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 2120-2.060 - Funeral Directing

Universal Citation: 20 MO Code of State Regs 2120-2.060

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024

PURPOSE: The proposed amendment provides clarification on the examination requirements.

(1) Every person who desires to enter the profession of funeral directing in Missouri and who is not entitled to a license under section 333.051, RSMo shall provide the following to the board:

(A) Proof of being at least eighteen (18) years of age;

(B) Proof of possession of a high school diploma or equivalent;

(C) Evidence of being a person of good moral character;

(D) Proof of satisfactory completion of each section of the funeral director's examination;

(E) Affidavit of completion of a twelve (12) consecutive month apprenticeship; or official transcript and documentation indicating he/she is a graduate of an institute of mortuary science accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education or any successor organization recognized by the United States Department for Funeral Service Education; or has successfully completed a course in funeral directing offered by a college accredited by a recognized national, regional, or state accrediting body and approved by the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors; or proof of being a Missouri licensed embalmer;

(F) Completed application form provided by the board;

(G) Proof of successful completion of the National Board Funeral Service Arts examination or the Missouri Funeral Service Arts examination, if applicable;

(H) Payment of all applicable fees;

(I) Satisfactory criminal history background check as provided to the board by 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; and

(J) Any other information the board may require.

(2) Every person who desires to enter the profession of funeral directing in Missouri and who is not entitled to a license under section 333.051, RSMo, shall make application with the board for a Missouri funeral director license on the forms provided by the board and shall pay the funeral director application fee directly to the board. Application forms can be obtained from the board office or the board's website at http://pr.mo.gov/embalmers.asp.

(3) Effective July 30, 2004, the funeral director examination developed by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., or designee of the board, shall consist of the Missouri Law section and the Missouri Funeral Service Arts section. In lieu of the Missouri Funeral Service Arts examination, successful completion of the National Board Funeral Service Arts examination results will be accepted.

(4) Effective January 1, 2023, the funeral director examination developed by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., or other nationally accredited agency approved by the board, shall consist of the Missouri Law section and the National Board Funeral Service Arts section. The board will accept the successful score of the Missouri 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.

(5) To serve as an apprentice funeral director, the applicant shall file with the board a completed funeral director application on the form prescribed by the board and also shall complete an application to be registered as an apprentice funeral director on the form prescribed by the board and pay all applicable fees. Application forms and a list of fees can be obtained from the board office or on the board's website at http://pr.mo.gov/embalmers.asp.

(6) The funeral director apprenticeship is not intended as a long-term method of practicing as a funeral director in the absence of progress toward licensure. Accordingly, effective February 28, 2010, an apprentice shall not be allowed to register with the board for more than two (2) apprenticeship periods that begin on or after February 28, 2010, unless otherwise approved by the board for good cause.

(7) Upon registration and payment in full of all applicable fees, the board shall issue the apprentice funeral director applicant a funeral director apprentice registration. This registration authorizes the apprentice registrant to engage in the practice of funeral directing under the supervision of a Missouri licensed funeral director. The funeral director apprentice registration, or a copy thereof, shall be displayed, at all times, in a conspicuous location accessible to the public at each establishment where the apprentice is working.

(8) The funeral director apprentice registration authorizes the registrant to engage in the practice of funeral directing only during the period of apprenticeship. Once the apprenticeship is successfully completed as defined in this rule, the funeral director apprentice registration shall become null and void. Any Missouri licensed funeral director who allows a former apprentice who has completed his/her apprenticeship to engage in the practice of funeral directing before that apprentice is fully licensed shall be subject to discipline for misconduct under section 333.121.2, RSMo.

(9) Each registered funeral director apprentice shall provide to the board, on the application prescribed by the board, the name(s), location(s), and license number(s) of each funeral establishment(s) where they are serving as an apprentice. The funeral director apprenticeship may be served at a funeral establishment licensed by a state, other than Missouri, upon submission of proof to the board that the out-of-state funeral home is licensed for the care and preparation for burial and transportation of human dead in this state or another state which has established standards for admission to practice funeral directing equal to, or more stringent than, the requirement for admission to practice funeral directing in this state. The funeral director apprenticeship shall be served under the supervision of a Missouri licensed funeral director. If the funeral director apprentice changes funeral establishments during the course of the apprenticeship, the apprentice shall notify the board, on the form prescribed by the board, of the name(s), location(s), and funeral establishment(s) license number of the new apprenticeship location within ten (10) business days after the change has been made.

