Professions / Cosmetology

Occupational licensing · Cosmetology · 51 state boards

Funeral Director / Embalmer Licensing Requirements by State

Funeral Director / Embalmer licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Funeral Director / Embalmer across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Barber, Body Piercer, Cosmetologist.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Funeral Director / Embalmer: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Barber, Body Piercer, Cosmetologist.

Manages funeral services. Licensed in all 50 states.

Funeral Director / Embalmer: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for cosmetology. Barber is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Funeral Director / Embalmer drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Barber and Body Piercer in cosmetology. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Funeral Director / Embalmer states

51

Above median

Board gates for Funeral Director / Embalmer: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Barber / Body Piercer before calling this license soft or hard.

Funeral Director / Embalmer: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Funeral Director / Embalmer boards vs Barber / Body Piercer - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Alaska 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Arizona 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Esthetician · Hearing Aid Specialist
Arkansas 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
California 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Colorado 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Connecticut 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Delaware 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
District of Columbia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Florida 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Georgia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Hawaii 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Idaho 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Locksmith · Nail Technician
Illinois 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Indiana 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Iowa 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Kansas 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Kentucky 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Louisiana 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
Maine 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Maryland 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Massachusetts 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Michigan 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Minnesota 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Esthetician · Hearing Aid Specialist
Mississippi 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Missouri 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Home Health Aide
Montana 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Nebraska 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Health Aide · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Nevada 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
New Hampshire 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
New Jersey 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Land Surveyor · Massage Therapist
New Mexico 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) · Mobile Home Installer
New York 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
North Carolina 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
North Dakota 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Ohio 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Oklahoma 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
Oregon 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Pennsylvania 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Rhode Island 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Nurse-Midwife · Debt Collector
South Carolina 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
South Dakota 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Tennessee 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Texas 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Utah 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Vermont 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Virginia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Washington 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
West Virginia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Wisconsin 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Amusement Ride Operator · Barber
Wyoming 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist

What to do with this

Funeral Director / Embalmer is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Funeral Director / Embalmer's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #32 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Barber →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Funeral Director / Embalmer requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.