Licensed funeral directors oversee the arrangement, preparation and burial or cremation of a deceased person. This may be done at the home or place of death, by telephone or over the internet.
The Bureau licenses, regulates and investigates complaints against California funeral establishments, funeral directors, embalmers, apprentice embalmers, cemetery brokers and salespersons, cremated remains disposers and approximately 200 cemeteries in the state.
New York State
New York State Funeral Directors Association is a trade organization dedicated to supporting & elevating professionals in the industry. Members benefit from a range of products & services that enhance their business. They also receive updated industry information & compliance materials. The organization also advocates for legislative reforms to ensure that federal & state laws are fair to funeral professionals.
If you’re a licensed funeral director in New York, you have a position of trust with the public and must honor their wishes in the most sensitive manner possible. Any allegations of misconduct, from mishandling remains to taking advantage of emotionally-vulnerable customers, could put your license in jeopardy. The Bureau of Funeral Directing takes all reports seriously & has the power to revoke your license.
All “funeral providers” must comply with the Funeral Rule. This includes funeral homes and independent funeral directors. The rule requires all providers to give a General Price List (GPL) to any person who inquires in person about funeral goods or services. However, this requirement does not apply when discussing prices over the phone or in writing.
Georgia
In Georgia, funeral service providers must be licensed. This includes funeral directors and embalmers, and the licenses are issued by the Board of Funeral Service Practitioners. The licensing process involves an exam, training and education requirements. The Board also imposes other restrictions and rules.
The Board has six licensed funeral directors and embalmers on its board, along with one consumer protection advocate representative. Its members are appointed by the governor. Its staff consists of an executive director, administrative assistants and field representatives.
The professional licensing board regulates funeral directors, embalmers, apprentices and mortuary students. It also enforces the laws regarding preneed funeral contracts and cemeteries. The Board of Funeral Service Practitioners also provides examination information and materials, continuing education opportunities, licensure applications and renewals, disciplinary information and more. The board’s list of active funeral establishments and funeral directors is available online and is searchable by license number, name, county, zip code or address. The list is updated regularly.
Nevada
The funeral services industry is a sensitive and emotional one, and consumers should be cautious when selecting a provider. The Nevada Funeral Consumers Alliance provides help and support for families in the area, serving Reno, Sparks, Carson City and more. The organization also advocates for consumer rights in the funeral industry.
The organization warns against funeral homes that charge for caskets when they don’t have to, and those that push you to buy their caskets when you prefer cremation. It also reminds consumers that funeral homes don’t have to sell you a casket for cremation, and that federal law allows you to choose an alternative container made of unfinished wood, pressed wood or fiberboard.
The organization recently took on Hites Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Henderson after a state funeral board director found bodies improperly stacked, sheeting soaked in blood, and a severed torso in a neighborhood trash can. The state funeral board suspended the license of the firm and its manager, Eric Lee, but didn’t revoke it.
California
The Bureau advocates consumer protection and licensee compliance through proactive education and consistent interpretation and application of laws governing the funeral industry. The Bureau regulates funeral establishments, funeral directors, embalmers and apprentice embalmers; cremated remains disposers, and crematories and hydrolysis facilities; and nearly 200 licensed cemeteries in California.
For more information, visit our website.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) is a non-profit organization that promotes advance planning for funeral needs and the consumer’s right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral. We have provided a list of important questions that consumers should ask when comparing prices and services.
Licensing requirements for embalmers and funeral directors differ by state. The CCFB has compiled a listing of licensing requirements by state, including the number of hours required for continuing education. Applicants must also pass the state law exam and the National Board examination. Licensure applications take, on average, forty days from the date of submission to the CCFB to be approved.