Funeral Director / Embalmer / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania Funeral Director / Embalmer License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Manages funeral services. Licensed in all 50 states.

What the Pennsylvania data shows for Funeral Director / Embalmers

Becoming a licensed funeral director / embalmer in Pennsylvania means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,500 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Pennsylvania regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Budget $75 to get started on a 2-year cycle. Pennsylvania doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

Pennsylvania 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 · Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Funeral Director / Embalmer in Pennsylvania? ▼
In Pennsylvania, the license path calls for 1500 education/training hours, a passing exam score, and a $75 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Funeral Director / Embalmer in Pennsylvania? ▼
Certification as a funeral director / embalmer in Pennsylvania means clearing the state's checklist: 1500 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Funeral Director / Embalmer license to Pennsylvania from another state? ▼
Pennsylvania doesn't publish a standing reciprocity policy for funeral director / embalmers; each out-of-state application is reviewed on its own merits. Some professions fall under interstate compacts that ease portability regardless. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm what applies to your case.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Funeral Director / Embalmer licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the funeral director / embalmer licensing process in Pennsylvania. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this funeral director / embalmer license

Funeral Director / Embalmer in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.