What Cremation Association of North America does

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is a 501(c)6 nonprofit professional association founded in 1913 and headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois, with 16 employees serving more than 3,500 members across the cremation, funeral, cemetery, and memorialization industries in the United States and Canada. Its core function is to set industry standards, publish authoritative cremation statistics and projections, and deliver professional education and certification to operators, funeral directors, and suppliers. The association maintains a published Code of Cremation Practice, formal position statements, and the Cremation Certification Cremationist Practitioner (CCSP) credential, alongside newer programs such as the Certified Cremation Society (CCS) and the Natural Organic Reduction Operator Certification (NOROC), the latter developed with Recompose in 2022.

CANA generates revenue through a combination of recurring membership dues ($470 per year), certification fees, annual convention registrations and sponsorships, advertising in its publications (The Cremationist, Outlook), and educational program sales. Digital credentials are delivered through a partnership with Accredible, and membership operations are run on Community Brands' SaaS platform. The association's strategic position is anchored to the structural shift in U.S. disposition: cremation has surpassed 50% of disposition choices and CANA projects a rate approaching 80% by 2045, which expands the relevance of its certifications and standards-setting role.

Customer segments include individual cremationists, funeral home operators, cemeteries, disposition technology providers (recomposition, alkaline hydrolysis, pet cremation), and supplier/exhibitor firms. The 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention in 2022 reflected expanded programming for alternative disposition methods, and CANA has begun convening multi-stakeholder dialogues that include hospices, healthcare systems, and faith communities, signaling an effort to extend influence upstream of the traditional funeral-purchase decision.

Name

Cremation Association of North America

Legal name

Cremation Association of North America

Website

https://cremationassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CANA is a 110-year-old nonprofit professional association serving 3,500+ cremation and funeral professionals across North America. It sets industry standards, publishes cremation statistics, and delivers certification and education programs for the cremation industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheeling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, suppliers, consultants, schools, and students. Membership provides access to certifications, publications, industry statistics, member directory, and peer networking.
2. Certification Programs: Revenue from certification programs including Crematory Operations Certification (COCP), Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS), Hospice Relations Specialist (CHRS), Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC), and Pet Cremation (CPCO) programs.
3. Events and Conventions: Annual Convention (108th Convention, Cremation Innovation), Symposium events, and webinars provide revenue through registration fees.
4. Publications: The Cremationist magazine, industry statistical reports, brochures, and educational materials generate revenue through subscriptions and sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CANA is a nonprofit professional membership association that provides cremation-focused education, certification programs (COCP, CCS, NOROC, CHRS, CPCO), annual conventions and symposiums, the Cremationist magazine, and industry statistical reports to more than 3,500 member funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, suppliers, consultants, schools, and students across North America. Its offerings are delivered through the CANA Education Online platform, in-person training, webinars, and digital credentials issued via Accredible.

Product overview

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is a professional association offering a comprehensive portfolio of cremation-focused education, certification, and member services. The core offering centers on certification programs including the Crematory Operations Certification Program (COCP), CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS), Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC), Certified Hospice Relations Specialist (CHRS), and Certified Pet Cremation Operator (CPCO). These are delivered through CANA Education Online (a platform providing on-demand courses and continuing education credits), in-person training, and webinars. CANA also publishes The Cremationist Magazine, industry statistical reports, and a cremation brochure series. Additional services include the CANA PR Toolkit, Crematory Management Program, CANA Connect member forum, CANA Marketplace, Peer Support meetings, the Jack Springer Memorial Scholarship, and annual convention/symposium events. The association provides digital certificates and badges through a partnership with Accredible for credential holders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CANA Cremationist Magazine: Trade magazine published by CANA since 1965 for cremation industry news and advocacy.
• CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS)
• Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC)
• Jack Springer Memorial Scholarship

