On January 1, 2007, the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors instituted a new rule that mandated specific education for any licensed funeral director and/or embalmer who wishes to become a master embalmer or master funeral director. The Board directed in Rule 4717-1-14(D) that every individual desiring to become a master embalmer and/or master funeral director must complete a continuing education program that includes one hour of education in the following areas: The Federal Trade Commission, OSHA, pre-need laws and rules, cremation law and rules, and Ohio laws and rules. The Board further mandated one-half hour education in the areas of vital statistics laws and rules and liturgical/non-liturgical services/Dept. of Veterans Affairs information. This education must take place in a classroom or conference call setting, and must occur in one meeting.
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:25 a.m. Introduction
8:30—9:30 a.m. The Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
Presenter: Representative of the Board
9:30—10:00 a.m. Department of Veterans Affairs
Presenter: Don Ferfolia, Jr.
10:00—10:15 a.m. Break
10:15—10:45 a.m. Vital Statistics/Death Certificates
Presenter: Mark Kassouf, Asst. St. Registrar
10:45—11:15 a.m. OSHA
Presenter: Barb Garrison, Safety & Environmental Solutions
11:15 a.m.—12:15 p.m. Funeral Service Law
Scenarios Part One
Presenters: Don Ferfolia, Jr. & Poul Lemasters
12:15—1:00 p.m. LUNCH
1:00—2:00 p.m. Funeral Service Law
Scenarios Part Two
Presenters: Don Ferfolia, Jr. & Poul Lemasters
2:00—3:30 p.m. Liturgical/Non-liturgical Service & Duties of The Master Funeral Director
Presenter: David Tackett, Dean of CCMS
3:30—3:45 p.m. Conclusion/Evaluation
Donald B. Ferfolia, Jr., J.D., CFSP, Ferfolia Funeral Homes, is a fourth generation funeral director and a practicing attorney. Still very active in the family owned funeral home, he also has a private law practice limited to estate planning, estate administration, and small business planning.
Poul Lemasters, J.D., Funeral Service Consultant, Lemasters Consulting, is both a licensed funeral director and licensed attorney. Poul works with funeral home owners, funeral directors/embalmers, cemeteries, and crematory owners and operators assisting in legal accounting and business solutions.
Barb K. Garrison, MS, CHMM, President Safety & Environmental Solutions, has more than 16 years experience providing environment, health and safety consulting services. She has developed curriculum for and taught more than 275 courses.
Mark Kassouf, Assistant State Registrar of Vital Statistics, Ohio Department of Health, office of Vital Statistics, is responsible for identifying fraudulent activity as it relates to birth, death and fetal death certificates, as well as abstracts of marriage and divorce.
Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
David W. Tackett, M. Div., CFSP, Dean of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science since 2000, but has been part of the faculty since 1996. He is an Ohio licensed funeral director and embalmer and a certified crematory operator.