Trying to decide whether getting my (CMT) Certified Mortuary Technician is worth the time and money investment. I've been doing research on "CMT" and the salary data is all over the place.
Some sources say it adds $5-8k/year on average, others suggest it's more of a requirement to even get considered for certain roles now rather than a pay bump.
Has anyone here seen a direct salary impact from getting CMT certified? Or is it more of a "required to apply" thing in your industry now?
Also — how long did the whole process take from starting to study to passing? And what was the exam fee in your state/country?
Trying to do a real cost-benefit before I commit 4-6 months to this.
The free cmt mortuary science procedures helped me understand what the exam actually tests rather than just what the material covers.
The honest answer is: it depends a lot on your background.
If you're already working in this field, the CMT exam is testing knowledge you probably use daily. The "CMT" sections will feel familiar.
If you're coming in from outside, give yourself an extra 2 weeks and really focus on the practical application questions.
The practice tests here are worth doing repeatedly — I did the same test bank multiple times and found new questions I'd missed each time.
Failed first attempt, came back to this thread. The consensus on cmt practice test being the make-or-break area is right. Focusing almost exclusively on applied questions this time around.
Quick update: just cleared 79% on my most recent CMT practice set using free cmt embalming techniques protocols. Sitting for the real thing in 4 weeks. Feeling cautiously optimistic.
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