, as well as the managers of a funeral home or crematorium, must prove that they hold the diploma mentioned in Article D. 2223-55-2, issued under the conditions defined in subparagraph 5 of this subsection.

Persons who manage authorised agencies, companies or associations must prove that they hold the diploma referred to in Article D. 2223-55-2, issued under the conditions defined in subparagraph 5 of this subsection.

The vocational training provided for in Article R. 2223-42 is provided by the employer under the conditions set out in articles D. 6321-1 and D. 6321-3 of the Labour Code. When it is aimed at local authority civil servants, it is organised under the conditions provided for in article 23 of law no. 84-594 of 12 July 1984 relating to the training of local authority civil servants and supplementing law…

The thanatopractors who hold the national thanatopractor diploma provided for in articles D. 2223-122 to D. 2223-131 are deemed to have the professional training required by this paragraph to carry out conservation care.

Agents, appointed or confirmed in their post, who perform or have performed one of the functions referred to in articles R. 2223-42, R. 2223-43 and R. 2223-44 for a period of twelve months from 10 May 1995, the date of publication of Decree no. 95-653 of 9 May 1995 on the national regulations governing undertakers, are deemed to have completed the professional training required for the position they hold.

Officers and agents, appointed or confirmed in their position, who perform or have performed one of the functions referred to in articles R. 2223-45, R. 2223-46 and R. 2223-47 for twenty-four months from 10 May 1995, the date of publication of Decree no. 95-653 of 9 May 1995 on the national regulations governing funeral directors, are deemed to have completed the professional training required for the position they hold.