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YCCC and AAMI to offer funeral service degree program
York County Community College and American Academy McAllister Institute officials announced April 3 that a new partnership has been established to offer a funeral service degree program to local students.
Courtesy photo
WELLS - Local residents may now complete an associate's degree program in funeral service education without moving out of state or leaving their homes or jobs.
At a press conference on April 3, it was announced that a new partnership between York County Community College (YCCC) in Wells and American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service Education (AAMI) in New York City will allow students to take 12 liberal arts credits required for AAMI from YCCC, either on campus in Wells or through YCCC online courses.
Maine and New Hampshire are among the 19 states that do not offer an accredited funeral service degree program. Prior to the new partnership, students wishing to be licensed in Maine and New Hampshire had to travel out-of-state to enroll in an accredited program.
By taking courses from YCCC prior to transferring to AAMI, Maine and New Hampshire students will be able to save approximately $2,500 in tuition costs for the AAMI associate degree program.
"We at York County Community College are thrilled to be the first college in the nation to provide this type of program in partnership with our colleagues at American Academy McAllister Institute," said Charles Lyons, president of YCCC.
Once students have completed the liberal arts courses from YCCC, they will then complete 54 credits through AAMI's online program with the final three required credits in a Capstone two-week clinical residency at AAMI in New York City.
During the Capstone in New York, students will have access to the restorative art laboratory at AAMI and to the morgue at Bellevue Medical Center for their hands-on embalming clinical. Upon completion of their course work and clinical experience in New York, students are eligible to take the national board exam.
The academic requirements and the faculty for the online program are identical to the on-campus program. A complete description of the online program can be found on the AAMI website at www.funeraleducation.org.
For more information on the joint program between YCCC and AAMI, please contact YCCC Admissions at (800) 580-3820 or Regina Smith at American Academy McAllister Institute at (866) 932-2264 or rtsmith@funeraleducation.org.
