CMT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CMT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the purpose of an 'aftercare' program in a funeral home setting? → Providing ongoing support and resources to bereaved families following the funeral service
2. Why is it considered unethical to suggest to a grieving family that a less expensive casket shows less love or respect for the deceased? → It constitutes emotional manipulation to exploit the family's grief for financial gain
3. Which term describes the postmortem drop in pH that contributes to rigor mortis? → Lactic acid accumulation causing acidosis
4. Which wax product is most commonly used in mortuary restorative art to fill deep tissue losses or cavities? → Modeling wax (mortuary wax)
5. In cases of cancer involving massive tumor growth, what embalming challenge is most commonly encountered? → Poor fluid distribution due to obstructed vessels
6. What is the primary purpose of the secondary chamber (afterburner) in a cremation retort? → To combust gases and particles from the primary chamber and reduce air pollution
7. How long does a standard adult cremation typically take in a modern cremation retort? → 2 to 3 hours
8. What is the 'first call' in mortuary practice? → The initial response to retrieve the decedent from the place of death
9. What is a 'direct burial' according to the FTC Funeral Rule? → Burial without embalming or a formal viewing service
10. What does the term 'visceral organs' refer to in mortuary anatomy? → Internal organs of the body cavities
11. Why is a death certificate an important document in funeral services? → To monitor employee performance
12. Which agency or entity in the United States is primarily responsible for issuing and maintaining the official death certificate form? → Individual state vital statistics offices, following NCHS model guidelines
13. What are some challenges associated with embalming? → Tracking customer feedback
14. Why are funeral service regulations important? → To track market trends
15. Which of Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief describes the bargaining stage? → Attempting to negotiate or make deals to reverse or delay the loss
16. When a decedent is brought to a funeral home and the identity is uncertain, what is the most reliable scientific method used for positive identification? → Comparison of dental records, fingerprints, or DNA against antemortem records
17. Which color theory principle guides mortuary cosmeticians when choosing cosmetics to neutralize a green discoloration? → Apply a red or pink complement to neutralize green tones
18. Which type of mortuary cosmetic is specifically formulated to remain stable under warm viewing-room conditions? → Mortuary cosmetics with high melting-point waxes
19. When completing a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected, what must be included per the FTC Funeral Rule? → Itemized list of all selected goods and services with individual prices and a total cost
20. Which alternative disposition method uses an alkaline solution to accelerate the natural decomposition of the body in a pressurized vessel? → Alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation)
21. What organ is drained and treated during cavity embalming? → The thoracic and abdominal cavities and their organs
22. Which state was first in the US to legalize natural organic reduction (human composting) as a legal disposition method? → Washington
23. What is 'unbundling' in funeral service, and why is it required by the FTC Funeral Rule? → Allowing consumers to purchase individual services rather than forced package pricing
24. What is the ethical principle of 'non-maleficence' as applied to funeral service? → Do not harm the client — financially, emotionally, or physically
25. Which post-mortem change is measured to help estimate time of death based on body temperature cooling rate? → Algor mortis
26. What is the main purpose of embalming? → To increase sales of caskets
27. What is the purpose of a 'funeral home's trust fund' for preneed contracts? → To hold prepaid funeral funds securely until the time of need
28. In mortuary pathology, what does 'ecchymosis' describe? → Bruising caused by subcutaneous hemorrhage
29. Which financial record must a funeral home maintain to document preneed contract funds held in trust? → Trust account statements showing fund balances and interest earned
30. What does the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Funeral Rule require funeral homes to provide to families during the intake and arrangement process? → An itemized price list of all funeral goods and services offered