The Florida Senate

470.009  Licensure as a funeral director by examination; provisional license.--

(1)  Any person desiring to be licensed as a funeral director shall apply to the department to take the licensure examination. The department shall examine each applicant who has remitted an examination fee set by the board not to exceed $200 plus the actual per applicant cost to the department for portions of the examination and who the board certifies has:

(a)  Completed the application form and remitted a nonrefundable application fee set by the board not to exceed $50.

(b)  Submitted proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant is at least 18 years of age and is a recipient of a high school degree or equivalent.

(c)  Had no conviction or finding of guilt, regardless of adjudication, for a crime which directly relates to the ability to practice funeral directing or the practice of funeral directing.

(d)1.  Received an associate in arts degree, associate in science degree, or an associate in applied science degree in mortuary science approved by the board; or

2.  Holds an associate degree or higher from a college or university accredited by a regional association of colleges and schools recognized by the United States Department of Education and is a graduate of at least a 1-year course in mortuary science approved by the board.

(e)  Submitted proof of completion of a board-approved course on communicable diseases.

(2)  The department shall license the applicant as a funeral director if he or she:

(a)  Passes an examination on the subjects of the theory and practice of funeral directing, public health and sanitation, and local, state, and federal laws and rules relating to the disposition of dead human bodies; however, the board by rule may adopt the use of a national examination, such as the funeral service arts examination prepared by the Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, in lieu of part of this examination requirement.

(b)  Completes a 1-year internship under a licensed funeral director.

(3)  Any applicant who has completed the required 1-year internship and has been approved for examination as a funeral director may qualify for a provisional license to work in a licensed funeral establishment, under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director for a limited period of 6 months as provided by rule of the board. The fee for provisional licensure shall be set by the board but may not exceed $125. The fee required in this subsection shall be nonrefundable and in addition to the fee required by subsection (1). This provisional license may be renewed no more than one time.

History.--ss. 1, 5, ch. 79-231; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 89-8; s. 19, ch. 91-137; ss. 9, 122, ch. 93-399; s. 63, ch. 94-119; s. 316, ch. 97-103; s. 4, ch. 98-298.