(10) Successful completion of a funeral director apprenticeship shall consist of the following:

(A) Completed service as an apprentice funeral director for a period consisting of at least twelve (12) consecutive months in a Function C funeral establishment; and

(B) Filing with the board a notarized affidavit(s) signed by the apprentice and his/her supervisor(s) that he/she has arranged for and conducted a minimum of ten (10) funeral ceremonies under the supervision of a Missouri licensed funeral director.

(11) An apprentice will be eligible to take the funeral director examination after completion of the twelve (12) consecutive month period of apprenticeship.

(12) An applicant will be deemed to have successfully completed the funeral director examination when a score of seventy-five (75) or better is achieved on each section. If the applicant fails a section of the examination, the applicant shall be permitted to retake that section of the examination.

(13) All notifications for the funeral director's examination shall be in writing and received by the board at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date the candidate plans to sit for the examination.

(14) A college accredited by a recognized national, state, or regional accrediting body may seek the approval of the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for a course of study in funeral directing by submitting a description of the program, the college catalog listing the course of study, and evidence that the program has been approved to be offered in that institution by the administration of the college and the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

(15) An applicant shall be exempt from the requirement of successful completion of the Missouri Law examination if the applicant has successfully completed the Missouri Law examination for another Missouri license within the jurisdiction of the board if the current license remains in active status.

(16) Any funeral director that allows an unlicensed person to make at-need arrangements for the transportation or removal of a dead human body for or on behalf of the funeral director shall supervise the unlicensed person and shall be responsible for the conduct of the unlicensed person. This section shall not be construed to allow any unlicensed person to perform any other act for which a license is required by Chapter 333, RSMo.

(17) A Missouri licensed funeral director shall be present and personally shall supervise or conduct each funeral ceremony conducted by or from a Missouri licensed funeral establishment. A violation of this section will be considered misconduct in the practice of funeral directing.

(18) A Missouri licensed funeral director shall be present and personally shall supervise any disinterment, interment, entombment, or cremation as defined in 20 CSR 2120-1.040 conducted by a Missouri licensed funeral establishment. However, nothing in this rule shall be interpreted as requiring the presence of a Missouri licensed funeral director if the person(s) having the right to control the incidents of burial request otherwise. If the disinterment does not require legal notification to the county coroner or medical examiner, a funeral director's presence may not be required. A violation of this section shall be deemed misconduct in the practice of funeral directing.

(A) Once the body has been delivered to a cemetery for the purpose of interment or to a crematory for the purpose of cremation and after any funeral ceremonies have been complete, the Missouri licensed funeral director is not required to stay with the body.

(B) Nothing in this rule shall be interpreted as requiring the Missouri licensed funeral director to leave the cemetery before disposition is complete. Furthermore, nothing in this rule shall be interpreted as relieving the Missouri licensed funeral director of any responsibilities he/she has under his/ her contract with the person(s) having the right to control the incidents of burial.

(19) Any licensed funeral establishment or funeral director that makes arrangements for an unlicensed person to transport dead human bodies within the state of Missouri, or out of this state, is responsible for the conduct of the unlicensed person.

(20) A funeral director or funeral establishment licensed in another state that enters the state of Missouri solely for the purpose of transporting a dead human body through Missouri to another state, country, or territory shall not be deemed to be in the practice of funeral directing or required to obtain a license from the board. This regulation does not exempt any person or entity from complying with any applicable statutes or regulations governing the transportation of dead human bodies, including, but not limited to, Chapters 193 and 194, RSMo.

