Questions? Call (800) 731-4714, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern

Practicum Strategies

Continuing education for funeral service professionals

  1. Home
  2. Course catalog
  3. CE 15
CE 15 · Home study

Dealing with Communicable Disease / AIDS

The CDC’s Universal Precautions, applied to funeral service.

Approved in 35 states and 1 province PDF + online quiz Certificate as soon as you pass

About this course

All information in this course is based upon data provided by the (CDC) Center of Disease Control. The CDC has defined “Universal Precautions” as a set of precautions designed to prevent the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens when providing first aid or any other healthcare services. Under universal precautions, blood and certain body fluids of every patient are considered potentially infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens. Understanding the risks and exposures is of the utmost importance when embalming or other preparation of the dead human body. This course will identify how you can protect yourself and live a long healthy life in spite of those risks and exposures. It will also provide you with a better understanding of the precautions taken in health-care facilities, prior to and immediately after death, before a body is transported to a funeral home for preparation. HIV is a very serious threat. You are encouraged to maintain the safest working environment you can create.

How it works

  1. Read

    Online or as a PDF, at your own pace. Your place is saved.

  2. Take the quiz

    Online, whenever you're ready. Graded the moment you submit.

  3. Get your certificate

    Download it right away. A QR code lets your board verify it.

Where it's approved

Hours and prices differ by state, because each board sets its own.

State or provinceHoursPriceApproval
Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice3$301044
Alabama4$4018-24-1044
Arizona1$101044
Arkansas3$3003461
Colorado1$101044
Connecticut1$101044
Delaware1$101044
District of Columbia1$101044
Florida2$20384095
Hawaii4$32—
Idaho2$20—
Illinois4$40—
Indiana4$40—
Iowa1$101044
Kansas3$30—
Louisiana1$101044
Maine1$1023-1044
Massachusetts4$40—
Minnesota4$40—
Montana3$30—
Nebraska4$40—
Nevada1$101044
New Hampshire5$50—
New Jersey3$309659
New Mexico1$101044
New York3$30—
North Carolina2$20—
Oklahoma1$101044
Rhode Island3$301044
Saskatchewan1$101044
South Carolina3$3020-762793
Tennessee3$3027-340
Texas3$30122-26237
Utah1$101044
Virginia2$20—
Washington1$101044
Wisconsin1$10APFSP approved

About the author

Jerry Keller

Jerry Keller graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in 1964 and has been involved both directly and indirectly with the Funeral Profession since that time and has been a Certified Bereavement Facilitator since 1997.

Jerry worked in a management consulting roll for the IBM Corporation and took part in a program allowing him to continue his education. Through that program, he received his Ph.D. in Business Administration, from Southwestern University, Metaire, Louisiana. While serving as consultant for IBM, he was involved with providing training in stress management, which included, what to expect at the time of death of a loved one, and assisted employees in recovering from grief and bereavement situations. Jerry has also provided these same services directly to the funeral industry for many years.

Call us