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Rhode Island Funeral Service — Requirements & Free Practice

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Funeral Director/Embalmer

Combined individual professional license. Section 5-33.2-6(10) consolidated embalmer and funeral director licenses held on November 1, 1995; those historical identities are not separate current initial-issuance credentials.

Licensing authority: Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers · Application information

Initial licensure with armed forces embalming internship credit

All of the following:

Application
Written application, nonrefundable $30 fee, birth certificate or lawful-entry evidence, educational records sent directly, Conference scores sent directly, evidence of successful practical completion and internship verification. Application is valid for one year; provide all prior-state license verifications and truthful, complete disclosures of convictions and discipline.
Application education instruction
Application page 2 states: "(For individuals entering into a program after January 1, 2006, an associates degree is required.)"
Armed forces credit
Section 5-33.2-7: honorable discharge; high school and mortuary instruction completed and internship begun before induction. Armed-forces embalming assistance counts as continued internship training and bodies; submit sworn affidavit of the experience and body count, presumed authentic absent specific contrary proof.
Burial plan disqualification
Section 5-33.2-8 disqualifies participation in prohibited burial association or certificate plans or fraudulent schemes.
Cemetery restriction
Section 5-33.2-9 bars a person or entity conducting a cemetery from engaging in funeral directing.
Character
Good moral character to the satisfaction of the division (section 5-33.2-6(3)).
College education
Section 5-33.2-6(6): at least an associate degree or 60 semester hours from an approved college or university, or current enrollment in an ABFSE-accredited school.
Immigration status
United States citizenship or lawful entry (section 5-33.2-6(2)).
Internship
Registered Rhode Island internship of at least one year; complete within five years. Section 5-33.2-16(b) requires assistance with at least 50 bodies for one year or at least 25 per year for a longer internship. Application page 2 asks verification of 12 months including at least 50 bodies; rule 25.4.5(E) requires each of multiple interns to embalm at least 50, counting each body once.
Minimum age
At least 18 years old (section 5-33.2-6(1)).
Mortuary education
Graduation from an American Board of Funeral Service Education accredited mortuary-science school (section 5-33.2-6(5)).
Practical consent
Rule 25.4.5(B)(1) requires written next-of-kin or other legally authorized consent before the embalming examination.
Secondary education
High school graduation or equivalent (section 5-33.2-6(4)).
Late renewal after lapse
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
CE documentation
Attest approved scope-of-practice education; retain supporting documents for at least two years for audit. Newly examination-licensed applicants are exempt until the next renewal cycle; Board may grant hardship extensions.
Board rule OSHA instruction
Rule 25.4.4(D)(1) states "Every funeral director/embalmer shall be required to participate in a total of five (5) hours annually of continuing education training of which three (3) hours are mandated by annual OSHA training."
Board rule exemption instruction
Rule 25.4.4(D)(1)(a) states "Funeral directors/embalmers who were sixty-five (65) years of age or older and had forty (40) years of experience as of January 1, 2008 are exempt from these continuing education requirements."
Continuing education
Section 5-33.2-25 requires five hours annually including one hour OSHA; persons age 65 or older with 40 years of experience are exempt. Current statutory wording controls.
Renewal
Renew annually by December 31; late applications after December 31 and on or before January 15 require the statutory additional fee. No practice after lapse.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reissuance after revocation or suspension
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Disqualification ceased
Apply for reissuance and satisfactorily show that the disqualification has ceased (section 5-33.2-17(b)); this is reinstatement of the existing professional license, not an initial examination route.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
CE documentation
Attest approved scope-of-practice education; retain supporting documents for at least two years for audit. Newly examination-licensed applicants are exempt until the next renewal cycle; Board may grant hardship extensions.
Board rule OSHA instruction
Rule 25.4.4(D)(1) states "Every funeral director/embalmer shall be required to participate in a total of five (5) hours annually of continuing education training of which three (3) hours are mandated by annual OSHA training."
Board rule exemption instruction
Rule 25.4.4(D)(1)(a) states "Funeral directors/embalmers who were sixty-five (65) years of age or older and had forty (40) years of experience as of January 1, 2008 are exempt from these continuing education requirements."
Continuing education
Section 5-33.2-25 requires five hours annually including one hour OSHA; persons age 65 or older with 40 years of experience are exempt. Current statutory wording controls.
Renewal
Renew annually by December 31; late applications after December 31 and on or before January 15 require the statutory additional fee. No practice after lapse.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by endorsement

