Requirements for a License for a Funeral Director
Funeral directors provide the necessary service of handling the dead. They frequently provide embalming services and may facilitate interment or cremation of the body. They may arrange for religious services or rites to be performed according to the wishes of the family of the deceased. They may place obituary notices with local news media and assist with obtaining death certificates for insurance or other legal purposes. States usually require funeral directors to be licensed, but requirements vary from state to state.
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Age
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States often have a minimum age requirement for licensed funeral directors. States usually require candidates for licensure to be at least 21 years old, as of May 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Certain states have lower age requirements: The Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers requires candidates for a funeral director's license to be 18 years of age, as does the Texas Funeral Service Commission and the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.
Education
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States typically require candidates for a funeral director's license to have a minimum level of education, which varies from state to state. States usually require candidates to hold a high school diploma or educational equivalent, such as a General Educational Development certificate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that candidates for a funeral director's license must usually complete a course of instruction in mortuary science. This course of study can take from one to two years to complete, depending on individual state requirements, and may lead to a certificate of completion or an associate degree; four-year programs in mortuary science can provide the candidate with a bachelor's degree. Nebraska requires candidates to complete at least 60 hours of college credit, including a full course of instruction in an accredited mortuary science school. Tennessee only requires candidates to complete a 30-semester-hour Funeral Service Education program that's accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education.
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Experience
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States may require a candidate for a funeral director's license to gain experience in the field by working as an apprentice for a specified period of time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that candidates for a funeral director's license need to complete an apprenticeship program, which typically lasts from one to two years. The Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers requires a candidate for a funeral director's license to complete a two-year apprenticeship under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director. The Nebraska Board of Funeral Directing and Embalming requires a 12-month apprenticeship, but it allows candidates to divide the time, serving six months before undergoing mortuary training, and six months after completing the educational requirements.
Examination
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States often require candidates for funeral director licensure to take and pass one or more licensing examinations. Examinations may include both written and oral sections. They may include proficiency tests, as well as questions regarding legal aspects of the funeral industry in the state. Certain states have reciprocity agreements that allow licensed funeral directors from other states with similar requirements to gain licensure in the state without additional examinations.
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References
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Comments
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I am finally in school as a funeral director I have always wanted to do that kind of work and now my dream has come true.
