We are often asked what the prerequisites are. There aren’t any. The better question is what makes someone good at this.
In our experience it comes down to a handful of qualities, and most of them have nothing to do with prior training:
- Passionate about people. Curious about them, including the difficult ones.
- A great listener. Most of this job happens before you say a word.
- Available and flexible. Families call when they call, and the timeline is short.
- Teachable. Willing to be told how it actually went.
- Confident. Not loud, but steady enough to lead a room full of people who are struggling.
- Passionate about life. This work is about a life, not a death.
- An experienced communicator. Comfortable in front of people.
- Motivated. Certification opens the door, and it is up to you to walk through it.
- Spiritually minded. Not necessarily religious, but at home with the questions.
One more thing
Many of the strongest celebrants we have trained came to it after a significant loss of their own. Having sat in the front row yourself is not a requirement, but it is a kind of preparation nothing else provides.