All of the following:

Application
Written application, nonrefundable $30 fee, birth certificate or lawful-entry evidence, educational records sent directly, Conference scores sent directly, evidence of successful practical completion and internship verification. Application is valid for one year; provide all prior-state license verifications and truthful, complete disclosures of convictions and discipline.
Application education instruction
Application page 2 states: "(For individuals entering into a program after January 1, 2006, an associates degree is required.)"
Burial plan disqualification
Section 5-33.2-8 disqualifies participation in prohibited burial association or certificate plans or fraudulent schemes.
Cemetery restriction
Section 5-33.2-9 bars a person or entity conducting a cemetery from engaging in funeral directing.
Character
Good moral character to the satisfaction of the division (section 5-33.2-6(3)).
College education
Section 5-33.2-6(6): at least an associate degree or 60 semester hours from an approved college or university, or current enrollment in an ABFSE-accredited school.
Immigration status
United States citizenship or lawful entry (section 5-33.2-6(2)).
Internship
Rule 25.4.1(C)(2) expressly excepts the registered Rhode Island internship for endorsement. The generic application page 2 also says "Verification of Rhode Island 12 month Internship (including a minimum of 50 bodies)"; the endorsement-specific rule controls the exception.
Legacy chapter reference
Section 5-33.2-26 also references Chapter 5-33. Its official current codification records sections 5-33-1 through 5-33-26 as repealed. Current professional licensure is governed by Chapter 5-33.2.
License date
Applicant not relying on the pre-1985 National Board exemption.
Minimum age
At least 18 years old (section 5-33.2-6(1)).
Mortuary education
Graduation from an American Board of Funeral Service Education accredited mortuary-science school (section 5-33.2-6(5)).
Other license
Current funeral director/embalmer license in good standing in another state; graduate of a mortuary college; submit direct verification of every prior-state license.
Practical consent
Rule 25.4.5(B)(1) requires written next-of-kin or other legally authorized consent before the embalming examination.
Secondary education
High school graduation or equivalent (section 5-33.2-6(4)).
Endorsement for applicants licensed elsewhere before 1985

All of the following:

Application
Written application, nonrefundable $30 fee, birth certificate or lawful-entry evidence, educational records sent directly, Conference scores sent directly, evidence of successful practical completion and internship verification. Application is valid for one year; provide all prior-state license verifications and truthful, complete disclosures of convictions and discipline.
Application education instruction
Application page 2 states: "(For individuals entering into a program after January 1, 2006, an associates degree is required.)"
Burial plan disqualification
Section 5-33.2-8 disqualifies participation in prohibited burial association or certificate plans or fraudulent schemes.
Cemetery restriction
Section 5-33.2-9 bars a person or entity conducting a cemetery from engaging in funeral directing.
Character
Good moral character to the satisfaction of the division (section 5-33.2-6(3)).
College education
Section 5-33.2-6(6): at least an associate degree or 60 semester hours from an approved college or university, or current enrollment in an ABFSE-accredited school.
Immigration status
United States citizenship or lawful entry (section 5-33.2-6(2)).
Internship
Rule 25.4.1(C)(2) expressly excepts the registered Rhode Island internship for endorsement. The generic application page 2 also says "Verification of Rhode Island 12 month Internship (including a minimum of 50 bodies)"; the endorsement-specific rule controls the exception.
Legacy chapter reference
Section 5-33.2-26 also references Chapter 5-33. Its official current codification records sections 5-33-1 through 5-33-26 as repealed. Current professional licensure is governed by Chapter 5-33.2.
License date
License in another state issued before 1985.
Minimum age
At least 18 years old (section 5-33.2-6(1)).
Mortuary education
Graduation from an American Board of Funeral Service Education accredited mortuary-science school (section 5-33.2-6(5)).
National exam exemption
Section 5-33.2-26 and rule 25.4.1(C)(3) exempt persons licensed in another state before 1985 from National Board requirements. The currently offered examinations remain route leaves under this survey contract; the applicant's exemption is a condition. Rhode Island practical completion remains required.
Other license
Current funeral director/embalmer license in good standing in another state; graduate of a mortuary college; submit direct verification of every prior-state license.
Practical consent
Rule 25.4.5(B)(1) requires written next-of-kin or other legally authorized consent before the embalming examination.
Secondary education
High school graduation or equivalent (section 5-33.2-6(4)).
Initial licensure by examination

