Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification

Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification: A first-of-its-kind, in-depth training on human composting

In just a few years, natural organic reduction has gained champions among consumers and in statehouses. As more and more states legalize this innovative process, obtaining knowledge to respond to this interest is critical. The CANA Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC) ensures you and your employees have in-depth comprehension of this emerging disposition method to continue serving as the primary resource for your community in their time of need. The content of this course is designed to increase your understanding of natural organic reduction (NOR) and will provide you with a solid overview of best practices.

The first NOR course on offer for death care professionals, CANA Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (CANA NOROC) is designed to provide an overview of the history, science and best practices for natural organic reduction. As the provider of the debut program on this evolving technology, CANA commits to staying at the leading edge of this new form of disposition. Many states are instituting training requirements for NOR operators and CANA’s NOROC is designed to meet those requirements.

This training complements on-the-job, provider-specific training you might receive. While this training will not guarantee you will get a job, it looks great on a resume.

Cost

why attend?

You will gain extensive knowledge—technical, scientific, and legal—about the new and evolving NOR process. The class addresses major topic areas such as an overview of the reduction process, equipment and operations, the science of composting in detail, chain of custody and reducing legal risk with safe operations. A detailed guide is available to download with the course and serves as an important reference tool. Taught by industry experts, this program provides death care professionals of all backgrounds and levels of experience a thorough knowledge of the practices and procedures of this emerging technology.

The CANA NOROC was developed with contributions from leaders in this new disposition method, including Katrina Spade and Jacki Myers from Recompose and Seth Viddal of The Natural Funeral, with input from Earth Funeral and Return Home.

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Why CANA

The Cremation Association of North America was founded in 1913 by the continent’s earliest cremation practitioners to share knowledge among fellow professionals about the emerging disposition method. Training programs and documentation followed, eventually formalized into certification, to respond to a growing need for best practices and regulators’ requirements for education. Over the last 110+ years, CANA has stayed at the leading edge of the profession, committed to sharing knowledge and education throughout the profession and the community.

NOR is not cremation, but CANA’s dedication to supporting professionals to stay informed on industry innovation remains. As a proven and trusted educator of the profession, NOR practitioners and regulators alike requested CANA’s expertise in the creation of a certification program that would ensure the safety and protection of consumers and professionals in this emerging technology. Working with leading innovators, CANA responded to a need of its members and the profession to provide the necessary training in our evolving industry landscape.

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COURSE FORMAT

The online course consists of 4 hours of online instruction and a final exam. The course is self-paced; each time you log off, your last location will be bookmarked so you can resume where you left off the next time you log in. You have 90 days to complete the course once you begin.

Demo the CANA NOROC! Try some exercises, get a feel for the format, and get a taste of the curriculum.

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SOFTWARE/HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR TAKING THE ONLINE COURSE

1. Sound capabilities (for listening to videos and narration)

2. Browser
Desktop Browsers: the latest versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari
Mobile Browsers: the latest versions of Safari for Apple iOS/iPadOS, Google Chrome for Apple iOS/iPadOS, Google Chrome for Android OS
Browser Settings: JavaScript must be enabled; font downloads must be enabled
Screen Readers: latest version of JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack

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FEES (ONLINE AND IN-PERSON)

$300

what's included

The complete CANA Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification course.
NOROC Participant Guide, provided as a download for online participants.
Digital NOR Operator Certificate and Badge, emailed after successful completion of all course requirements. Certificates are valid for five (5) years. To renew certification, you will need to take the course again.

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WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO BECOME CANA CERTIFIED?

In order to receive a NOR Operator Certificate from CANA, participants of this course are required to:

complete all three modules and;
receive a score of 80% or better on the final examination.

The certification course and test will be completed through CANA Education Online. You will have three (3) attempts to receive a passing score. A print copy of the test is provided at the back of the manual for study purposes.

A certificate of completion will be available for printing immediately upon passing the final examination (for purposes of validating continuing education hours). You will receive a digital NOR Operator Certificate and badge by email. Certificates and badges are issued twice monthly, on or around the 1st and 15th.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When is your next online class?

Unlike in-person courses, you can take the online class anytime. CANA's online program is completely self-paced and on-demand so you can earn your certification whenever you need it. You have 90 days from the date of registration to complete the online coursework, with the ability to easily pause and resume as your schedule demands.

Do I need to be a member to get CANA certified?

No, the NOR Operations Certification program is open to all. You do not need to be a member to take the class.

What are the prerequisites for taking this class?

