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An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1365 By: Culver of the House
and
Alvord of the Senate
An Act relating to professions and occupations;
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 396.3, as last amended
by Section 1, Chapter 54, O.S.L. 2023 (59 O.S. Supp.
2024, Section 396.3), which relates to funeral
director and embalmer examinations; establishing the
Oklahoma Funeral Directors and Embalmers
Examinations; and providing an effective date.
SUBJECT: Professions and occupations
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 396.3, as
last amended by Section 1, Chapter 54, O.S.L. 2023 (59 O.S. Supp.
2024, Section 396.3), is amended to read as follows:
Section 396.3. A. The Oklahoma Funeral Board shall determine
the qualifications necessary to enable any person to practice as a
funeral director or embalmer, and prescribe the requirements for a
funeral establishment or commercial embalming establishment. The
Board shall examine all applicants for licenses to practice as a
funeral director or embalmer. The Board shall issue the proper
licenses to applicants who successfully pass such examination and
qualify pursuant to any additional requirements the Board may
prescribe.
B. 1. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, the
minimum requirements for a license to practice funeral directing or
embalming, or both, are as follows:
ENR. H. B. NO. 1365 Page 2
An applicant for a license to practice funeral directing or
embalming shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age, a legal
resident of this state, and a citizen or permanent resident of the
United States. In addition, an applicant shall be a graduate of a
program of mortuary science accredited by the American Board of
Funeral Service Education, and have served one (1) year as a
registered apprentice. The applicant may serve as a registered
apprentice prior to enrollment in an approved school of mortuary
science, or subsequent to graduation from the school, and pass any
of the following relevant exams necessary for licensure: the
International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board National
Board Science Examination and/or, the International Conference of
Funeral Service Examining Board National Board Arts Examination, the
Oklahoma Funeral Directors Examination, or the Oklahoma Embalmers
Examination with a seventy-five (75) or higher score on each exam.
2. Curriculum of study for an embalmer and/or or funeral
director is a program of mortuary science which shall be that
prescribed by the American Board of Funeral Service Education.
C. 1. If a person chooses not to meet the qualifications in
subsection B of this section for a funeral director, the person may
alternatively qualify for a license to practice funeral directing,
but not embalming, upon meeting the eligibility requirements of this
subsection as follows:
An applicant for a license to practice funeral directing shall
be at least eighteen (18) years of age, a legal resident of this
state, and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. An
applicant is required to complete a funeral director course of study
approved by the Oklahoma Funeral Board and that is administered by a
program of funeral service/mortuary science accredited by the
American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). The funeral
director course of study shall include at least thirty (30) semester
hours or equivalent closely following the ABFSE curriculum standard,
limited to only: Business Management, Cremation, Social
Sciences/Humanities, Legal, Ethical, Regulatory, plus essential
elements of embalming, restorative art, general concerns when
dealing with human remains, a practicum experience, and preparation
for the required board exams. In addition to the funeral director
course of study, the applicant is required to complete a twelve-
month minimum term as a registered apprentice with employment at a
licensed establishment and must have assisted with twenty-five
arrangement conferences and assisted with twenty-five separate
funeral or memorial services under the supervision of a licensed
ENR. H. B. NO. 1365 Page 3
funeral director in this state. The applicant may serve as a
registered apprentice prior to enrollment in an approved school of
mortuary science, concurrently while in mortuary school, or
subsequent to completion of the funeral director course of study.
2. Curriculum of study for a funeral director license shall be
in a program of mortuary science which shall be that prescribed by
the Oklahoma Funeral Board. An applicant must pay all fees as
provided in Section 396.4 of this title and pass an exam provided by
the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board or
the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Exam with a score of seventy-five
(75) or higher as well as pass a law exam provided by the Oklahoma
Funeral Board, with a score of seventy-five (75) or higher. A
license to practice as a funeral director issued pursuant to this
subsection shall be restricted to funeral director, and the licensee
shall not be eligible to practice as the funeral director in charge
as defined in Section 396.2 of this title.
3. If a person chooses not to meet the qualifications in
subsection B of this section for an embalmer, the person may
alternatively qualify for a license to practice embalming, upon
meeting the eligibility requirements of this subsection as follows:
An applicant for a license of this state, a citizen or permanent
resident of the United States, and of good moral character. An
applicant is required to complete an embalmer course of study
approved by the Oklahoma Funeral Board and that is administered by a
program of funeral service/mortuary science accredited by the
American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). The embalmer
course of study shall include at least thirty (30) semester hours or
equivalent closely following the ABFSE curriculum standard, limited
to only: Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Anatomy,
Pathology, Embalming, Embalming Chemistry, and Restorative Art, plus
essential elements of grief, communication, and preparation for the
required board examinations. The applicant must also complete a
twelve-month minimum term as a registered apprentice with full-time
employment at a licensed establishment or licensed commercial
embalming establishment and must have assisted with twenty-five
embalmings under the supervision of a licensed embalmer in this
state. The applicant may serve as a registered apprentice prior to
enrollment in an approved school of mortuary science, concurrently
while in mortuary school, or subsequent to completion of the
embalmer course of study.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1365 Page 4
4. Curriculum of study for an embalmer license shall be in a
program of funeral service/mortuary science which shall be that
prescribed by the Oklahoma Funeral Board. An applicant must pay all
fees as provided in Section 396.4 of this title and pass the
embalmer examination provided by the International Conference of
Funeral Service Examining Board or the Oklahoma Embalmers Exam with
a score of seventy-five (75) or higher as well as pass a law exam
provided by the Oklahoma Funeral Board with a score of seventy-five
(75) or higher. A license to practice as an embalmer issued
pursuant to this subsection shall be restricted to embalmer, and the
licensee shall not be eligible to practice as the funeral director
in charge as defined in Section 396.2 of this title.
D. The Board shall issue the appropriate license to any
qualified applicant whose application has been approved by the
Board, and who has paid the fees required by Section 396.4 of this
title, has passed the required examinations with a seventy-five (75)
or higher score and has demonstrated to the Board proficiency as an
embalmer or funeral director.
E. The Board shall maintain for public inspection a list of all
accredited schools of embalming and mortuary science.
F. Each funeral director in charge as defined in Section 396.2
of this title shall have a current dual funeral director and
embalmer license. A funeral director in charge of a funeral service
establishment or crematory that does not have a current dual funeral
director and embalmer license on the effective date of this act
shall be considered to be grandfathered and may serve as funeral
director in charge of any funeral service establishment or crematory
in accordance with rules prescribed by the Board, but shall not
serve as funeral director in charge of a commercial embalming
establishment which shall require a current dual funeral director
and embalmer license.
G. Upon the effective date of this act April 23, 2021, and for
one (1) year thereafter, the Board may issue a temporary funeral
director or embalmer license in the event a statewide state of
emergency is declared by the Governor and during such time as the
state of emergency is in effect.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1365 Page 5
Passed the House of Representatives the 27th day of February,
2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 28th day of April, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________