Home Education Certification & Training Programs NFDA Cremation Certification Program

NFDA Cremation Certification Program

The recognized certification standard for funeral service professionals

Cremation litigation is on the rise. Protect your firm through cremation due diligence practices and provide your families with the best cremation service possible.

This program offers a must-have certification for everyone offering cremation to the families they serve.  Whether you currently own or operate a crematory, are thinking of opening one, or want to evaluate a third-party crematory, this training is necessary for your success. 

About the Course

The recognized certification standard for funeral service professionals, NFDA’s Cremation Certification Program covers best practices for safe, proper, and ethical crematory operations, excellence in service to cremation families, and much more.

Attendees will earn upon successful completion of the program the designation of Certified Crematory Operator (CCO).

The Cremation Certification Program is approved for up to 7 CE hours for in-person and virtual courses and up to 6 hours for online courses by APFSP and most state licensing boards. 

Three Ways to Become Certified

CCP-Program-Table

Register for In-person or Virtual Course Buy Online Course*

*The online course must be purchased by the individual who will complete the course in order to receive proper certification credit. Multiple purchases of the same online course by the same person are not permitted. The online course does not offer a discount for multiple purchases of the course. If you wish to purchase the online Cremation Certification Program for multiple people, please contact a Member Services Representative for assistance at 800.228.6332.

Do you have an Operator's Manual?

Should families view the start of the cremation process?

Registration Fees*

In-person, virtual, and online course fees include the comprehensive manual, live or online presentation, exam, scoring, CE processing, and certificate. In-person seminars also include a continental breakfast and lunch.

NFDA Member
$525 (CE)

Nonmember Funeral Director
$695 (CE)

Non-Funeral Director
$525 (No CE)

Student Member**
$160 (No CE)

U.S. Dollars on U.S. Bank

**Online registration is not available for students. Call 800.228.6332 to register. 

Special pricing is available for active-duty military and for multiple attendees from the same NFDA member firm for in-person programs.

Generously Sponsored by:

With additional support from:

Your Presenters

Mike Nicodemus is Vice President, Cremation Services, NFDA,. He is a licensed funeral director and former vice president of cremation operations at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Homes & Crematory (with 8 locations in Tidewater, Virginia), where he worked for 34 years. Mike is licensed to practice in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

He is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and a member of the PIMS Board of Directors. He served as President of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) from October 2011-August 2012, and was Chair of the CANA Operators Certification Program for 7 years.

Mike has written articles for funeral industry trade publications and frequently presents educational sessions at national conferences, via distance learning, and as an instructor for the NFDA Cremation Certification Program.

Timothy Copeland, NFDA Trainer, has over 35 years of experience as a licensed funeral director, cremation educator, and end-of-life care consultant.

Tim owned and operated Copeland Funeral Home and has held various leadership positions, including trustee of the New York State Funeral Directors Association PrePlan Trust and a board member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association. He is a certified practitioner of Dignity Therapy and co-author of a chapter pertaining to end-of-life decision-making in the Handbook of Thanatology.

As a former educator at Hudson Valley Community College, Tim mentored the upcoming generation of funeral professionals, focusing on communication, ethics, and grief support. His presentations, which are delivered at national and state conventions, concentrate on funeral ethics, cremation protocols, and meaningful family engagement. Tim holds a Master of Science in Thanatology from Marian University.

*State CE approval varies. All NFDA online courses are approved for continuing education by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP) and most state licensing boards. Contact your state licensing board or NFDA for specific state CE information.

Presented educational material does not denote that NFDA endorses, recommends or supports the opinions expressed by the presenter or author. The content presented is informational only. For specific legal or compliance advice contact your firm's legal counsel. NFDA does not warrant the accuracy of any of the information presented, and NFDA shall not be liable for the actions or inactions of funeral establishment owners, managers or employees in respect to the information presented in this educational product.