Funeral Director / Embalmer / Rhode Island
2026 data Rhode Island board official source

Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island data shows for Funeral Director / Embalmers

To practice as a funeral director / embalmer in Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Budget $75 to get started on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Rhode Island, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

Rhode Island evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

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

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 Rhode Island

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Funeral Director / Embalmer in Rhode Island? ▼
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island? ▼
Certification as a funeral director / embalmer in Rhode Island means clearing the state's checklist: 1500 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Rhode Island licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Funeral Director / Embalmer license to Rhode Island from another state? ▼
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does Rhode Island require a background check for Funeral Director / Embalmer licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for funeral director / embalmer licensing in Rhode Island. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this funeral director / embalmer license

Funeral Director / Embalmer in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.