To get a mortuary license, you complete a degree from a program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, finish a supervised apprenticeship of one to three years, pass the two-section National Board Examination, pass your state’s jurisprudence exam, and submit an application with a background check to your state licensing board. Every state follows this basic sequence, though the specific hours, case counts, and fees vary. The steps below walk through each stage in the order you’ll encounter it.
Decide Which License You Need
Before enrolling anywhere, figure out which credential your state issues and which one you want. Most states treat funeral directing and embalming as separate licenses. A funeral director license covers arranging services, meeting with families, handling death certificates and other paperwork, and running the business side of a funeral home. An embalmer license covers the physical preparation and preservation of remains. Some states issue these as entirely separate credentials, others offer a combined or dual license, and a handful require the dual credential for anyone working in the field.
This choice shapes your education, your apprenticeship, and where you can work later. If you only want to direct services, some states allow a narrower credential. If you expect to move during your career, the dual license travels better. Confirm your state’s structure before you pick a program.
Earn an ABFSE-Accredited Degree
Nearly every state requires a degree in mortuary science or funeral service from a program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. ABFSE accredits 58 degree programs nationwide at both the associate and bachelor’s level.1American Board of Funeral Service Education. ABFSE Directory of Accredited Programs It is the recognized national academic accreditor for the field.2American Board of Funeral Service Education. American Board of Funeral Service Education
Coursework covers anatomy, pathology, embalming chemistry, restorative art, funeral service law, psychology of grief, and business management. The science load is heavy because embalmers work with formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals and handle remains that may carry infectious diseases. The business and counseling side prepares directors for guiding families through grief while meeting the legal requirements for permits and death certificates.
Complete a Supervised Apprenticeship
Classroom credit alone won’t get you licensed. Every state requires a period of supervised practical training under a licensed practitioner. Apprenticeships generally run between one and three years, with some states measuring the requirement in hours rather than calendar time.
Most states also require a minimum number of supervised cases before you can sit for licensing exams. The typical range is 25 to 50 embalmings or funeral arrangements, depending on the state and the credential. You document these in a certified logbook or through affidavits signed by your supervisor. Some states further require a minimum number of cases per year rather than just a cumulative total. Gaps in the logbook or attestations that don’t match the board’s format are a common cause of delay, so track everything as you go.
Pass the National Board Examination
The National Board Examination is administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. It has two independently scored sections, Arts and Sciences.3The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook
The Sciences section covers embalming, restorative art, preparation of remains, and the underlying biological sciences. The Arts section covers funeral arranging and directing, marketing and merchandising, grief counseling, legal and regulatory compliance, and cemetery and crematory operations. Each section has 170 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest items. You get 170 minutes per section. The exam is computer-based and offered at Pearson VUE centers across all 50 states.
Each section costs $285, for a total of $570.3The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook Pass/fail results appear on screen when you finish. Most states require a minimum score of 75 percent on each section. If you fail, you’ll face a waiting period before retaking, and your state board sets the limit on attempts.
Pass the State Jurisprudence Exam and File Your Application
The NBE handles the national gate. Every state then requires its own jurisprudence exam on local funeral service laws, health regulations, and rules for handling and disposition of remains. These exams test your state’s specific requirements for death certificates, burial permits, cremation authorizations, and consumer protection. The NBE and the jurisprudence exam are not interchangeable.
Once both exams are behind you, submit the formal application to your state licensing board. Most boards now accept applications through an online portal. You’ll need:
- Official transcripts sent directly from your ABFSE-accredited program
- Proof of completed apprenticeship hours and case counts
- NBE scores, sent from the examining board to your state
- Application and licensing fees
Initial licensing fees commonly run between $100 and $300 for individual credentials, with additional charges in some states for dual licenses or establishment permits. These fees are typically nonrefundable regardless of whether the application is approved. Processing takes roughly 30 to 60 days in most jurisdictions, though incomplete files can stall much longer. Boards verify every external document independently, so if a transcript, background check, or exam score hasn’t arrived when the reviewer opens your file, your application waits. Keep your confirmation number and follow up.
Clear the Background Check
Virtually every state requires criminal background screening and fingerprinting. Some states use FBI-channeled fingerprint checks through vendors like Live Scan; others run state-level checks through their own investigative bureaus. The reason is straightforward: funeral professionals work with grieving families in a fiduciary role and have unsupervised access to remains and personal property.
Offenses that tend to raise concern cluster around violence, sexual crimes, fraud, and elder abuse. There is no universal federal standard for which convictions bar licensure. Some states publish explicit lists; others apply a broader moral character or moral turpitude standard that gives the board discretion. In many jurisdictions no single conviction triggers automatic denial. Instead, the board weighs the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation. Consumer fraud and deceptive business practice convictions tend to carry particular weight.
If you have a record and are considering this career, contact your state board before you enroll in school. Many boards offer preliminary reviews or advisory opinions on whether a given history is likely to disqualify you. That answer is far better to have before two years of tuition and an apprenticeship than after.
Renew Your License and Keep Up with Continuing Education
Your license isn’t permanent. Every state requires periodic renewal, running either annually or biennially. Renewal means paying a fee, confirming your practice information, and documenting continuing education.
CE requirements vary widely. Some states require as few as 5 hours per year; others mandate 16 hours per renewal cycle. Common required topics include ethics, state mortuary law updates, vital statistics and death certificate rules, and FTC Funeral Rule compliance. Some states also require OSHA safety or infection control training. The subject categories are set by your state board, and courses in the wrong category won’t count toward your total even if the hours would otherwise add up.
Practicing on an expired license carries the same penalties as practicing without one, including administrative fines, suspension, and in serious cases criminal charges. Most states offer a grace period or reinstatement process for recently lapsed licenses, though the fees are higher and additional requirements may apply. If a license has been lapsed for an extended period, some states treat you as a new applicant and send you through the full process again.
Moving Between States
A mortuary license from one state does not automatically work in another. Reciprocity exists in some form across many states, but it is rarely seamless. The typical endorsement process asks you to prove you hold an active license in good standing, submit NBE scores broken out by section (aggregate scores are usually not accepted), pass the new state’s jurisprudence exam, and sometimes show a minimum period of licensed practice.
Friction points you may run into:
- Different apprenticeship lengths. If your original state required a shorter apprenticeship than the new one, you may need additional supervised practice.
- Separate vs. dual licensing. Moving between a combined-license state and one that issues director and embalmer licenses separately can mean extra exams or credential adjustments.
- Clinical case minimums. States with higher case requirements may not credit all your prior experience.
- Education gaps. If your degree program didn’t cover a subject the new state considers mandatory, you may need supplemental coursework.
Some states offer temporary or provisional licenses to endorsement applicants so you can start working while the full application is reviewed. Start the paperwork early. The jurisprudence exam alone can take weeks to schedule.
One portability rule stands apart. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, if you or your spouse holds a valid professional license and you relocate on military orders, the new state must recognize your existing license as valid for practice there.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 50 USC 4025a – Portability of Professional Licenses of Servicemembers and Their Spouses You submit an application with proof of military orders, a notarized affidavit that you’re in good standing, and (for spouses) a copy of the marriage certificate. If the licensing authority can’t process your application within 30 days, it may issue a temporary license with the same scope as a permanent one. Many states offer additional benefits on top of this federal baseline, including expedited processing and fee waivers; the Department of Justice maintains updated guidance.5U.S. Department of Justice. 2025 Update – Portability of Professional Licenses