Special to Iredell Free News

William Donald Troutman, a funeral director with Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home in Statesville, has recently qualified for recertification as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

A number of professions grant special recognition to members upon completion of specified academic and professional programs and CFSP is funeral service’s national individual recognition.

This achievement is especially notable because Troutman voluntarily elected to participate in quality educational and service opportunities that surpass what the funeral service licensing board in North Carolina requires. He has committed to a program of lifelong learning in order to serve families with the level of excellence expected of a CFSP.

Since its 1976 founding, the Academy has had as its goals: 1) to recognize those practitioners who have voluntarily entered into a program of personal and professional growth; 2) to raise and improve the standards of funeral service; and 3) to encourage practitioners to make continuing education a life-long process in their own self-interest, and the interest of the families and communities they serve.

To initially receive this award, the practitioner must complete a 180-hour program of continuing education activities and events. In addition, the practitioner is required to accumulate 20 hours per year to recertify. Credits are awarded by the Academy for work leading to personal and/or professional growth in four areas:

• Academic Activities;
• Professional Activities;
• Career Review; and
• Community and Civic Activities

LEARN MORE

Information about Academy membership and certification may be obtained at www.apfsp.org.