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Kansas Funeral Service — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Apprentice Embalmer Registration

Registered supervised embalming apprenticeship, including the statutory split-apprenticeship route.

Licensing authority: Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts

Registration for full post graduation apprenticeship
Duration
12 full-time months, subject to the statutory and regulatory time limits and reports.
Education
Complete the approved mortuary-science degree.
Passing
Pass both NBE sections before registration for the full post-graduation apprenticeship.
Registration
File apprenticeship and student-registration papers; apprenticeship begins when received by the Board.
Supervision
Personal supervision by a licensed Kansas or Board-approved embalmer.
First six month phase of split apprenticeship
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board Instructions
The Board full-apprenticeship instructions say the one-year apprenticeship begins after the national examination; the statute specifically authorizes this earlier split phase.
Later Examination
K.S.A. 65-1701a(b) places the approved examination before the second six-month period, after graduation; passing is not required before this first phase.
Supervision
Direct personal supervision by a licensed embalmer.
Timing
Complete the first continuous six-month period within the 12 months before mortuary-school enrollment.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Second six month phase of split apprenticeship
Passing
Pass the approved examination before eligibility for this phase.
Supervision
Personal supervision by a Kansas licensed or Board-approved embalmer; file required registration and progress reports.
Timing
Complete the remaining continuous six months after graduating from mortuary school.

Embalmer License

Licensing authority: Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts · Application information

Disability or illness exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Duration
Maximum 24 months, then inactive practitioner status.
Medical Certification
Submit an application signed by a physician; Board approval is required.
Practice
Exemption prohibits use of the licenses; renewal fees continue.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by endorsement
Application
Submit application, licensing verification and national results directly from their issuers, and the $350 application fee by the 15th before a quarterly Board meeting.
Discipline
No adverse licensing action by any state board in which licensure has been held.
Experience
Licensed for at least five years and actively practicing embalming for five consecutive years; rule 63-1-23 specifies the past five years.
Fees
Pay the initial prorated license fee after approval.
Interview
Appear before the Board, explain why Kansas licensure is desired, and certify reading and understanding the applicable state and federal law.
Prior Passing
Pass both current registered NBE sections; prior passing is accepted, and official results must be sent by The Conference.
Licensure by examination with full apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Complete a full-time 12-month apprenticeship after graduation, under a Kansas licensed or Board-approved embalmer; file apprentice and supervisor quarterly reports.
Character
Board must find good moral character, embalming skill and knowledge, and reasonable knowledge of sanitation and disinfection under K.S.A. 65-1701.
Education
Earn at least an AA degree in a Board-approved mortuary science program; provide final transcripts showing at least 30 mortuary science semester hours. The pre-July 1991 educational alternative in K.S.A. 65-1701a(a)(1) remains a qualification condition for applicants meeting it.
Examinations
Pass both NBE Arts and NBE Sciences with scores of at least 75 before beginning the full post-graduation apprenticeship.
Fees
Pay the student-registration fee and initial prorated embalmer license fee; national examination fees are paid to its owner.
Interview
Appear before the Board at the end of apprenticeship for review of progress and approval.
Registration
Pre-register for the mortuary school practicum; register as a student embalmer after practicum and file the apprenticeship registration.
Time Limit
Complete within two years of passing the examination; K.A.R. 63-1-3 permits a Board extension up to one year for illness or extraordinary circumstances and excludes military service from the calculation. Expiry requires passing the examination again before completing apprenticeship.
General credential recognition under K.S.A. 48 3406(c)(2) for active practitioners
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Active Practice
Applicant has practiced the occupation during the preceding two years. K.S.A. 48-3406(d) separately permits additional testing for applicants without that recent active practice; that unresolved testing pathway is recorded separately.
Fees
Pay applicable fees; military spouses of servicemembers have the statutory fee exemption.
Prior Credential
Hold a valid current license, registration or certification authorizing similar practice elsewhere; have at least one year of occupational work; this pathway is for applicants not qualifying under ordinary reciprocity/endorsement provisions.
Residency
Kansas resident or intending resident, or military servicemember/spouse residing or planning to reside due to military assignment.
Scope
Board must determine a similar occupational scope of practice; subject to public health and safety grounds for denial.
Standing
No disqualifying conduct, discipline, unresolved licensing complaint or disqualifying criminal record; provide any required financial safeguards and a truthful signed affidavit.
Timing
Complete applications are processed under the statutory military and nonmilitary time limits; the credential-recognition route may be probationary for no more than six months before becoming nonprobationary.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

