Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE
Division 2120 - State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
Chapter 2 - General Rules
Section 20 CSR 2120-2.010 - Embalmer's Registration and Apprenticeship

(1) Every person desiring to enter the profession of embalming dead human bodies within Missouri, and who is enrolled in an accredited institution of mortuary science, shall complete a practicum as required by the accredited institution of mortuary science education.

(2) For every person desiring to enter the profession of embalming dead human bodies within Missouri the board may conduct a criminal history background check through the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Applicants shall submit to the board the applicable fee for the criminal history background check as determined by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

(3) After registration with the board as a practicum student in an accredited institution of mortuary science education, the student may assist in a Missouri licensed funeral establishment preparation room only under the direct supervision of a Missouri licensed embalmer and may assist in the direction of funerals only under the direct supervision of a Missouri licensed funeral director. Each person desiring to be a practicum student shall register with the board as a practicum student on the form provided by the board in accordance with the requirements of the accredited institution of mortuary science prior to beginning the practicum. Applications shall be accompanied by the applicable fee.

(4) During the period of the practicum, the certificate of registration issued to the practicum student shall be displayed, at all times, in a conspicuous location accessible to the public at each funeral establishment where the practicum student is working.

(5) The practicum student registration authorizes the registrant to engage in the practice of embalming only at the Missouri licensed funeral establishment(s) designated on the certificate of registration and only under the direct supervision of a Missouri licensed embalmer. The practicum student may assist in the practice of funeral directing only under the direct supervision of a Missouri licensed funeral director and only at the Missouri licensed funeral establishment(s) designated on the certificate of registration. If during the course of the practicum, the practicum student wishes to work at a Missouri licensed funeral establishment other than as designated on the certificate of registration, the practicum student shall notify the board in writing of the name, location, and Missouri licensed funeral establishment license number of the new Missouri licensed funeral establishment within ten (10) days of the change.

(6) Upon successful completion of the practicum, the practicum student registration shall become null and void. A practicum shall be deemed successfully completed when the practicum student has achieved a passing grade on the practicum from the institution of mortuary science at which the practicum student is enrolled.

(7) After graduating from an accredited institution of mortuary science education, the applicant then shall file, with the board, an official transcript of his/her embalming school grades showing s/he is a graduate of that school. In addition, the applicant shall ensure that his/her official copy of the national board examination results are provided to the board in writing by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., or designee of the board.

(8) Effective July 30, 2004, the Missouri State Board embalmers' examination shall consist of the National Board Funeral Service Arts section, the National Board Funeral Service Science section, and Missouri Law section. Application, payment, scheduling, and administration for the national board examinations will be made directly through the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., or other designee of the board. An applicant shall be exempt from the requirement of successful completion of the Missouri Law section if the applicant has successfully completed the Missouri Law section for another Missouri license within the jurisdiction of the board and the license is in active status. In lieu of the National Board Funeral Service Arts examination, successful completion of the Missouri Funeral Service Arts examination results will be accepted, or the board may accept successful completion of an examination administered by another state, territory, or province of the United States that is substantially equivalent or more stringent than the Missouri Funeral Service Arts examination.

(9) Effective January 1, 2023, the Missouri State Board embalmers' examination shall consist of the National Board Funeral Service Arts section, the National Board Funeral Service Science section, and Missouri Law section. Application, payment, scheduling, and administration for the national board examinations will be made directly through the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., or other equivalent nationally accredited agency approved by the board. An applicant shall be exempt from the requirement of successful completion of the Missouri Law section if the applicant has successfully completed the Missouri Law section for another Missouri license within the jurisdiction of the board and the license is in active status.

(10) The embalming examination shall cover knowledge of the subjects of embalming, anatomy, pathology, bacteriology, mortuary administration, chemistry, restorative arts, together with statutes, rules, and regulations governing the care, custody, shelter, and disposition of dead human bodies and the transportation thereof.

(11) An applicant shall submit proof of having satisfied the requirements of the National Board Funeral Service Arts section and the National Board Funeral Service Science section of the examination by having his/her official copy of the scores from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., or designee of the board transmitted to the board from the Conference. In lieu of the National Board Funeral Service Arts examination, successful completion of the Missouri Funeral Service Arts examination will be accepted, or the board may accept successful completion of an examination administered by another state, territory, or province of the United States that is substantially equivalent or more stringent than the Missouri Funeral Service Arts examination.

(12) Effective January 1, 2023, the Missouri Funeral Service Arts section of the examination will no longer be administered in lieu of the National Funeral Service Arts section; however, an applicant may submit proof of having satisfied the requirements of the Missouri Funeral Service Arts section of the examination in lieu of the National Board Funeral Service Arts section of the examination by having his/her official copy of the scores from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., or other equivalent nationally accredited agency approved by the board, transmitted to the board from The Conference. The board will accept the successful score of the Missouri Funeral Service Arts examination taken prior to January 1, 2023, as long as the application, including the exam score is submitted per the requirements as outlined in board rules.

(13) Those applicants achieving seventy-five (75) on each of the three (3) sections of the embalming examination will be deemed to have passed the board's embalming examination. Any applicant who scores less than seventy-five (75) on any section of the embalming examination may retake the failed section, upon application and payment of the administration and reexamination fees. On any reexamination of a single failed section, the applicant shall score at least seventy-five (75) to pass.

(14) After the applicant has made a passing grade on the national and/or state examinations as outlined in board rule, the applicant then may apply for registration as an apprentice embalmer. This application shall contain the name(s) of the Missouri licensed embalmer(s) under whom the applicant will serve. Each supervisor must be licensed and registered with and approved by the board. Any change in supervisor shall also be registered and approved within ten (10) business days after the change has been made. Applications shall be submitted on the forms provided by the board and shall be accompanied by the applicable fee. Application forms are available from the board office or the board's website at http://pr.mo. gov/embalmers.asp.

