2026 data Arkansas board official source

Arkansas Funeral Director / Embalmer License Requirements

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

Manages funeral services. Licensed in all 50 states.

What the Arkansas data shows for Funeral Director / Embalmers

To practice as a funeral director / embalmer in Arkansas, the state licensing board requires 1,500 documented education or training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. The regulation sits under Arkansas's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

The initial price tag is $75 every 2 years. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Arkansas, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Arkansas reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Funeral Director / Embalmer · Arkansas

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
1,500 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee B+
$75
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Arkansas

Education / Training Hours
Cosmetology School
1,500 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Arkansas licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Funeral Director / Embalmer in Arkansas?
Arkansas's requirements cover 1500 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $75. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Funeral Director / Embalmer in Arkansas?
Certification as a funeral director / embalmer in Arkansas means clearing the state's checklist: 1500 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Arkansas licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Funeral Director / Embalmer license to Arkansas from another state?
Arkansas evaluates out-of-state funeral director / embalmer licenses on a case-by-case basis. Many professions are covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability. Contact the Arkansas licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does Arkansas require a background check for Funeral Director / Embalmer licensing?
Arkansas does require a background check before issuing a funeral director / embalmer license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.

What to do with this funeral director / embalmer license

Funeral Director / Embalmer in Arkansas is one requirement row in a funeral director / embalmer-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Arkansas licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.