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New Jersey Funeral Service — Requirements & Free Practice

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Practitioner of Mortuary Science

Unified licence covering embalming and funeral directing on October 10, 2026. P.L.2025, c.52 does not take effect until November 1, 2026.

Licensing authority: State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey

Licensure by credentials
Mortuary Jurisprudence examination (practice unavailable)
Active practice
Actively engaged in mortuary science for at least 2 years immediately before applying.
Application
Submit completed notarized application, prescribed fees and two passport photographs; arrange official college transcripts and licence verification.
Board score documentation
The Board credentials application states: Accordingly, you must have an official copy of your college transcripts sent to this office directly from the college office and the National Board scores are to be sent directly to this office from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc. This is retained as a documentation condition; N.J.S.A. 45:7-49.1 requires the law portion for these issuance pathways rather than the full initial examination sequence.
Current license
Hold a valid licence or certification for mortuary science from another United States jurisdiction; have each licensing authority certify status and final or pending public disciplinary action.
Education
Education substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements.
Equivalence
Education and experience substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements.
Jurisprudence admission
Sit for the Mortuary Jurisprudence examination after Board eligibility notification and payment of its fee.
Score validity
The jurisprudence passing result must be used within three years under 13:36-3.8.
Licensure by credentials
Mortuary Jurisprudence examination (practice unavailable)
Active practice
Actively engaged in mortuary science for at least 5 years immediately before applying.
Application
Submit completed notarized application, prescribed fees and two passport photographs; arrange official college transcripts and licence verification.
Board score documentation
The Board credentials application states: Accordingly, you must have an official copy of your college transcripts sent to this office directly from the college office and the National Board scores are to be sent directly to this office from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc. This is retained as a documentation condition; N.J.S.A. 45:7-49.1 requires the law portion for these issuance pathways rather than the full initial examination sequence.
Current license
Hold a valid licence or certification for mortuary science from another United States jurisdiction; have each licensing authority certify status and final or pending public disciplinary action.
Education
Education substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements.
Equivalence
Education equivalent; five years of active practice substitutes for missing equivalent practical training and experience.
Jurisprudence admission
Sit for the Mortuary Jurisprudence examination after Board eligibility notification and payment of its fee.
Score validity
The jurisprudence passing result must be used within three years under 13:36-3.8.
Licensure by examination

All of the following:

Education
2 academic years at an approved college or university plus one year in an approved mortuary science school.
High school
Four-year approved high-school course or equivalent before mortuary school; provide official transcript or diploma.
Intern registration
Register with the Board as an intern under an eligible preceptor before credited training; submit verified education, preceptor certification and required fees.
Internship duration
2 year(s) of registered full-time practical training; education and training may be concurrent where officially allowed.
Minimum age
Applicant must have passed the twenty-first birthday (N.J.S.A. 45:7-49(a)(5)).
Passing scores
NBE: scaled score at least 75 in each of its two parts; Mortuary Jurisprudence: scaled score at least 70.
Practical timing
Pass the written examinations first; take the practical examination within 90 days before or after internship completion. An extension or intern re-registration is required for a later practical examination, as specified in 13:36-3.7(b)-(c).
Practical training
Interns assist in at least 75 embalmings, 75 funerals and 25 funeral arrangements under N.J.A.C. 13:36-2.3; training normally must be completed within three years.
State score validity
Jurisprudence and practical passing results remain valid for three years; an expired result must be replaced by passing that examination again.
Statutory residence
N.J.S.A. 45:7-49(a)(4), in the pre-November-2026 text, states continuous New Jersey residence during training; 13:36-3.2(d) separately permits out-of-state residents to apply for jurisprudence when admission requirements are met.
Licensure by examination

All of the following:

