To get an embalming license, you need to graduate from a mortuary science program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, complete a supervised apprenticeship under a licensed embalmer, pass the two-part National Board Examination, and pass your state’s jurisprudence exam before applying to the state funeral board. Start to finish, the path usually runs two to four years, depending on whether you pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree and how long your state’s apprenticeship lasts. Every state requires licensing; Colorado was the last holdout and enacted funeral home requirements in 2024.
Step 1: Enroll in an ABFSE-Accredited Program
Your education has to come from a program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, the national accreditor for funeral service and mortuary science education. Graduating from one of its programs is a prerequisite for licensure in virtually every state.1American Board of Funeral Service Education. American Board of Funeral Service Education There are 58 accredited programs nationwide, so your choices may be limited by geography.2American Board of Funeral Service Education. ABFSE Directory of Accredited Programs
An associate degree requires at least 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours). A bachelor’s track requires at least 120 semester hours, with at least 25 percent of total credits in general education courses outside the funeral service major.3American Board of Funeral Service Education. ABFSE Accreditation Standards Most candidates go the associate route. The bachelor’s gives you a broader base and can help later if you move toward management.
The curriculum is built around four core areas with ABFSE minimums: public health and technical courses (14 semester hours), business management and professional studies (16 hours), social sciences and humanities (6 hours), and legal, ethical, and regulatory coursework (3 hours).3American Board of Funeral Service Education. ABFSE Accreditation Standards In practice you’ll take anatomy and physiology, microbiology, embalming chemistry centered on formaldehyde and other preservation fluids, and restorative art.
Clinical Work Starts Before You Graduate
Accredited schools build in real cases. ABFSE standards require every student to actively participate in at least 10 embalming cases before graduation, demonstrate the process of receiving five first calls, participate in five arrangement conferences, and attend five funeral-related observations, at least one in person.3American Board of Funeral Service Education. ABFSE Accreditation Standards This clinical work is separate from, and comes before, the post-graduation apprenticeship.
Step 2: Complete a Supervised Apprenticeship
After you finish the degree, most states require a structured apprenticeship under a licensed embalmer before you can apply for full licensure. The typical length is one to two years, and some states let the apprenticeship run concurrently with school. You’ll work in a funeral home performing embalming under direct oversight.
States set their own case minimums. Numbers generally run from 25 to 50 documented procedures, and you’ll keep detailed logs signed by your supervisor as proof. Your supervisor has to hold a current, valid license and typically needs at least two years of practical experience before taking on apprentices.
How Supervision Tightens and Loosens
Most states structure supervision in phases. Early on, your supervisor or a designee has to be physically present during every procedure. After you clear a threshold number of cases and enough months of training, you move to a phase where the supervisor only has to be available for consultation. Expect the first phase to last at least six months and roughly 25 cases before you earn any independence. Your supervisor files paperwork with the board confirming you’ve met the benchmarks before the transition.
Step 3: Pass the National Board Examination
You have to pass the National Board Examination (NBE), administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, known as “The Conference.”4The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards The NBE has two independently scored sections:
- NBE-Sciences, covering pathology, embalming chemistry, microbiology, and restorative techniques.
- NBE-Arts, covering funeral directing, grief psychology, business law, and regulatory compliance.
Each section costs $285 as of 2026, for a combined $570.5The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook Results come back as pass or fail rather than a numerical score, though the report shows your performance by subsection so you know where to focus if you need to retake.6The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. National Board Exam Results – What to Expect
If you fail a section, you have to wait at least 30 days to retake it. Each retake requires a new application and the full $285 fee.7The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. Next Steps After Unsuccessful NBE You can submit your new application as soon as you get results, but the earliest test date will still be 30 days out. There’s no published cap on attempts.
Step 4: Pass Your State Jurisprudence Exam
Nearly every state also requires a separate jurisprudence exam on that state’s funeral laws, administrative codes, and regulatory procedures. Your state board administers it, not the Conference. Fees generally run from about $90 to $190. This is the piece that fits your national credentials to the legal environment where you actually practice.
Know Which License You’re Actually Applying For
Before you file anything, check what license types your state issues. The structure varies. Some states issue separate embalmer and funeral director licenses, with a distinct application for each. Others offer a combined or “dual” license covering both roles. A few states only issue the dual credential, which means you cannot be licensed as an embalmer there without also meeting funeral director requirements.
If you only want to embalm, confirm your state allows a standalone embalmer license. If it doesn’t, plan for the additional coursework or supervised experience that funeral directing requires, such as arrangement conferences and funeral services. Both sections of the NBE are typically required regardless of which license you’re after.
Step 5: File Your Application With the State Board
Once your education, apprenticeship, and exams are done, you assemble a documentation package for your state board. Requirements vary, but plan on gathering:
- Official transcripts, sent directly from your ABFSE-accredited school to the state board. You can’t hand-deliver these; they have to come from the institution.
- Apprenticeship logs with every case documented, signed by your supervisor, with dates and procedure descriptions.
- NBE scores, transferred officially through the Conference to your state licensing authority.
- Jurisprudence exam results from the state board’s own testing process.
- A criminal background check. Many states require fingerprinting at a certified facility, routed through either the FBI or state law enforcement.
- Sponsor identification in some states, meaning a currently licensed professional who vouches for your qualifications.
Most states now take applications through an online portal, which speeds things up. Application fees generally fall between $50 and $250. Expect the board to take four to eight weeks to review a complete file. Incomplete submissions are the biggest cause of delay, so check every document twice before you file.
Keeping the License After You Get It
An embalming license isn’t permanent. Every state requires periodic renewal, usually annually or every two years. Renewal fees generally run from about $25 to $100 depending on the state and license type.
Most states also tie renewal to continuing education. The usual requirement is 10 to 24 hours per two-year cycle, and some states require a portion of those hours cover specific topics like ethics or infectious disease control. Some require a certain number of live or in-person hours rather than letting you fulfill everything through self-paced online courses.
If you miss a renewal, you cannot legally embalm until the license is reinstated. A short lapse usually just means paying late fees. Let the license sit expired for a year or more and some states will require you to retake the jurisprudence exam, submit a fresh background check, and provide updated continuing education documentation before reactivating your credential.