Products and services

• Crematory Operations Certification Program (COCP) Industry-renowned certification program for crematory operator best practices, available in-person and online on-demand, covering human cremation operations with courses in English, French, and Spanish.
• CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) Professional certification consisting of eight courses delivered over four months, designed to raise the level of service for cremation families and establish professional designation for cremation specialists.
• Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC) First-of-its-kind certification for human composting operations, covering the history, science, and best practices of natural organic reduction. Includes 4 hours of online instruction plus final exam; $300 for complete course with digital certificate and badge valid for five years.
• Certified Hospice Relations Specialist (CHRS) Training program for funeral professionals to develop relationships with hospice organizations and better serve end-of-life care transitions.
• Certified Pet Cremation Operator (CPCO) Certification program for pet cremation operators covering industry best practices and standards for animal aftercare services.
• CANA Annual Convention and Symposium CANA's annual events including the Cremation Innovation Convention (108th edition) and the Cremation Symposium, providing education sessions, networking, and exhibitor showcases for industry professionals.
• CANA Cremationist Magazine Quarterly trade publication covering industry trends, best practices, statistics, and member insights for cremation professionals.
• Industry Statistical Information (Annual Statistics Report) Annual Statistics Report regarded as the most reliable data on cremation disposition and projections in the profession, including demographic analysis and regional growth patterns.
• CANA Education Online Online learning platform providing on-demand courses, continuing education credits, and certification programs accessible at members' convenience.
• Jack Springer Memorial Scholarship Scholarship program awarding $2,500 twice yearly to mortuary science students enrolled in ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited programs, named for CANA's former executive director. Administered through the Funeral Service Foundation.
• CANA Membership Annual membership ($470/year) for funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, suppliers, consultants, schools, and students providing access to certifications, publications, industry statistics, member directory, peer networking, and convention discounts.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Funeral Service FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The Funeral Service Foundation administers the Jack Springer Academic Scholarship on behalf of CANA. Named for CANA's long-time executive director, this scholarship supports mortuary science students with US$2,500 awards twice yearly. The partnership enables CANA to invest in the profession's future by supporting students committed to funeral service careers.
• Community BrandscoreTechnology or IntegrationCommunity Brands provides cloud-based hosting for CANA's member database. The platform securely stores member information and manages membership data on CANA's behalf, enabling the association's member portal and directory services.
• RecomposeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributors to CANA's Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC) program development, including Katrina Spade and Jacki Myers from Recompose, providing expertise on human composting operations.
• The Natural FuneralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeth Viddal from The Natural Funeral contributed to NOROC curriculum development, bringing expertise in natural organic reduction operations.
• Earth FuneralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided input during NOROC program development for natural organic reduction certification curriculum.
• Return HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided input during NOROC program development for natural organic reduction certification curriculum.
• InSight Institute / Insight BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCANA staff participated in Celebrant Training presented by Doug Manning and Glenda Stansbury of InSight Institute. The training focuses on new consumer preferences and the role of funeral directors in personalized memorialization.
• Foundation Partners GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of multiple CANA webinars including those on cemetery cremation gardens, consumer attitudes toward online deathcare, and leveraging cremation trends. Representatives present on industry panels and webinars.
• Passages InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of webinar series on keeping up with changing family needs, covering green burial, scattering solutions, and cremation quality service options.
• Regulatory Support ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPaul Harris from Regulatory Support Services presents OSHA compliance webinars for CANA members. CANA members receive 10% discount on annual contracts for OSHA and other training services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Funeral Consumers Alliance: Consumer-focused nonprofit advocating for affordable, meaningful deathcare. Sits on the demand side of the same profession CANA serves, with overlapping concerns about cremation trends and consumer education.
• Green Burial Council: Nonprofit certification body for green burial providers. Focuses on a specific disposition modality adjacent to cremation, similar to how CANA's NOROC targets a specific emerging modality within deathcare.

Direct peers

• Order of the Golden Rule: Long-standing cooperative of independent funeral homes offering shared resources, education, and member services. Operates the same nonprofit association model as CANA, targeting funeral directors with curriculum and conferences.
• Funeral Service Foundation: Charitable foundation supporting funeral service research, scholarships, and education. The Foundation already administers CANA's Jack Springer Scholarship and shares the deathcare profession's nonprofit ecosystem.
• National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA): The largest US funeral industry trade association. NFDA serves funeral directors broadly while CANA focuses exclusively on cremation; both are nonprofit membership associations offering education, certification, publications, and annual conventions for the deathcare profession.
• National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association (NFDMA): Historically Black funeral service trade association offering member education, conventions, and professional support. Comparable to CANA as a smaller, mission-driven deathcare association serving funeral professionals with education and certification programming.
• American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE): National accrediting body for mortuary science and funeral service programs. ABFSE and CANA both serve the deathcare profession's education and certification infrastructure, and ABFSE-accredited students are explicitly eligible for CANA's Jack Springer Scholarship.
• Selected Independent Funeral Homes: Membership network of independent, high-quality funeral homes. Comparable to CANA as a nonprofit association providing member services, education, and peer benchmarking for the deathcare profession.
• International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA): Global trade association for cemeteries, crematories, and funeral providers. ICCFA and CANA overlap directly on cremation-focused education, certification, and annual conventions serving the same operator audience in North America.

Regional players

• Cremation Society of Great Britain: UK-based membership society promoting cremation and providing consumer and practitioner information. Closest international analog to CANA in mission and member services, but operates in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CremationAssoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CremationAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cremationassoc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cremation Association of North America