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    • CANA Member Directory
    • Contact Us
  • Choosing Cremation
    • Transport of Cremated Remains
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      • Memorial Options
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    • Find Local CANA Members
  • For Practitioners
    • Why Join CANA? >
      • CANA Member Benefits
      • Member Login
    • Self Care for Funeral Professionals
    • Create Your Profile
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      • CANA Cremationist Magazine
      • Blog
      • CANA's Cremation Brochure Series
      • Industry Statistical Information
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    • 2025 Media Kit
    • Crematory Management Program
    • CANA PR Toolkit
    • Find Local CANA Members
  • Education
    • Access Your Online Courses
    • Crematory Operator Certification >
      • COCP - In English
      • COCP - en français
      • COCP - en Español
      • Pet Cremation (CPCO)
      • Alabama Refresher Program
      • Illinois Refresher Course
    • Cremation Specialist Certification
    • Business Administration Certification
    • Continuing Education Online
    • Pet Aftercare
    • Natural Organic Reduction >
      • Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification
    • Digital Certificates & Badges
    • Academic Scholarships
    • Calendar of Events
    • Webinars
    • 107th Convention
    • 2026 Symposium
  • Career Center

News

ARTICLE

Date ArticleType
5/30/2023 4:00:00 AM CANA Press Release

CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist Training Program - Accepting Applicants June 1, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Barbara Kemmis
Phone: (312) 245-1077
499 Northgate Parkway
Wheeling, IL 60090-2646
Barbara@cremationassociation.org

CANA-CERTIFIED CREMATION SPECIALIST TRAINING PROGRAM
ACCEPTING APPLICANTS JUNE 1, 2023

WHEELING, IL—The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is pleased to announce the opening of registration for 2023’s final cohort for the CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist training. The program is designed to provide funeral professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to take their service to the next level.

The CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) training is an online program that spans 17 weeks and comprises eight courses. The program covers a range of topics, including FTC compliance, engaging phone shoppers, discussing embalming preferences, and more. Participants can earn up to 11 hours of continuing education (CE) credits across a variety of required categories.

Each class in the program offers engaging and thought-provoking content, which is designed to be easy to navigate, with fill-in-the-box reflections and active guidance from CANA staff. The courses are taken on-demand, allowing participants to pause and resume the training to accommodate their busy schedules.

CANA encourages funeral professionals who are looking to advance their careers to enroll in the program and enhance their skills.

“CANA is proud to offer the CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist Training to funeral professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and skills,” said Lindsey Ballard, Chair of CANA’s Education Advisory Group and Owner of Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation in Jordan, Minnesota. "We recognize that the funeral industry is constantly evolving, and we are committed to providing relevant and high-quality training to ensure that the profession is well-prepared to meet the needs of its client families."

To date, this new credential has 75 graduates, representing practitioners from all stages of their careers, who have gained confidence to go further with the families they serve. "Recently I was able to keep and serve a family because I asked what information they needed to feel better about having to go through this time: the process and each step or the final price point,” shared Rebekah Heath, a CCS graduate. “They told me they chose to work with me because I listened and explained each question they had about the process. In the past, I would have started talking about what each price point was for each step and not what each step meant in caring for their loved one."

Registration for the final cohort of 2023 opens June 1 and the course begins July 17. Space is limited so funeral professionals should act soon to join. Registration closes July 16, and must include payment of the one-time fee of $615, discounted to $465 for CANA Members. Learn more about becoming a CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist at goCANA.org/CCS.

ABOUT CANA

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,500 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.

Copyright 2000-2025 Cremation Assoc. of North America. All rights reserved.
499 Northgate Parkway, Wheeling, IL 60090-2646
v 312.245.1077 f 312.321.4098
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