There are no knowledge requirements for taking this class; anyone may register. However, if you have never worked in deathcare before, it may affect your success. This class assumes a basic understanding of funeral service, and the content is taught as if all attendees already have some working knowledge of the industry.

How long is the NOR Operations Certificate valid?

Certificates are valid for five (5) years from the date of the course. To renew a certificate, you will need to attend the course again.

What if I lost my certificate, change my name, change my job, or move?

During the five year validity of a certificate, you can request a change at any time and make any necessary updates or changes for free. Expired certificates will not be updated.
Generally, certification attained anywhere will easily transfer to another state.

Will I be able to build or operate a human composting vessel after taking this class?

We do not teach how to physically operate equipment in this class. Rather, this training is intended to complement any provider-specific training you might receive. Each provider has their own unique equipment and processes and your employer will provide training on specific equipment.

Will I be able to get a job as a NOR operator/technician after taking this class?

There are many factors that contribute to your success in attaining a job in funeral service. It is routine for employers to conduct background checks, talk to references and interview you. In addition, you will need to contact the regulatory board in your state to determine what their requirements are for NOR operators. Each state has its own regulations and requirements.

Some states require Operator Certification such as this class, and some do not. Some require only that certification is taken once, while others require that it be renewed every five years. Employers have their own requirements and expectations as well, and these vary widely based on business practices. It is your responsibility to talk to prospective or current employers, as well as regulators, to determine if you should take this course.

I want to open my own NOR facility. Should I take this class?

You will need to contact the regulatory board in your state to determine what the requirements are for operating a NOR business. Some states require that NOR facilities be owned or managed by a licensed funeral director. Other considerations include:

Has NOR been legalized in your area?
Do you have a written business plan?
Do you have land or a building? Is it zoned for your business?
Will your community welcome you with open arms?
Have you researched and sourced equipment manufacturers or designed your own regulatory-compliant vessels to understand the total up-front and annual costs involved?
Do you have relationships within the community and an established network of potential customers?

While the content of this course is designed to increase your understanding of NOR operations and will provide you with a solid overview of best practices related to human composting, you should consider answering some of the above questions before you invest in this course.

Do I need this certification?

Contact your regulator to see if your state requires certification to operate a NOR facility. Even if your state doesn't require certification, your employer may prefer their employees be trained and knowledgeable in NOR operations to better serve families and cross-train.

What does it mean to have a natural organic reduction operations certification?

Strictly speaking, earning a certification is proof of someone's skill or standard in a particular activity. Their ability is tested in an exam or application process, usually by a third-party.

In the funeral profession, there are various certifications offered by many different organizations. Most of these should really just provide a certificate of completion rather than a certification of mastery since they don't include third-party testing of skill mastery. However, the NOROC has many traits of a certification program:

It is not a one-off process: There are maintenance requirements to preserve certified status.
It is specialized: The program has been designed for a specific group to develop or strengthen specific career skills.
It is real continuing education: The coursework builds on your knowledge of a particular career or industry.
It prioritizes practicality and job ready skills.

How do I access my digital certificate?

Your certificate will be emailed directly to you at the email address you provided when you registered. From that link, you can download a pdf to print from your home or office.
In addition to your certificate, you'll receive a badge that you can showcase on your social media profile, website or resume.

Read on for more ideas on making your digital badge and certificate work for you!

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CURRICULUM

This course presents material in a series of modules. They are as follows:

Module 1: The NOR Process

This module will cover the details of the natural organic reduction process including a big picture view, the science behind the process, preparing remains for reduction, vessel preparation, the reduction process and control measures, processing and pulverization and safety.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, participants should be able to:

Define natural organic reduction.
Describe the three phases of composting and what happens in each.
Describe the role of carbon and nitrogen in the composting process.
Explain in which scenarios natural organic reduction cannot be used.
List the minimum components of a reduction vessel.
Describe the feedstock materials used in the composting process and their functions.
Summarize the key steps in the reduction process and describe how it is monitored and controlled.
Describe the safety considerations for people who work with composting.

Module 2: Chain of Custody

This module will examine the importance of maintaining chain of custody of the remains from receiving through return.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, participants should be able to:

Identify and use the proper forms for documenting chain of custody.

Module 3: Reducing Legal Risk

This module will examine ways to reduce legal risk through operations, compliance, third-party provider considerations and navigating regulatory investigations.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, participants should be able to:

Describe additional ways that a business can minimize legal risk.

Final Exam

The final exam will consist of 30 questions covering all three modules. The test allows 3 attempts for a passing score, and is open book.

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Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification