Certifications › Care & End-of-Life Support Certifications
Certified Thanatologist (CT)
Certification Voluntary. It proves competence, but nobody is stopped from working without it.
They’ve studied death, dying, and bereavement from a professional, clinical, or academic lens.
- Offered by
- Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC)
- Who it's for
- Grief counselors, educators, social workers, spiritual care providers
- Format
- Coursework, exam, professional experience required
- Time commitment
- Varies; must meet education and experience requirements
- Cost
- $275 to apply, plus exam fee
- Website
- adec.org
Key skills covered
- Understanding of grief and loss across the lifespan
- Cross-cultural practices around death
- Professional ethics in death care
- Educational programming and public speaking
Costs, eligibility, and renewal requirements are set by the issuing body and change without notice. Confirm the current requirements with them before you enroll or sit an exam.
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