(21) A Missouri licensed funeral establishment or funeral director shall not allow an unlicensed person to make the following at-need arrangements with the person having the right to control the incidents of disposition:

(A) Arrangements for final disposition, supervision of visitation and memorial ceremony, grave attendance, cremation, entering into a contractual relationship for performance of any other funeral services;

(B) Embalming, cremation, care, or preparation; and

(C) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to apply to persons exempt from Chapter 333, RSMo.

(22) The taking of preliminary information by an unlicensed person will not be construed as the making of at-need funeral arrangements under this rule.

(23) No temporary Missouri funeral director license authorized under section 333.041.7, RSMo, will be issued until the board has been advised as to the location of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment at which the temporary funeral director's license will be used. The holder of the temporary license shall be authorized to only work at the Missouri licensed funeral establishment(s) where the deceased and/or disabled Missouri licensed funeral director was authorized to work. Violation of this rule will be deemed unauthorized practice of funeral directing.

(24) The business and practice of funeral directing may be conducted only from a fixed place or establishment which has been licensed by the board.

(25) Limited License.

(A) A person holding a limited license shall only be allowed to work in a funeral establishment that is licensed as a Function B establishment (cremation only). A limited funeral director shall only engage in the activities of funeral directing authorized for a Function B funeral establishment.

(B) Every person desiring a limited license shall provide the following to the board:
1. Proof of being at least eighteen (18) years of age;

2. Proof of possession of a high school diploma or its equivalent;

3. Evidence of being a person of good moral character;

4. Proof of successful completion by achieving a score of seventy-five (75) or better on the Missouri Law examination;

5. Completed application form as provided by the board;

6. Payment of applicable fees;

7. Payment of any fee charged by the Missouri Highway Patrol for a criminal history background check; and

8. Any other information the board may require.

(C) Every limited licensee shall provide the board with the name, location, and license number of each Function B funeral establishment where he/she is employed.

(D) A limited licensee shall be obligated to comply with all Missouri laws governing funeral directors subject to the limitations imposed by this rule and section 333.042.2, RSMo.

(E) If a limited licensee desires to obtain a full funeral director's license, the licensee shall be required to complete an apprenticeship consisting of at least twelve (12) consecutive months as required by section 333.042.2, RSMo, and accompanying regulations or fulfill the education requirements set forth in section 333.042.3, RSMo. The limited licensee shall also provide to the board proof of successful completion of the remaining sections of the funeral director examination as required by these regulations. The 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 within twelve (12) months of the date that the board receives the new application.

(26) 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(s) or place(s) of business where they work, for inspection by any duly authorized agent of the board.

(27) Should an individual desire to obtain a Missouri funeral director's license after his/her license has become void under section 333.081.3, RSMo, the individual shall be required to make new application and pay all applicable fees to the board. No previous apprenticeship, application, or examination will be considered for the new application. However, the board shall accept the successful completion of the National Board Funeral Service Arts or the Missouri Funeral Service Arts, if applicable, examination for new application.

(28) A Missouri licensed funeral director may engage in the practice of funeral directing in the state of Missouri only in Missouri licensed funeral establishments. Each Missouri licensed funeral director shall inform the board in writing, in a timely manner, of each Missouri licensed funeral establishment name(s), location(s), and license number(s) where the Missouri licensed funeral director is engaged in funeral directing.

(29) A Missouri licensed funeral director 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.

(30) Person Deemed to be Engaged in the Practice of Funeral Directing.

(A) No person shall be deemed by the board to be engaged in the practice of funeral directing or to be operating a funeral establishment if the person prepares, arranges, or carries out the burial of the dead human body of a member of one's own family or next of kin as provided by section 194.119, RSMo, provided that the activity is not conducted as a business or for business purposes.

(B) The board shall not deem a person to be engaged in the practice of funeral directing or to be operating a funeral establishment if the person prepares, arranges, or carries out the burial of a dead human body pursuant to the religious beliefs, tenets, or practices of a religious group, sect, or organization, provided that the activity is not conducted as a business or for business purposes.

(31) 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.

*Original authority: 333.041, RSMo 1965, amended 1969, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1993, 1998, 2001; 333.042, RSMo 1993, amended 1998, 2001; 333.091, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 2009; 333.111 , RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 1993, 1995; and 333.121, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 2007 .

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