2024 Agenda

Brought to you by InSight Institute and hosted by NFDA

Registration: Friday 12:30 p.m.

Seminar Day 1: Friday 1 - 6 p.m.
Seminar Day 2: Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Seminar Day 3: Sunday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Set your firm apart from the competition and offer more to the families you serve! As families’ wishes continue to evolve, it is more important than ever to offer a variety of services that meet their needs and exceed their expectations. Fewer families incorporate religious rites into memorial services now so how can you fill that gap? Many funeral homes look to celebrants and find it most economical to train their staff to accommodate this growing demand for customized services. A certified celebrant works with a funeral director to provide a funeral service, memorial service or tribute that is personalized to reflect the personality and life of the deceased. (17 CE hours through InSight Institute)

Learn how to make the most of the arrangement conference through a creative, five-step process only available from NFDA. This high-energy, interactive program provides you with the tools you need to convey the value of the funeral to families and partner with them to design memorable life-tribute events. Through a combination of small- and large-group discussions, problem-solving and creative collaboration, you’ll leave with fresh approaches and new ideas to transform your arrangement conferences. (8 CE hours)

Whether you currently own or operate a crematory, are thinking of opening one, or want to evaluate a third-party crematory, this training is essential for your success. NFDA’s Cremation Certification Program™ covers best practices for safe, proper and ethical crematory operations; sets the standard for excellence, compliance and integrity in cremation services; and provides the information you require to address potential cremation liability issues. NFDA offers the only cremation certification program specifically created to protect funeral directors and the families they serve.

The seminar and test are based on the NFDA Cremation Standards for Funeral Service Professionals manual. CE and certification require passing the online Cremation Certification Test. (7 CE Hours)

Join us for a practical, informative opportunity to explore techniques used by the most extraordinary embalmers. Learn skills and discover resources and products that will help you prepare the best possible farewell for grieving families. (4 CE hours)

The need to strengthen the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and funeral service has become unprecedentedly visible in recent years. Increasingly, funeral service professionals seek education to fill learning gaps regarding this community in order to meet the needs of clients and staff with grounded and unbiased knowledge, strategies for allyship, and cultural humility. As an internationally recognized, evidence-informed training program, Safe Zone workshops provide attendees with interactive education on LGBTQ+ identities, privilege and biases, cycles of oppression, the coming-out experience, and skill building for allies. Facilitated by an expert in grief and bereavement who is also an experienced Safe Zone trainer, this intensive workshop has been designed specifically to meet the needs of NFDA convention attendees and to address common scenarios for professionals in funeral service. (4 CE hours)