GREEN BURIAL COUNCIL
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Green Cemetery Course

Certificate of Proficiency in Green Burial Cemetery Operation

The Program
The Green Burial Council and Redesigning the End partner in providing a certificate of proficiency for qualifying students of the Green Burial Masterclass online course in green burial. This 12-part course is the first of its kind in the nation and gives students a high-end technical education in cemetery management specific to green burial. Obtaining the Certificate of Proficiency in Green Burial Cemetery Operation consists of two parts — successfully completing the Green Burial Masterclass and scoring well on the GBC’s Proficiency Exam.
​
The Course
This 12-week comprehensive course focuses on the tools, techniques, and technology used in operating a natural cemetery. Students learn about natural cemetery: organization options; property management; grave operations; site design; documentation platforms; records and data management programs; money management, including endowments; marketing; differences between laws, bylaws, regulations, policies; writing guidebooks and guidelines; communication necessities; and sales, products and services. We also explore best practices as informed by science, the conservation community, and cemetery operator experience, plus religious and cultural needs and the ethics of environmental justice within the context of demand for more eco-friendly, affordable, and authentic disposition options
Course Format
  • Self-directed learning online
  • Recorded instruction from the first class cohort
  • More than 360 individual lessons
  • Guest experts/video presentations
  • Readings and video assignments
  • Independent research
  • Access to broad range of resource lists and links
  • Inclusion in closed social media course member only group
  • Access to instructors
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​The Proficiency Exam
The GBC proficiency exam was created by the course developers and instructors, Holly Blue Hawkins and Lee Webster, and featuring more than 50 top experts in the green burial world sharing their expertise as guest lecturers. Not only will you advance your knowledge in the field, this distinction will allow you to show your community the commitment you make to the earth, even in death. 
 
After passing the Green Burial Masterclass, simply click on Become Certified to get started on the Proficiency Exam. Here are some helpful tips before you do: Guide 2. By submitting the certificate fee ($150) and passing the assessment, you will earn a Certificate of Proficiency in Green Burial Cemetery Operations. Your contribution will be used to create and promote future educational opportunities for professionals and the community. Thank you for your commitment to green burial!
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Partnering with the Green Burial Council to provide certification and training courses for the next generation of death care leaders.

Instructors

​Green Burial Cemetery Operation
​Proficient Award Recipients

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Lee Webster, designer, instructor, writer
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Holly Blue Hawkins, cemeterian, instructor, poet
Andrea Burkins
Joel Cabrera
Tasha Dugan
​Donelle Dreese
Brittany Fuller
Bill Gupton
​Robin Henry
​Louisa Horne
Lisa Jones
Nancy Klamm
​
Kathleen Matuszak
Emily Miller
Arlette O'Rourke
Siobhan Skehan
Joseph Thomas
Adam Vokáč
Joshua Wayne

​Kayla Willingham
Erica Xavier-Beauvoir

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Contact Us

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Give Today
​Green Burial Council
2435 Iron Point RD #1100
Folsom, CA 95630​
888-966-3330
​[email protected]
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©2023 Green Burial Council
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Board Members
    • History
    • Leadership Award
  • Find GBC Providers
    • Interactive Maps
    • Cemeteries
    • Funeral Homes >
      • United States A—N
      • United States O—Z
      • Canada Funeral Homes
    • Product Providers
  • Certification
    • GBC Certification and Why it Matters?
    • Our Standards >
      • Cemetery Standards Downloads
    • Become Certified
    • Provider Benefits and Pricing
  • Education
    • Learn >
      • Green Burial Defined
      • FAQ >
        • Hybrid Cemeteries FAQ
        • Natural Burial FAQ
        • Conservation Burial FAQ
      • Starting a Green Cemetery
      • Potential Funding Sources
      • Green Funerals Course
      • Green Cemetery Course
      • Green Burial and Covid-19
      • Green Burial Glossary
      • Other Disposition Options
    • Multimedia >
      • GBC Publications
      • Books, Blogs, Articles, Videos
      • Photo Gallery
      • Articles Archive
    • Advocate >
      • Outreach Tools
    • Research >
      • Research
      • Disposition Statistics
      • Green Cemetery Survey Results
    • Tell Your Story >
      • Blog
      • Green Burial Stories >
        • Bob Swift
        • Tom Bonk
        • Barbara Beye Lorie
        • Scott
  • Events
    • GBC Conference Session Recordings
    • GBC Conference 2022 >
      • GBC Conference 2022 Agenda
      • 2022 Conference Recordings
      • 2022 Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors
    • GBC Conference 2021 >
      • 2021 Conference Recordings
      • 2021 Conference Sponsors
    • GBC Conference 2020 Recordings
    • Webinars >
      • Peer-to-Peer Forums >
        • Resources
      • Public Webinars
    • What's Happening
  • Giving
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Partner Organizations
    • Newsletters
    • Careers