How to Become a Funeral Director in Texas

Funeral Directors ease loved ones burden.

A funeral director does much more than make arrangements for the disposition of the body; she helps the family navigate the legalities and comforts the deceased's loved ones in their grief. The State of Texas requires prospective funeral directors to succeed in a rigorous program of classroom and on the-job- training prior to licensure. An aspiring funeral director can expect to invest two years in the pursuit of full licensure in Texas.

Instructions

1. Enroll in an applied science degree in Funeral Service Program whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This will ensure the education received meets the criteria established by the Texas Funeral Service Commission and provides students the option of applying for federal financial aid.

2. Secure employment or an internship with a licensed funeral director. Aspirants are required to obtain a provisional license, work a minimum of 17 hours a week and complete at least 60 cases under direct supervision prior to Texas issuing a full license. Provisional license applications will not be processed without verification of a supervised position.

3. Prepare to apply for a provisional funeral director's license by obtaining an FBI background check; the required forms are available for download on the Texas Funeral Services Commission (TFSC) website (See Resources). Applications submitted without a documentation of the background check will not be processed.

4. Return to the TFSC website and download the provisional license application and the FDIC/EIC Letter; print both. Take the FDIC/EIC letter to your supervising funeral director; this is your verification of employment or internship. Complete the application and submit it with the letter and verification of your background check to TFSC.

5. Obtain your applied science degree in Funeral Service Program and complete the work hours and cases required under the terms of provisional licensure. Your supervising funeral director with file reports on your on-the-job training progress with the TFSC. Aspirants are required to attain a score of 75 or more on the TFSC issued exam and will be notified by TFSC, via mail, when sufficient qualifications for a funeral director's license have been attained.

References

• Texas Funeral Services Commission: General Requirements
• Texas Funeral Services Commission: Instructions on the Provisional Licensing Program

Resources

• Texas Funeral Service Commission: Licensing (forms)
• Texas Funeral Directors Association