Accreditation & Approvals

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service > Accreditation & Approvals

ACCREDITATION STATEMENTS

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as an Institution of Higher Learning and is authorized to offer instruction leading to the Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.).

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is recognized by the Texas Workforce Commission to offer instruction leading to the Certificate in Funeral Directing.

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (CIFS) and the Funeral Service associate degree program offered by CIFS are accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747. Web: www.abfse.org.

APPROVALS

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is approved by the Texas Veterans Commission under the provision of Title 38, U.S. Code for VA educational benefits to train veteran and other eligible persons for approved programs and courses required for those programs.

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission Career Schools and Colleges.

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is licensed by the Texas Funeral Service Commission as a funeral establishment.

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is approved by the Texas State Anatomical Board to use human cadavers.

MEMBERSHIPS

Commonwealth Institute’s commitment to the community and the profession is illustrated by the following institutional or staff memberships:

100 Black Women of Funeral Service
Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practitioners
Cremation Association of North America
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Houston Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association
Houston Funeral Directors and Morticians Association
International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement

International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
Library & Information Resources Network
National Associated Colleges of Mortuary Science
National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association
National Funeral Directors Association
Texas Funeral Directors Association
Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Veterans Administration

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP

The name of the incorporated business as stated in its amended articles of incorporation is Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is a Texas non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization which is governed and overseen by the Board of Regents and the President, as Chief Executive Officer.

PROGRAM INFORMATION – Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service

Year	Total enrolled	# of New Students	# of Grads	Timely Grad*	Graduation Rate**	Did not finish****	Overall % Employed	Employed In Funeral Service
2023	423	299	142	141/142	82%	97	95%	70%
2022	399	277	138	134/138	87%	98	94%	69%
2021	349	211	162	161/162	81%	64	91%	66%

*Timely graduation = complete program in 1½ times designated program length.
**Graduation rate reflects cohort graduation rate (% of students from original cohort completing in the designated year)
***Left before completing the program; did not finish.

NATIONAL BOARD STATISTICS – Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service

Single Year	School Pass Rate	National Pass Rate	Single Year	School Pass Rate	National Pass Rate
2023 Arts	75%	78%	2023 Sciences	70%	69%
2022 Arts	75%	69%	2022 Sciences	69%	64%
2021 Arts	59%	68%	2021 Sciences	43%	57%

National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

DISTANCE EDUCATION GRADUATE STATISTICS – Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (most recent data available)

2021: DE Graduates	NBE Arts pass rate	NBE Sciences pass rate	Graduation Rate	Employed in Funeral Service
143	65%	42%	88%	69%