- The former Dip FD is now accredited at the same level as the first year of a university level qualification
- It will be known as the Level 4 NAFD Higher Funeral Directing Programme, in keeping with external accreditation guidelines
- Successful students will be awarded title of “Diplomate in Funeral Directing” – so the post nominal DipFD can still be used – maintaining a valued NAFD tradition
Newly accredited by OneAwards as equivalent to a Level 4 Higher National Certificate, or the first year of a foundation degree, the NAFD has secured confirmation that the qualification formerly known as the Diploma in Funeral Directing should bear a higher level title and so will be known as the Level 4 NAFD Higher Funeral Directing Programme.
To ensure consistency, students who successfully complete the course will continue to earn the title of ‘Diplomate in Funeral Directing’ and so will still be able to use the post-nominal DipFD after their name.
Karen Van-Richardson, Director of Education and Development said: “This is welcome confirmation of the enhanced value of the new, accredited course to students and employers. The old Diploma in Funeral Directing was broadly equivalent to a Level 3/AS Level in England, whereas the L4 DipFD is more comparable to the first year of a university foundation degree course or Higher National Certificate, due to the number of credits available to students following successful completion. Similar standards apply in the other home nations, but qualification levels are different.
“The new title for the qualification ensures that students are recognised for achieving the higher levels of knowledge and understanding in their work as funeral professionals – but without losing the post-nominal of Dip FD which we know is a much-valued tradition for NAFD students.”
Higher National Certificates are designed to meet the needs of employers and are developed in partnership with colleges, universities, and industry.
They provide both practical skills needed for a career and the theoretical knowledge an employer will expect candidates to possess and are broadly equivalent to the first year of a foundation degree course.