General recognition based on private certification under K.S.A. 48 3406(f)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board Decision
Grant is permissive on a complete application; if scope is not similar, the separate temporary-permit mechanism addresses remaining Kansas requirements.
Fees
Pay applicable fees; military spouses of servicemembers have the statutory fee exemption.
Prior Experience
Worked at least two years in a state without an occupational license or government certification, and hold a current valid private occupational certification in good standing.
Residency
Kansas resident or intending resident, or military servicemember/spouse residing or planning to reside due to military assignment.
Scope
Board must determine a similar occupational scope of practice; subject to public health and safety grounds for denial.
Standing
No disqualifying conduct, discipline, unresolved licensing complaint or disqualifying criminal record; provide any required financial safeguards and a truthful signed affidavit.
Timing
Complete applications are processed under the statutory military and nonmilitary time limits; the credential-recognition route may be probationary for no more than six months before becoming nonprobationary.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

General recognition based on work experience under K.S.A. 48 3406(e)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board Decision
Grant is permissive on a complete application; if scope is not similar, the separate temporary-permit mechanism addresses remaining Kansas requirements.
Fees
Pay applicable fees; military spouses of servicemembers have the statutory fee exemption.
Prior Experience
Worked at least three of the preceding four years in a state using no occupational license, government credential or private certification to regulate this occupation.
Residency
Kansas resident or intending resident, or military servicemember/spouse residing or planning to reside due to military assignment.
Scope
Board must determine a similar occupational scope of practice; subject to public health and safety grounds for denial.
Standing
No disqualifying conduct, discipline, unresolved licensing complaint or disqualifying criminal record; provide any required financial safeguards and a truthful signed affidavit.
Timing
Complete applications are processed under the statutory military and nonmilitary time limits; the credential-recognition route may be probationary for no more than six months before becoming nonprobationary.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivation from inactive practitioner status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Request and submit the reinstatement form to the Board.
Continuing Education
Make up the required past education within one year; failure returns the license to inactive status. Under the July 1, 2026 amendment, the annual minimum is six hours, at least three in person or live online with attendance verification and an opportunity to ask questions; other required hours may use any online format.
Inactive Status
Holds a license previously exempted as an inactive practitioner.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Inactive status with certificate of exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Apply in writing on the Board form for a continuing education waiver and certificate of exemption.
Fees
Renewal fees remain payable despite inactive status.
Practice
Not engaged in embalming or funeral directing in Kansas; agree not to resume practice before reinstatement.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal protected during military service
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline
Submit required renewal fees and complete renewal application within six months after release from military service and no later than two weeks after resuming practice, with no renewal penalty during the protected period.
Education
Continuing education is exempt until completion of the next full licensure period if statutory renewal filing conditions are met.
Service
Military-service licensee protected by K.S.A. 48-3401 through 48-3405, not practicing outside the military line of duty in Kansas during the service period.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by reciprocity
Application
Application, $350 fee, transcripts, verification and examination results must arrive by the 15th before a quarterly Board meeting.
Current License
Hold an active embalmer license elsewhere; the prior jurisdiction has Kansas-equivalent requirements or the applicant individually meets Kansas requirements.
Education
Send final mortuary-science college transcripts directly from the school; satisfy the applicable Kansas qualification or equivalent-state requirements.
Fees
Pay the reciprocal and initial prorated embalmer license fees.
Good Standing
Obtain a favorable recommendation and verification directly from the prior licensing authority.
Interview
Appear before the Board, demonstrate intent to practice, and certify familiarity with Kansas law.
National Or Other State Exam
Board instructions accept Conference examination results or, if the applicant did not take that examination, verified state examination results from the current, preferably original, licensing authority. Such other-state examinations are conditions; the registered national alternatives remain referenced. This route does not require a new sitting when a qualifying passing score is accepted.
Unnamed Assessment
The Board embalmer reciprocity page states: Pass any oral or written examination as administer by the board. No separately identifiable state examination is named in this slot.
Relicensure after lapse exceeding six months
Continuing Education
Satisfy all renewal requirements and past-due continuing education. Under the July 1, 2026 amendment, the annual minimum is six hours, at least three in person or live online with attendance verification and an opportunity to ask questions; other required hours may use any online format.
Fees
Pay the required back renewal and reinstatement fees.
Qualifications
Provide proof of competence and applicable current licensure qualifications; previous passing may satisfy examination qualifications subject to Board evaluation. No automatic retest is asserted.
Biennial renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
File the renewal application before expiration and pay the renewal fee.
Continuing Education
Six approved continuing education hours per year (12 per biennium); first renewal is exempt, and inactive practice has statutory exemptions. Under the July 1, 2026 amendment, the annual minimum is six hours, at least three in person or live online with attendance verification and an opportunity to ask questions; other required hours may use any online format.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement within six months of lapse
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Meet applicable continuing education requirements; embalmer and funeral director rules require make-up of past hours within one year. Under the July 1, 2026 amendment, the annual minimum is six hours, at least three in person or live online with attendance verification and an opportunity to ask questions; other required hours may use any online format.
Fees
Pay the renewal fee in arrears and a reinstatement fee equal to the renewal fee.
Lapse
Lapse is no more than six months.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by examination with split apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Complete two continuous six-month periods: the first within the 12 months before enrollment in mortuary school, the second after graduation. Pass the approved examination before eligibility for the second six-month period under K.S.A. 65-1701a(b).
Board Instructions
The Board apprenticeship page states: The one year embalming apprenticeship does not officially begin until after passing the written national examination and filing the appropriate registration papers with the board. This describes the full route; the split route follows the higher-ranked K.S.A. 65-1701a(b)-(c).
Character
Board must find good moral character, embalming skill and knowledge, and reasonable knowledge of sanitation and disinfection under K.S.A. 65-1701.
Education
Earn at least an AA degree in a Board-approved mortuary science program; provide final transcripts showing at least 30 mortuary science semester hours. The pre-July 1991 educational alternative in K.S.A. 65-1701a(a)(1) remains a qualification condition for applicants meeting it.
Examinations
Both NBE sections remain required; the statute places the examination before the second six-month period, rather than before the first.
Fees
Pay the student-registration fee and initial prorated embalmer license fee; national examination fees are paid to its owner.
Interview
Appear before the Board at the end of apprenticeship for review of progress and approval.
Registration
Pre-register for the mortuary school practicum; register as a student embalmer after practicum and file the apprenticeship registration.
Supervision
During the first six-month period, direct personal supervision is required under K.S.A. 65-1703(b).
Time Limit
Complete within two years of passing the examination; K.A.R. 63-1-3 permits a Board extension up to one year for illness or extraordinary circumstances and excludes military service from the calculation. Expiry requires passing the examination again before completing apprenticeship.

