What is meant by “Thanatology Experience”?

This refers to verifiable paid work, supervised volunteering or internship experience you have gained in a thanatology role.

Examples of thanatology experience:

• Providing care and/or counseling for those experiencing life-threatening, life-limiting, or terminal circumstances (or supervising those who do)

• Providing counseling or therapy for those who are facing impending loss, experiencing grief following a death (foreseen, unforeseen, traumatic, etc.), or experiencing grief related to non-death losses

• Providing death education (courses, webinars, presentations, podcasts, etc.)

• Training individuals to perform in a thanatology role
  

• Providing care and memorialization of the deceased

• Serving as administrator in a thanatology organization

 

How do I calculate “Thanatology Experience Hours"?

Multiply the number of hours per week serving in a thanatology role X the number of weeks/year X the number of years   For example:

30 hours/week X 50 weeks/year X 2 years = 3000 hours of thanatology experience

If your thanatology role constitutes only a portion of the total hours of your job, you can only count the hours specifically spent on thanatology. Using the example above but if only 70% of your total job description falls under a thanatology role:

30 hours/week X 50 weeks/year X 2 years X 70% of the job description =  2100 hours

Death educators should count hours of research for course development, class prep, teaching time, student follow up time, etc.

How do I enter my thanatology experience information on the application?

The application will prompt you to “Add Thanatology Experience Entries”.

Complete the following thanatology experience fields for each entry you document.

1. Name of organization
2. Title/job/position (you can also add a short description if clarification is needed)
3. Start and end dates
4. Number of hours

Click “add”, then if you have more to enter, choose “Add another thanatology experience entry”.

Reminder: One half of the required experience hours must be dated within the past 10 years. Also, make sure the total number of hours submitted equals or exceeds the total hours required under the certification track for which you apply.

How do I verify my experience hours?

1. Application reviewers will refer to the letters of recommendation you upload from supervisors or colleagues who can speak to your thanatology role as well as where and when you were in the role.
2. You are not required to upload any other documentation at the time you apply. However, should there be any questions about your experience hours, you may be contacted to clarify information or to obtain a signed letter from the organization where you serve(d).
   

   
   

What is meant by “prior thanatology education”?

This refers to any training or education you have previously received where the learning content fits under the broad topic of thanatology (death, dying, loss, grief, mourning, memorialization, etc). The learning experience can be  (1)  to gain general thanatology knowledge, (2) to learn how to assess, intervene, provide care and education, or (3) to gain the training needed to function in a thanatology role.  Thanatology education does not refer to education you provided to others; it refers to education you received as a learner in the years prior to applying for the CT® or FT® credential.

How will I calculate thanatology education hours?

Thanatology education is measured in “contact hours” (time spent in a learning situation). Examples of hour equivalencies:

• Each 1 CEU earned  = 1 contact hour  (i.e. through webinars, seminars, etc.
• Each 50-60 minute presentation, lecture, training, workshop, etc. attended = 1 contact hour
• Each 3 credit, one semester college course (3 hours/week X 15 hours) = 45 contact hours
  • (a 2 credit course = 30 hours; a 1 credit course = 15 hours)

What are some examples of thanatology topics, subjects, or content?

• Theories, models, research, and resources that inform thanatology practice
• Practice considerations as they relate to dying, foreseen death, unforeseen and traumatic death, loss, grief, mourning and memorialization:
  • assessment models, interventions, and resources
  • developmental stages across the lifespan
  • ethical, moral, legal, societal, and global issues
  • cultural, religious, spiritual, personhood, and family issues
  • post death care and practices; rituals, memorialization 

 

How will my thanatology education be evaluated as “eligible”?

Our reviewers should be able to determine eligibility based on the title of the training, class, presentation, webinar, etc. If the title does not directly reflect thanatology content, but is thanatology related, you will be able to provide a short description.

 

How do I verify the educational hours?

Each education entry and hours received are verified with a certificate of attendance, CEUs or contact hours awarded, a transcript, or by a signed letter from the person or institution providing the education.   You will not be asked to upload certificates to your application, but you are required to keep them on file in the event you should be audited, or additional information is requested from the Application Review Committee.

 

What type of education is NOT eligible?

These are non-supervised, non verifiable educational activities, such as: reading a book, watching a movie or play, listening to a podcast, joining a journal club discussion group or study group, reviewing journal articles, or a self-study learning situation (unless it is a thanatology related self-study course that awards CEU’s). If the activity can’t be officially verified, it is not eligible.

How will I enter my thanatology education hours on the application?

The application will prompt you to “Add thanatology education entries”.

Complete the following fields for each education entry:

• Start and end dates
•  # of hours earned in the educational activity
•  Title/topic (What was the title of the class, presentation, etc.?)
• Description (If the title isn’t clear that it is a thanatology topic, give a brief description.)
• Sponsor (What organization/institution offered the education?)

Click “Add”, and then click on “Add another thanatology education entry” to continue adding.

 

Who should I ask to provide a recommendation for me?

• Recommendations should come from individuals who supervised or worked with you and can speak to your service in a thanatology role, including the length of time you served and in what capacity.
  
• Recommendations are required to be completed on our standardized Recommendation Form
  

1. Click here to download and save the Recommendation Form
   
2. Provide recommenders with a deadline date to return the  completed form to you, as an email attachment. 

   
   

3. Download and save each completed Recommendation Form to a file so you can upload them to your application.

   
   

What does the FT Professional Portfolio consist of?

Portfolio categories represent a range of accomplishments you may have achieved at any time over the course of your entire career as a thanatology professional. A  minimum of 12 units is required to apply for FT® out of a possible 59 units. You will not be required to upload the verification documents with the application. However, if audited, you must be able produce documents to verify the activities you are claiming.  It is advised to retain copies of all certificates, letters, and documents of verification should you be asked to produce them.

To view the categories and determine the maximum units per category, click here:

https://www.adec.org/page/FT-Portfolio