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By TerraCare

TerraCare Certification: What Partners Need to Know

When funeral home operators ask about TerraCare certification, they’re usually asking about three different things at once — and conflating them creates real confusion during onboarding. TerraCare certification, in full, means completing all three components: a state-issued license or permit authorizing natural organic reduction (NOR) in your jurisdiction, CANA’s Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certificate (NOROC) as your professional credential, and TerraCare’s own training and onboarding process covering equipment operation and ongoing support protocols. All three are distinct. All three matter. This article walks through each one so you know exactly what you’re getting into — and what to expect when you join the TerraCare partner program.

What certifications does a funeral home need to offer terramation through TerraCare?

TerraCare certification requires three distinct components: a state-issued license or permit authorizing natural organic reduction (NOR) in your jurisdiction, CANA's Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certificate (NOROC) as the professional credential ($300, 4.0 CE hours, valid 5 years), and TerraCare's own hands-on equipment training and onboarding. All three are required — no single credential substitutes for the others.

  • TerraCare certification is a three-part process: state licensing, CANA NOROC, and TerraCare's partner training — none are interchangeable.
  • NOR is currently legal in 14 states; California, New York, and New Jersey are authorized but not yet operational as of April 2026.
  • CANA NOROC costs $300, covers 4.0 CE hours, and is valid for five years — it is the nationally recognized professional credential for NOR practitioners.
  • TerraCare's onboarding covers equipment operation, the Chrysalis™ vessel, remote monitoring setup, and the 6-month wellness inspection program.
  • State licensing must be confirmed before joining the TerraCare program — TerraCare's team assists with navigation but the legal authorization comes from your state board.

For a broader look at what the program covers, see the TerraCare partner training overview.

What Does “TerraCare Certification” Actually Involve?

The short answer is that “TerraCare certification” is a shorthand for a three-part process, not a single credential. Operators who have been through it often describe it as overlapping layers that build on each other rather than a single checklist item you complete and move on from.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. State licensing — Before you can legally perform NOR at your facility, your state must have legalized the practice, and your funeral home must hold the appropriate state-level authorization. This varies considerably from state to state.

2. CANA NOROC certification — This is the professional credential issued by the Cremation Association of North America. It’s the industry-recognized standard for NOR practitioners and covers the operational and ethical foundations of the practice.

3. TerraCare partner training — This is the program-specific training TerraCare provides to new partners. It covers the TerraCare equipment, the Chrysalis™ vessel, operational protocols, and an introduction to the support infrastructure — including remote monitoring and wellness inspections — that stays in place after installation.

These three components are not interchangeable. A state license gives you legal authority to operate. NOROC gives you the professional credential. TerraCare training gives you the operational readiness to run the program successfully. You need all three.

What State Licensing Does Your Funeral Home Need Before Offering NOR?

NOR is currently legal in 14 states: Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, Maine, Georgia, and New Jersey. However, three of those states — California, New York, and New Jersey — are legal but not yet operational. Funeral homes in those states cannot currently offer NOR services to families. California’s framework is expected to take effect January 1, 2027. New York’s regulations are still pending. New Jersey’s operational timeline is estimated around July 2026.

If you’re in a state not on that list, you are not currently in a position to offer NOR. Oklahoma’s HB 3660 passed the Oklahoma House 59-37 in March 2026 and represents real legislative momentum, but it remains pending in the Oklahoma Senate and has not been signed into law. For a full picture of states where NOR is already legal, including state-specific regulatory notes, the TerraCare state guides are the right starting point.

For the 11 states where NOR is both legal and operational, the licensing pathway varies. Washington routes NOR through the Funeral and Cemetery Board under the Department of Licensing, treating it as an additional disposition method within the existing funeral home licensing framework. Colorado operates through the Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration. Oregon uses the Mortuary and Cemetery Board. In each case, NOR is regulated at the state level — there is no federal NOR license.

What this means practically: before applying to become a TerraCare partner, confirm with your state’s relevant licensing board that your funeral home is in compliance with NOR-specific requirements. Some states have added facility standards specific to NOR operations. TerraCare’s onboarding team can help you navigate this process, but the legal authorization itself must come through your state.

What Is CANA NOROC Certification and Do TerraCare Partners Need It?

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) developed the Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certificate — NOROC — as the professional credential for NOR practitioners. As of 2026, it is the only nationally recognized industry credential of its kind.

NOROC details:

  • Cost: $300
  • CE hours: 4.0
  • Format: Online, self-paced
  • Validity: 5 years (renewal required)
  • Available at: cremationassociation.org

NOROC is not a legal requirement in every state, but it is the industry standard. TerraCare recommends that all partners complete NOROC as part of their professional preparation. Some state licensing boards may require it or treat it as documentation of professional competency. Even where it’s not required, it covers the foundational operational and ethical framework for NOR — content that directly informs how you’ll work with TerraCare equipment in practice.

For a deeper look at the NOROC certification process, what the curriculum covers, and how to complete it efficiently, see the full guide on CANA NOROC certification.

TerraCare’s Training and Onboarding Process

The third component is TerraCare-specific. Once your state licensing is in order and you’ve completed or are working through NOROC, TerraCare’s partner onboarding covers the operational specifics of running NOR through the TerraCare program.

