Funeral director and embalmer apprentices

2025-2026 Bill 5665: Funeral director and embalmer apprentices - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5665
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Long
Document Path: LC-0736WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on May 6, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Labor, Commerce and Industry
Summary: Funeral director and embalmer apprentices
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

5/6/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 25
)

5/6/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Labor, Commerce and Industry
(
House Journal-page 25
)

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legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
05/06/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION
40-19-20
, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL
DIRECTORS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "APPRENTICE"; AND BY AMENDING
SECTION
40-19-240
, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR APPRENTICES AND
APPRENTICESHIPS, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS THAT RESTRICT THE ABILITY OF
APPRENTICES TO TRAIN IN MULTIPLE ESTABLISHMENTS SERVED BY THE LICENSEE IN WHOSE
SERVICE THE APPRENTICE IS ENGAGED.

W
hereas, the practice
of embalming and funeral directing has evolved, with licensed embalmers and
licensed funeral directors often serving multiple funeral establishments in
various locations; and

W
hereas, current
apprenticeship laws limit the ability of an apprentice to train under licensed
embalmers and funeral directors who service multiple locations, thereby
inhibiting the apprentice from gaining sufficient practical experience; and

W
hereas, when licensed
embalmers and funeral directors serve multiple funeral establishments, an apprentice
must be permitted to continue training under their supervision at such
establishments in order to gain the full benefit of his apprenticeship. Now,
therefore,

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
40-19-20
(3) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:

(
3) "Apprentice" means a person who is
preparing to become licensed for the practice of embalming
and
or
funeral directing under
the supervision and instruction of a person licensed for the practice in this
State and who is registered with the board pursuant to Section
40-19-120
.

S
ECTION 2.
S
ection
40-19-240
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-19-240
.
(
A) A person desiring to
become an apprentice funeral director or embalmer shall apply to the board on
forms provided by the board. The applicant must be at least eighteen years of
age, shall take the oath contained on the application form, and shall submit a
fee established by the board in regulation. If the board is satisfied as to the
qualifications of an applicant, the board shall issue a certificate of
apprenticeship. If an apprentice wishes to engage in an apprenticeship with a
person licensed as a funeral director or embalmer, a request must be submitted
to the board. If permission is granted and the apprentice leaves the
apprenticeship of the licensee in whose service the apprentice has been
engaged, the licensee shall give the apprentice an affidavit showing the length
of time served. The affidavit must be filed with the board. If the apprentice
subsequently desires to continue the apprenticeship, the apprentice must apply
to the board as provided for in this subsection.

(
B)
A certificate of apprenticeship must be signed by the apprentice
,
and
the licensee
, and the manager of the establishment in which
with whom
the apprenticeship is to be served and is
renewable twenty-four months after registration for twelve months, by payment
of a renewal fee established by the board in regulation. A certificate may not
be renewed more than three times. The registration of an apprentice who is
actually engaged in the military service may be held in abeyance for the
duration of service, and the apprentice may be relieved of the payment of
renewal fees and penalties.

(
C)
An apprentice quarterly shall report to the board on forms provided by the
board indicating the work which has been completed during the preceding three
months. The report must be certified by the licensee under whom the apprentice
has served.

(
D)
Before an apprentice is eligible to receive a license for the practice of
embalming or
funeral service, evidence required by this
chapter must be submitted to the board showing that the apprentice has
completed successfully the educational requirements set forth in Section
40-19-230
. Affidavits also must be submitted from the licensees under whom the
apprentice worked showing that as an apprentice embalmer the apprentice has
assisted in the embalming of at least fifty bodies or that as an apprentice funeral
director the apprentice has assisted in conducting at least fifty funerals,
during apprenticeship. Eligibility for licensure is determined by the board
based upon the reports filed with the board pursuant to subsection (C).

(
E)
Only two apprentices at a time are permitted to register under any one person
licensed as a funeral director or embalmer.
Each sponsor
for a registered apprentice must be actively connected with a funeral
establishment.

(
F) An apprentice may perform duties
within one or more licensed funeral establishments under the supervision of the
licensee under whose supervision the apprentice serves pursuant to
certification under subsection (B).

S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on May 6, 2026 at 11:49 AM