All of the following:

Application
Written application, nonrefundable $30 fee, birth certificate or lawful-entry evidence, educational records sent directly, Conference scores sent directly, evidence of successful practical completion and internship verification. Application is valid for one year; provide all prior-state license verifications and truthful, complete disclosures of convictions and discipline.
Application education instruction
Application page 2 states: "(For individuals entering into a program after January 1, 2006, an associates degree is required.)"
Burial plan disqualification
Section 5-33.2-8 disqualifies participation in prohibited burial association or certificate plans or fraudulent schemes.
Cemetery restriction
Section 5-33.2-9 bars a person or entity conducting a cemetery from engaging in funeral directing.
Character
Good moral character to the satisfaction of the division (section 5-33.2-6(3)).
College education
Section 5-33.2-6(6): at least an associate degree or 60 semester hours from an approved college or university, or current enrollment in an ABFSE-accredited school.
Immigration status
United States citizenship or lawful entry (section 5-33.2-6(2)).
Internship
Registered Rhode Island internship of at least one year; complete within five years. Section 5-33.2-16(b) requires assistance with at least 50 bodies for one year or at least 25 per year for a longer internship. Application page 2 asks verification of 12 months including at least 50 bodies; rule 25.4.5(E) requires each of multiple interns to embalm at least 50, counting each body once.
Minimum age
At least 18 years old (section 5-33.2-6(1)).
Mortuary education
Graduation from an American Board of Funeral Service Education accredited mortuary-science school (section 5-33.2-6(5)).
Practical consent
Rule 25.4.5(B)(1) requires written next-of-kin or other legally authorized consent before the embalming examination.
Secondary education
High school graduation or equivalent (section 5-33.2-6(4)).
Military member or spouse licensure by recognition of substantially equivalent credentials
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Criminal record
No disqualifying criminal record as determined by the Board under section 28-5.1-14.
Discipline
No revocation for negligence or intentional misconduct, no surrender for those reasons, and no pending other-state unprofessional-conduct or alleged-crime complaint, allegation or investigation.
Documentation
Application military expedition form asks proof of military status, change-of-station order, other-state good standing and Rhode Island Attorney General background check unless already required by the initial application.
Equivalence
Board determines the other state's licensure qualifications are substantially equivalent (section 5-88-1(b)(1)).
Fees
Pay applicable Rhode Island fees.
Good standing
Other-state board holds the applicant in good standing.
Military status
Armed-forces member or spouse, relocating to Rhode Island under change-of-station orders; a spouse must have left employment to accompany the member.
Ordinary application demands
The generic Funeral Director/Embalmer application page 2 states "Examination scores sent directly from the “Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards” (unless licensed in another state prior to 1985.)" and "Evidence of successful completion of the Rhode Island Practical Examination". Chapter 5-88's notwithstanding clause and recognition procedure control this military recognition route; the application separately carries the military recognition notice on page 7.
Prior license
Licensed or certified for at least one year in another state.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Rhode Island Practical Examination

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
Rhode Island Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers
Format
Practical embalming examination administered by Board members in consultation with the funeral director/embalmer preceptor
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