Education
3 academic years at an approved college or university plus one year in an approved mortuary science school.
High school
Four-year approved high-school course or equivalent before mortuary school; provide official transcript or diploma.
Intern registration
Register with the Board as an intern under an eligible preceptor before credited training; submit verified education, preceptor certification and required fees.
Internship duration
1 year(s) of registered full-time practical training; education and training may be concurrent where officially allowed.
Minimum age
Applicant must have passed the twenty-first birthday (N.J.S.A. 45:7-49(a)(5)).
Passing scores
NBE: scaled score at least 75 in each of its two parts; Mortuary Jurisprudence: scaled score at least 70.
Practical timing
Pass the written examinations first; take the practical examination within 90 days before or after internship completion. An extension or intern re-registration is required for a later practical examination, as specified in 13:36-3.7(b)-(c).
Practical training
Interns assist in at least 75 embalmings, 75 funerals and 25 funeral arrangements under N.J.A.C. 13:36-2.3; training normally must be completed within three years.
State score validity
Jurisprudence and practical passing results remain valid for three years; an expired result must be replaced by passing that examination again.
Statutory residence
N.J.S.A. 45:7-49(a)(4), in the pre-November-2026 text, states continuous New Jersey residence during training; 13:36-3.2(d) separately permits out-of-state residents to apply for jurisprudence when admission requirements are met.
Licensure by examination with military education, training or experience credit

All of the following:

High school
Four-year approved high-school course or equivalent before mortuary school; provide official transcript or diploma.
Intern registration
Register with the Board as an intern under an eligible preceptor before credited training; submit verified education, preceptor certification and required fees.
Military discharge
Honorable discharge from active United States military service.
Military equivalence
The Board assesses relevant military education, training and experience with civilian education, training and experience for substantial equivalence; submit VMET DD Form 2586 and applicable Joint Services Transcript. Only equivalent portions receive credit.
Minimum age
Applicant must have passed the twenty-first birthday (N.J.S.A. 45:7-49(a)(5)).
Passing scores
NBE: scaled score at least 75 in each of its two parts; Mortuary Jurisprudence: scaled score at least 70.
Practical timing
Pass the written examinations first; take the practical examination within 90 days before or after internship completion. An extension or intern re-registration is required for a later practical examination, as specified in 13:36-3.7(b)-(c).
Practical training
Interns assist in at least 75 embalmings, 75 funerals and 25 funeral arrangements under N.J.A.C. 13:36-2.3; training normally must be completed within three years.
State score validity
Jurisprudence and practical passing results remain valid for three years; an expired result must be replaced by passing that examination again.
Statutory residence
N.J.S.A. 45:7-49(a)(4), in the pre-November-2026 text, states continuous New Jersey residence during training; 13:36-3.2(d) separately permits out-of-state residents to apply for jurisprudence when admission requirements are met.
Biennial active renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Minimum 10 approved continuing-education credits each biennial period, subject to applicable exemptions and course-distribution rules.
Renewal
Submit renewal application and fee before expiration, or within 30 days with late fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-10-10.

Biennial inactive renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Practice prohibited
Inactive licensees may not practice or hold themselves out as eligible until reactivation.
Renewal
Elect inactive status on renewal.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-10-10.

Endorsement under N.J.S.A. 45:1 7.5
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board form demands
The profession-specific credentials form additionally requests NBE score transmission: Accordingly, you must have an official copy of your college transcripts sent to this office directly from the college office and the National Board scores are to be sent directly to this office from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc. The profession-specific rule also states: c) An applicant applying for licensure pursuant to (a) or (b) above shall pass the Mortuary Jurisprudence examination administered by the Board pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:36-3.2, upon notification from the Board that the applicant is eligible to sit for the examination and upon payment of the fee set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:36-1.6(a)4. These lower-ranked demands are disclosed as conditions; the separate uniform statutory endorsement pathway applies notwithstanding contrary law or regulation under 45:1-7.5(m).
Current license
Valid, current corresponding out-of-state licence in good standing.
Orientation
45:1-7.5(j) preserves a Board requirement for an online jurisprudence course or orientation.
Recent practice
Applicant practiced in the profession within the five years before applying.
Reciprocity
Board may condition issuance without examination on equal reciprocity; discretionary relief from pending good-standing actions is retained in 45:1-7.5(l).
Substantial equivalence
Issuing jurisdiction’s education, training and examination requirements must be substantially equivalent as determined by the Board; relevant experience may compensate for disparity.
Verification
Application and fees, licence verification, applicable background check, and New Jersey process agent when required; supply education, training and examination-result documentation within six months after issuance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-10-10.

Mortuary Jurisprudence examination

Passing score
Scaled score of not less than 70
Examination outline
  • New Jersey Mortuary Science Act — N.J.S.A. Title 45, Chapter 7
  • State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey — N.J.A.C. Chapter 36
  • New Jersey Statutes, Title 45, Chapter 1 — General Provisions
Examination sources

New Jersey Mortuary Science Practical Examination

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Examination sources

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