COCP Online Training

Obtain your Crematory Operator Certification online with the ICCFA!

The ICCFA is proud to offer online Crematory Operator Certifications! Participate in an extensive training curriculum instructed by Poul Lemasters Esq. and Larry Stuart Jr. Our two incredible instructors will lead you through the necessary education before you can take your exam all online. Learn more and register below!

The extensive training curriculum includes:

  • professional terminology
  • incinerator terminology
  • principles of combustion
  • cremation and the environment
  • incinerator criteria and design
  • basics of operating cremation equipment
  • general maintenance and troubleshooting
  • forms and record keeping
  • handling and exposure control

2024 Registration Rates

Member Price Non-member Price
On-demand Training $425 $575

Register today!

Register now to gain access to the on-demand training!

Please note: Each registrant has 60 days to complete the online exam from the date of purchasing the on-demand training.

After verification of login time, those who have completed the training sessions and requested the exam will receive an email with the exam link by 12:00 PM ET the next business day.

Meet the Instructors

Poul Lemasters, Esq.

Principal, Lemasters Consulting and ICCFA Cremation Counsel

Poul uses his unique background in both deathcare and law to provide resources and counsel to other deathcare professionals. He gets calls for assistance in risk management, daily operational conflicts, form and contract reviews, valuations, and regulatory matters. Basically, all the exciting issues our profession has to offer. Poul advises several funeral home, crematory, cemetery, and trade associations across the United States. He is also the publisher of Parliament magazine.

Larry Stuart, Jr.

Founder, Cremation Strategies & Consulting

Larry Stuart, Jr. is the Principal and Founder at Raven Plume Consulting, President and Founder at Cremation Strategies and Consulting, and the former President at Crematory Manufacturing & Service, Inc., a leading manufacturer of technologically advanced cremation equipment. Raven Plume and Cremation Strategies help funeral professionals serve more families, better by providing expert leadership, planning, organization, training, education, process improvement, and strategic planning for the funeral profession.

The extensive training curriculum includes:

  • Why Are You Here? Cremation History/Becoming a Cremation Specialist
    Performing cremations is far more involved then simply the act of cremation itself. In this section you will learn why becoming certified is important, why people choose cremation, and why it is essential to become a Cremation Specialist.

  • Cremation Defined/Combustion Theory/Anatomy of a Cremator
    Learn the science of cremation, and what actually happens during the process. Discover how the cremation equipment is designed to perform the process safely, and efficiently.

  • Cremation Operations
    Learn how to actually perform cremations and many of the different scenarios that could occur requiring actions on the part of the crematory operator. Because every case is different, we explore how, even with the most technologically advanced equipment, operator choices and actions can affect the cremation.

  • Handling Human Remains in the Crematory/Cremation and the Environment/Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    Proper handling of the dead is important, not only for the safety of the operator and crematory staff, but also for the dignity and respect for the deceased. Learn how to serve the deceased AND their families at the same time.

  • Law – Why You Are Here? The History of Crematory Law
    It all starts with knowing why you are getting this certification, and it’s all about understanding the things – legal things – that have created such a high risk of potential liability for cremation. By knowing the ‘why’ we can better prevent the risks.

  • Law – The Cremation Law Basics
    The basics of anything are really the principles on which everything else is built. For cremation liability it includes receipt of the deceased, chain of custody, identification, just to name a few. Once we know the basics, we can build a great cremation program.

  • Law – Crematory Operations
    Nothing is easy, and when it comes to day-to-day operations in the crematory you will see and deal with everything. Handling funeral professionals that want to rush the process; companies that want you to recycle; cremated remains that are never retrieved, and even body donations. There are so many scenarios, and knowing what you can do will help protect you from the potential risk.

  • Law – Forms and Ethics
    Now that you know what to do according to best practices and regulations – how do you document it all? Saying you do things right is one thing, but showing it in writing through your forms is quite another. And then there is this ethical side of everything. Doing it right may not always be the ethical choice. So how do you handle ethics?

State Approval Information

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • British Columbia
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

Please note: This list continues to be updated. If you do not see your state listed, please contact the ICCFA Headquarters at hq@iccfa.com