(15) Each apprentice embalmer shall provide to the board, on the application provided by the board, the name(s), location(s), and license number(s) of the licensed funeral establishment(s) where the apprentice is serving as an apprentice. If the apprentice embalmer begins work at any other licensed funeral establishment during the period of apprenticeship, the apprentice embalmer shall notify the board, on the form provided by the board, within ten (10) business days after the change has been made.

(16) The period of apprenticeship under this rule shall be at least twelve (12) consecutive months. The apprentice embalmer shall devote at least thirty (30) hours per week to his/ her duties as an apprentice embalmer. During the period of the apprenticeship, the certificate of registration issued to the apprentice shall be displayed, at all times, in a conspicuous location accessible to the public at each funeral establishment where the apprentice is working.

(17) Prior to completion of the period of apprenticeship, the apprentice embalmer shall achieve a grade of seventy-five (75) or greater on the Missouri Law exam. This exam may be taken any time after graduating from an accredited institution of mortuary science, but shall be successfully completed prior to appearing before the board for oral examination. The Missouri Law exam covers knowledge of Chapter 333, RSMo, and the rules governing the practice of embalming, funeral directing, and funeral home licensing, along with government benefits, statutes, and rules governing the care, custody, shelter, disposition, and transportation of dead human bodies. The Missouri Law section also contains questions regarding Chapter 436, RSMo, relating to pre-need statutes and Chapters 193 and 194, RSMo, relating to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services statutes, as well as questions regarding Federal Trade Commission rules and regulations and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements as they apply to Missouri licensees. Notification of intent to take this section of the examination shall be received by the board at least fifteen (15) working days prior to the date the candidate plans to sit for the examination.

(18) An affidavit provided by the board, signed by both the apprentice and the supervisor(s) verifying that the applicant has successfully completed the embalming of twenty-five (25) dead human bodies, shall be submitted to the board at the time of completion of the apprenticeship period and prior to the oral examination.

(19) After successful completion of the embalmer's examination and the embalmer apprenticeship as provided in these rules, the embalmer applicant shall appear for the oral examination. To appear for the oral examination, the embalmer applicant shall-

(20) The oral examination shall be conducted by one (1) or more board members who hold a Missouri state embalmer license, or a member of the board staff that is a licensed embalmer, and shall be conducted in person at a place and time established by the board. The oral examination shall consist of no fewer than five (5) substantive questions related to the practice of embalming and/or the statutes, rules, and regulations governing embalming practice in the state of Missouri. Whether the applicant satisfactorily completes the oral examination shall be in the sole discretion of the board.

(21) After satisfactory completion of these requirements, an embalmer's license shall be issued to an apprentice embalmer upon payment of the applicable fee and subject to the provisions of section 333.121, RSMo.

(22) An applicant shall meet the requirements of the board for licensure within five (5) years of his/her graduation from an accredited institution of mortuary science. If the applicant fails to meet the requirements of the board within the required time, a new application and applicable fees shall be filed with the board and the applicant shall be required to appear for the oral examination within five (5) years of the new date of application. No previous practicum, apprenticeship, application, or Missouri Law section will be considered for a new application. However, the successful examination results of the National Board Funeral Service Arts section and the National Board Funeral Service Science section, or designee of the board will be accepted.

(23) A Missouri licensed embalmer may engage in the practice of embalming in the state of Missouri only in Missouri licensed funeral establishments. Each embalmer shall inform the board in writing of each funeral establishment name(s), location(s), and license number(s) where the embalmer is performing embalming.

(24) A Missouri licensed embalmer has the ongoing obligation to keep the board informed if the licensee has been finally adjudicated or found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state or of the United States, whether or not sentence was imposed. This information shall be provided to the board within thirty (30) days of being finally adjudicated or found guilty.

(25) Any embalmer licensed by the board in the state of Missouri who wishes to become a licensed funeral director shall be required to comply with all requirements necessary for licensure as a funeral director, except the Missouri licensed embalmer shall be exempt from the requirement of a funeral director apprenticeship.

(26) Should an individual desire to obtain a Missouri embalmer's license after his/her license has become void under section 333.081.3, RSMo, the individual shall be required to make application, obtain a passing grade on the embalmer examination, and shall be required to complete a six (6) consecutive month period of apprenticeship during which time s/he shall be required to embalm at least twelve (12) dead human bodies under the supervision of a Missouri licensed embalmer. The applicant shall be required to pay the current applicable apprenticeship and application fees to obtain a new embalmer's license under this section. No previous apprenticeship, application, or examination will be considered for a new application under this section. However, the successful examination results of the National Board Funeral Service Arts section and the National Board Funeral Science section will be accepted.

(27) After successful completion of the embalmer's examination and the embalmer apprenticeship as provided in these rules, the embalmer applicant shall appear for the oral examination at a location specified by the board. To arrange for the oral examination, the embalmer applicant shall submit an application of a form supplied by the board and pay the applicable fees to the board. Applicants shall successfully pass the oral examination administered by the board for licensure.

(28) All certificates, registrations, and licenses, or duplicate copies thereof issued by the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors shall be displayed at all times in a conspicuous location accessible to the public in each office or place of business where they work, for inspection by any duly authorized agent of the board.

(29) The rules in this division are declared severable. If any rule, or section of a rule, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the Administrative Hearing Commission, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the Administrative Hearing Commission.