What TerraCare’s training and onboarding includes:

  • Equipment installation and setup walkthrough
  • Hands-on operator training covering the Chrysalis™ vessel and associated systems
  • Introduction to TerraCare’s remote monitoring capability, which allows TerraCare staff to watch the NOR process alongside you
  • Orientation to TerraCare’s 6-month wellness inspection program
  • Introduction to the component repair program and ongoing support resources

One thing operators consistently note after onboarding: the training path is shorter than they anticipated. The process is designed to get experienced funeral professionals to operational confidence efficiently — it’s not a from-scratch education in a field you know nothing about. For a clear breakdown of what the timeline looks like, see how long TerraCare partner training takes.

TerraCare’s model is notably different from a transactional equipment relationship. TerraCare remains actively involved after installation through remote monitoring, scheduled wellness checks, and ongoing support. The training is the beginning of that relationship, not the end of it.

If you’re ready to explore what joining the program looks like for your funeral home, contact TerraCare Partners to start the conversation.

How the Three Components Work Together

Think of the three certification components as a foundation, not a sequence you complete and forget:

State licensing is the legal foundation. Without it, nothing else matters — you cannot legally perform NOR regardless of your training or credentials.

CANA NOROC is the professional foundation. It establishes your knowledge of NOR operations, ethical standards, and best practices at the industry level. It’s portable, renewable, and recognized across the industry independent of which equipment manufacturer you partner with.

TerraCare training is the operational foundation. It’s specific to the TerraCare program — the equipment, the protocols, the support structure. It’s what turns general NOR competency into readiness to deliver TerraCare’s specific NOR service model.

The three build on each other. Most operators find that NOROC and state licensing give them confidence going into TerraCare training, because they’re not learning the basics of NOR for the first time during equipment-specific instruction. The framework is already in place.

With the national cremation rate at 63.4% (NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report) and growing consumer interest in green burial options, NOR represents a real service expansion opportunity for funeral homes in legal states. Getting the certification structure right from the start positions your funeral home to offer the service with confidence.

To learn more about what onboarding looks like and whether your funeral home is a fit for the TerraCare partner program, contact TerraCare Partners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CANA NOROC certification required to become a TerraCare partner?

NOROC is not a hard requirement in every state, but TerraCare strongly recommends it for all partners. It is the nationally recognized professional credential for NOR practitioners, and some state licensing boards treat it as evidence of professional competency. Completing NOROC before or alongside TerraCare onboarding training helps operators come to the program with a strong operational and ethical foundation.

How long does the TerraCare onboarding training take?

TerraCare’s partner training is designed to move efficiently for experienced funeral professionals. Operators consistently report that the timeline is shorter than they expected. For a full breakdown of what the onboarding process looks like and how long each phase typically takes, see the dedicated guide on how long TerraCare partner training takes.

What happens if my state isn’t on the legal NOR list yet?

NOR is currently legal in 14 states. If your state hasn’t legalized it yet, you cannot currently offer the service — but you can still prepare. TerraCare can work with operators in pending-state markets to help them understand the program and position their funeral home to move quickly when their state legalizes NOR. Contact TerraCare Partners to discuss your state’s status.

Do I need a separate state license or permit to operate NOR equipment?

Yes. State-level authorization is required before you can legally perform NOR, and requirements vary by state. Most states route NOR through existing funeral home or mortuary licensing frameworks, sometimes with NOR-specific facility requirements added. You’ll need to verify current requirements with your state’s relevant licensing board. TerraCare’s onboarding team can help point you toward the right contacts.

Is the certification process a one-time event, or does it involve renewal?

Each component has its own renewal requirements. CANA NOROC certification is valid for 5 years and requires renewal. State licenses follow each state’s standard renewal schedule for funeral home licensees. TerraCare’s ongoing support relationship — including wellness inspections and remote monitoring — is continuous, not a one-time event. Staying current on all three components is part of running a professional NOR operation.

Who conducts TerraCare’s partner training?

TerraCare’s own team conducts partner onboarding training. This is not outsourced or handled through a third-party certification body. TerraCare staff are involved in installation, training, and the ongoing monitoring and support that continues after your first case. The training relationship is part of TerraCare’s partner program model, not a separate service.

Sources

  1. CANA Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certificate (NOROC) — Cremation Association of North America — https://www.cremationassociation.org/noroc.html
  2. NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report (63.4% national cremation rate) — National Funeral Directors Association — https://nfda.org/news/statistics
  3. Washington SB 5001 (2019) — Natural Organic Reduction Authorization — Washington State Legislature — https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5001&Year=2019
  4. Colorado SB 21-006 (2021) — Natural Reduction of Human Remains — Colorado General Assembly — https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-006
  5. Oregon HB 2574 (2021) — Natural Organic Reduction — Oregon Legislative Assembly — https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/HB2574
  6. California AB-351 (2022) — Human Composting — California Legislative Information — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB351
  7. New York A382/S5535 (2022) — Natural Organic Reduction — New York State Assembly — https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A382&term=2021
  8. Oklahoma HB 3660 (2026) — Natural Organic Reduction — Oklahoma Legislature — https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB3660&Session=2600
  9. Washington State Department of Licensing, Funeral and Cemetery Board — https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/funeralcemetery/