The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) is asking for your input as it completes a comprehensive update of the Accreditation and Policy Manual - the first full review of this essential document in more than a decade. Your feedback is vital to ensuring the manual reflects the needs of educators, students and the profession.
Since the 2025 Annual Conference, the Committee on Accreditation (COA) has been working diligently on this start-to-finish review. While the manual has received minor revisions over the past 10 years, this project represents a significant overhaul aimed at making the manual clearer, more accessible, and aligned with U.S. Department of Education expectations.
Goals of the Review
The update was guided by three main objectives:
- Improved navigation – A new approach to pagination and the table of contents makes it easier to find the information you need quickly.
- Consolidated information – Content has been reorganized so answers can be located in one place, reducing duplication and confusion.
- Updated language and detail – Revisions better meet the requirements of recognized accrediting agencies, with minor changes also made to Standards 3 and 9.
How to Provide Feedback
The proposed Manual, Summary of Revisions, and full review details are posted on the ABFSE homepage. Comments must be submitted using the official comment form by October 15, 2025, so they can be reviewed during the COA’s October meeting. Please note: Comments not submitted on the form will not be considered.
Join the Town Hall
A virtual town hall meeting is scheduled for October 9 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss the proposed manual and answer questions. Click here for registration information.
Questions?
As always, the ABFSE office welcomes your questions and is available to provide clarification on the manual and review process: