Funeral Director / Embalmer / New York
2026 data New York board official source

New York Funeral Director / Embalmer License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Manages funeral services. Licensed in all 50 states.

What the New York data shows for Funeral Director / Embalmers

New York sets the entry bar for funeral director / embalmers at 1,500 training hours and a passing score on a state-approved exam. A background check is a standard part of the process. The credential is administered under New York's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Budget $75 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in New York, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

New York handles out-of-state credentials on a case-by-case basis instead of a standing reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

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

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 New York

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

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Funeral Director / Embalmer All New York licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with New York licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Funeral Director / Embalmer in New York? ▼
New York requires 1500 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $75. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Funeral Director / Embalmer in New York? ▼
New York licenses funeral director / embalmers who complete its requirements (1500 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the New York licensing board.
Can I transfer my Funeral Director / Embalmer license to New York from another state? ▼
New York 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 New York licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does New York require a background check for Funeral Director / Embalmer licensing? ▼
New York 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.

Related Guides

What to do with this funeral director / embalmer license

Funeral Director / Embalmer in New York 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 New York 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.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.