National Board Exam Arts

Provider
The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (The Conference); computer-based exam administered by Pearson at Pearson Professional Centers
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice examination, administered, paid for, scheduled and scored separately from the NBE-Sciences section; a basic calculator is built into the exam software
Exam questions
170 multiple-choice questions: 150 scored and 20 non-scored pretest questions
Time limit
170 minutes for the exam (the appointment also includes a 3-minute non-disclosure agreement, a 3-minute release-of-results screen and a 7-minute tutorial)
Passing score
Scaled score of 75 (pass/fail)
Exam fee
$285 per section
Examination outline
  • I. Funeral Arranging and Directing (51 of 150 scored items; 34% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (34%)
  • II. Funeral Service Marketing/Merchandising (21 of 150 scored items; 14% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (14%)
  • III. Funeral Service Counseling (19 of 150 scored items; 13% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (13%)
  • IV. Legal and Regulatory Compliance (35 of 150 scored items; 23% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (23%)
  • V. Cemetery/Crematory/Other Dispositions (24 of 150 scored items; 16% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (16%)
Examination sources

National Board Exam Sciences

Provider
The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (The Conference); computer-based exam administered by Pearson at Pearson Professional Centers
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice examination, administered, paid for, scheduled and scored separately from the NBE-Arts section; a basic calculator is built into the exam software
Exam questions
170 multiple-choice questions: 150 scored and 20 non-scored pretest questions
Time limit
170 minutes for the exam (the appointment also includes a 3-minute non-disclosure agreement, a 3-minute release-of-results screen and a 7-minute tutorial)
Passing score
Scaled score of 75 (pass/fail)
Exam fee
$285 per section
Examination outline
  • I. Embalming (62 of 150 scored items; 41% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (41%)
  • II. Restorative Art (34 of 150 scored items; 23% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (23%)
  • III. Other Preparation of the Deceased (28 of 150 scored items; 19% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (19%)
  • IV. Funeral Service Sciences (26 of 150 scored items; 17% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (17%)
Examination sources