Funeral Director / Embalmer / South Carolina
2026 data South Carolina board official source

South Carolina Funeral Director / Embalmer License Requirements

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

Manages funeral services. Licensed in all 50 states.

What the South Carolina data shows for Funeral Director / Embalmers

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

Upfront cost is $75 on a 2-year cycle. South Carolina doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

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

Licensing Ease Score

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

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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Funeral Director / Embalmer in South Carolina?
South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina licenses funeral director / embalmers who complete its requirements (1500 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the South Carolina licensing board.
Can I transfer my Funeral Director / Embalmer license to South Carolina from another state?
Out-of-state funeral director / embalmer credentials get a case-by-case review in South Carolina rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the South Carolina licensing board.
Does South Carolina require a background check for Funeral Director / Embalmer licensing?
Background screening is part of the funeral director / embalmer licensing process in South Carolina. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

What to do with this funeral director / embalmer license

Funeral Director / Embalmer in South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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.