Course Advisement

Why is professional development important?

Professional Development offerings are non-degree, non-credit courses. They are intended for learners who want to gain general knowledge, learn a new skill, upgrade existing skills, or enrich their understanding about a wide range of topics.

What are the advantages of taking courses online?

Convenience and flexibility are the most common advantages of online classes. Students join our online courses for a variety of reasons and come from diverse backgrounds, roles, and age groups. With online courses, you can enhance your skill set, earn continuing education credit, or build your resume and credentials.

Who should take these online courses?

Whether you are new to the profession or a seasoned professional who wants to sharpen your skills, we've got a course for you.

  • New Professionals: The four courses comprising the Funeral Service Excellence Series are the key building blocks for the funeral service professional. Registration includes a bound and printed manual mailed directly to students. Complete all four courses for a Service Excellence Certificate of Completion. These courses are perfect for anyone with three years of experience or less of working in any role within a funeral home, from reception to funeral assistant to funeral director.
  • Experienced Professionals: These courses cover a variety of topics that are applicable to funeral service professionals of all experience levels.
  • Decision Makers: Courses designed specifically to address the topics and challenges unique to owners, managers and decision makers within the firm.

 

Registration Process & Financial Considerations

How do I register?

Registration is simple!

  1. Navigate to the Institute store.
  2. Browse the list of available courses, then Add the desired course(s) to your cart.
  3. Confirm the course(s) in your shopping cart, then click Next Step: Checkout. Or, if you are registering someone else as a learner, or if you are registering more than one person, register using Bulk Purchase. Click the ‘click here’ link in the Bulk Purchase box on the lower right side of the screen. You will be prompted for the name and email address of each learner.
  4. Click Next Step: Payment. You will be asked for basic contact information and your credit card payment. We require full payment at the time of registration. All fees are billed in US Dollars.

When should I register?

Most courses are offered twice during the year. Certain courses can fill up quickly, so be sure to register early.

What is the registration rate for Institute courses and what does it include?

Registration includes access to all available content for five weeks plus unlimited contact with the instructor. Courses in the Service Excellence series also include a 24-page print course manual mailed to students in advance of the course.

The full-price registration rate is $195 per course. For a limited time only, enter code NGLInstitute at checkout for a 50% discount off the full price (a savings of almost $100). Clients of NGL, members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, and students enrolled in mortuary science education programs are eligible for additional savings and should email institute@selectedtrust.org to learn more.

How do I know if I’m eligible for the Selected member rate and how do I register at that rate?

If you are an employee of a firm that is a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, then you are eligible for the Selected member rate. Before registering, email institute@selectedtrust.org  or call 888-708-7878, to confirm eligibility or request a coupon code. Then enter that coupon code at checkout.

Are there group discounts?

When an individual signs up for 5+ courses at one time they will receive $20 off each full-price registration. The registrations would be paid for at one time. It can be any combination of people, courses, or registration amounts. Before registering, email institute@selectedtrust.org to request a coupon code. Then enter that coupon code at checkout.

Can I get a refund if I am unable to attend my online course?

To request a refund, send an email to institute@selectedtrust.org. Please note we are unable to reimburse for any currency conversion or additional fees charged by your credit card issuer.

I am registered. Now what?

Each registered learner will receive a confirmation email with information on when and how to access course content.

 

How It Works

What is the format of an Institute course?

Each course contains four units. A student can complete the course at their own pace, but we recommend completing one unit each week. The course will have an introduction, four sets of unit notes, four unit recorded presentations, four unit quizzes, and a final test. The course must be consumed in sequence as one unit will build upon another.

Can I take any available course at any time?

It depends on the type of course you register for—pay attention to the title. For courses listed as on-demand, you can register for and complete any available course at any time. 

The Institute also offers scheduled courses, which are offered during four sessions per year, beginning on the first Monday of the corresponding month, and closing five weeks later. Check the calendar to view the courses scheduled to run during each session. The sessions and their starting months are:

  • Winter – February
  • Spring – April
  • Summer – June
  • Fall – September

How do I access my course?

For on-demand courses, you will be granted access to the online course immediately upon completion of registration and creating an account on our learning platform. For scheduled courses, access to course content will be granted on the day the course begins. The first modules of the classroom will provide you with tools for successful online learning and tips for navigating the classroom.

How long will it take to complete my course?

Time spent on a course varies from person to person, but generally we recommend spending 1-2 hours reviewing and completing each of the four units within a course.

What if I have technical difficulties?

For technical support, please email institute@selectedtrust.org. We are ready to help and will assist you within 24 hours of receiving your request.

Are there specific login or online participation times?

No, you may complete the course entirely at your own pace.

Do I need specific equipment to take online courses?

You should have an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox. Our online courses can be accessed on a mobile or tablet device, although we strongly encourage you to have access to a desktop or laptop computer and a reliable internet connection for certain course components.

To help ensure your success as a learner, you should be proficient in using common desktop productivity software. We are here to provide help.

Will Institute courses satisfy the continuing education requirements for my state?

The Institute applies for 8.0 hours per course of continuing education credit to the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP) and many states requiring CE. Review Continuing Education Approvals to verify current courses approved in your state.

I completed my course! Now what?

When you successfully complete an online course, a PDF certificate of completion with APFSP approval details will be delivered to the email associated with your Institute user account. If you require verification for state/province CE purposes, be sure to list all applicable states in the CE Survey at the beginning of the course. If your state requires specific details on the certificate, an additional certificate will be delivered to the email associated with your Institute user account within 3 weeks of course completion.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

Email institute@selectedtrust.org or call 888-708-7878.

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