The Bureau licenses funeral directors, embalmers and mortuary establishments, investigates complaints, and takes disciplinary action when necessary. The Bureau also provides consumer education and training.
You must offer consumers your General Price List (GPL) and Casket Price List. The GPL must include a non-declinable basic services fee that includes charges for overhead not allocated to other goods and services.
Education and Training Requirements
Those who wish to pursue careers in funeral service must complete an associate degree program and pass national and state licensure exams. People enter this profession from a wide range of backgrounds, but they all share an interest in helping families during a difficult time and a desire to uphold national and state regulations.
College programs in mortuary science last from 2 to 4 years and are accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. In addition to classes in mortuary science, these programs include coursework in accounting and business management, as well as psychology and human services.
After graduating from the program, students must perform a year-long internship in order to receive their license. During the internship, students will work alongside seasoned funeral directors and learn how to perform the many duties of this career. In addition, they will have the opportunity to forge industry connections and hone their skills. Licensing requirements vary by state, so it is important to check with your local funeral home for specific information.
Licensing Requirements
Your employees must be licensed or registered in order to work in your funeral home. This includes funeral directors and embalmers. Licensing requirements vary by state. To become a funeral director, you must graduate from an accredited college program in mortuary science and pass the national licensing exam administered by the Bureau. To become an embalmer, you must graduate from a school approved by the Board and pass the national licensing exam.
You must give consumers a General Price List (GPL) or an Outer Burial Container (OBC) price list upon their request during an arrangements conference. You cannot condition the furnishing of a funeral good or service on the purchase of another funeral good or service unless it is an item required by law or an essential part of your basic services fee.
Some funeral providers enter into agreements with government agencies to provide funeral arrangements for indigent or other persons eligible for a government benefit. In these situations, you may offer package funeral arrangements that are in addition to, but not in place of, your regular goods and services and comply with all Rule requirements.
Experience Requirements
Depending on the state in which you want to be licensed, you may need to complete a post-graduate internship or serve a yearlong residency in an established funeral home under the supervision of a registered funeral director. Then you must pass both a national and a state licensure examination prepared by the Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards.
You need excellent written and verbal communication skills for this job, particularly as you assist people during an emotional time. Empathy and compassion are also required, as you provide basic grief counseling and help families arrange services.
Other job duties include assessing customer needs, monitoring service performance, and responding to legal issues or payment negotiations. You also need to set operating strategies, plans, or policies for funeral homes. You may also be responsible for promoting your business at community events or conducting sales activities to build client relationships. If you’re thinking of a second career, funeral service can be a satisfying choice.
Continuing Education Requirements
To become licensed as a funeral director or embalmer, you must complete education and training requirements and pass national and state licensure exams. You also need to intern at a funeral home for a year.
Funeral professionals are exposed to occupational stress that most people will never experience. Learn how to recognize and manage it with this course from industry expert Todd Van Beck.
This course provides practical guidance to assist those serving families wanting to take advantage of environmental friendly options for final disposition such as cremation or burial. Also included are suggestions and best practices for working with tissue donor families.
Licensees who are not residents of New York may receive Continuing Education (CE) credit for courses or programs approved by the state of their residence. However, credits cannot be carried over from one licensure renewal period to another. Also, no more than three CE hours can be earned in courses or programs that deal with funeral merchandising such as caskets, outer burial containers and clothing.