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Wisconsin Funeral Service — Requirements & Free Practice

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Funeral Director

Professional licence covering funeral directing and embalming under Chapter 445. Examination, reciprocity, military reciprocity, renewal and reinstatement are pathways to this same licence; statutory exceptions remain applicable.

Licensing authority: Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board · Application information

Licensure by examination

All of the following:

Age
At least 18 years old under 445.045(1)(a).
Application
Verified application, credential fee, proposed business address and two county recommendations under 445.04(2); submit the documentary evidence required by FD 1.02.
Apprenticeship
Complete one year of registered apprenticeship before or after mortuary science, supported by affidavits of assistance with at least 25 embalmings, 25 other preparations and 25 funeral services.
Certification Class Waiver
FD 1.055 requires the in-person 16-hour class and its written exam before beginning apprenticeship unless the FD 1.05 mortuary-science course has already been completed. The class examination leaf represents this conditional prerequisite; it is waived for applicants who completed that course first.
College Education
At least 24 approved semester credits or equivalent education; FD 1.04 specifies English or communication, social sciences, natural sciences, business studies and electives.
Criminal History
Subject to 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335; disclose pending charges and convictions for the Board to determine substantial relation.
Mortuary Science
Satisfactorily complete at least 9 months of approved mortuary science instruction; FD 1.05 requires an ABFSE-accredited institution or Board-determined equivalent.
Previous Passing Scores
Previously passed current NBE Arts and Sciences remain examination leaves; Form 1590 says those applicants need only take the Wisconsin State Laws Examination.
Renewal after five years — active elsewhere
Wisconsin State Laws Examination for Funeral Directors
Application
Completed application, renewal and late fees; use FD 1.10(2), not the initial application process.
Discipline
This renewal pathway excludes unmet disciplinary requirements and surrendered or revoked credentials.
Outside Licence
Current active funeral director licence in good standing in another jurisdiction under FD 1.10(2)(d)1.
Prior Licence
Expired Wisconsin licence not renewed within five years.
Renewal after five years — five to ten years
Wisconsin State Laws Examination for Funeral Directors
Application
Completed application, renewal and late fees; use FD 1.10(2), not the initial application process.
Continuing Education
Thirty Board-approved hours within four years before application, including at least ten hours of in-person instruction.
Discipline
This renewal pathway excludes unmet disciplinary requirements and surrendered or revoked credentials.
Prior Licence
Wisconsin licence expired more than five but less than ten years; no active funeral director licence in good standing elsewhere.
Renewal after five years — ten or more years
Application
Completed application, renewal and late fees; use FD 1.10(2), not the initial application process.
Continuing Education
Thirty Board-approved hours within four years before application, including at least ten hours of in-person instruction.
Discipline
This renewal pathway excludes unmet disciplinary requirements and surrendered or revoked credentials.
Prior Licence
Wisconsin licence expired ten or more years; no active funeral director licence in good standing elsewhere.
Score Window
Pass the current National Board Examination within twelve months before application; Arts and Sciences are the NBE named by the Board.
Military reciprocity
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Prescribed application and fee under 440.09; military status may be established by affidavit when documentation is unavailable.
Existing Credential
Holds an appropriate governmental credential from outside Wisconsin qualifying the person for the same acts; good standing in every issuing jurisdiction.
Military Status
Service member, former service member discharged other than dishonorably within four years, or qualifying spouse, including a spouse of a member who died in service.
Residence
Resides in Wisconsin.
Statutory Pathway
440.09(2) enumerates the requirements without an examination; FD 1.13(2) grants the funeral director licence on those requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by reciprocity
Wisconsin State Laws Examination for Funeral Directors
Application
Completed application, fee and verification from each licensing jurisdiction; reciprocal applicants are not required to pass the NBE (Form 403).
Criminal History
Satisfy 445.045(1)(b), with required arrest/conviction documentation and nondiscrimination protections.
Existing Credential
445.08 accepts a valid funeral director or embalmer licence from a jurisdiction with substantially equal requirements, verified by its authorized official.
Good Standing
FD 1.12 and Form 403 require an active funeral director licence in good standing and Board-determined substantially equivalent requirements; Form 403 states it must remain current and in good standing until the Wisconsin process is complete.
Implementation Difference
The statute also names an embalmer licence; FD 1.12 and Form 403 describe a funeral director licence. Statutory eligibility governs; the applicant must address the narrower implementing documentation requested by the Board.
Reinstatement after five inactive years — active elsewhere
Wisconsin State Laws Examination for Funeral Directors
Application
Completed application and applicable renewal/late fees.
Discipline
Complete applicable disciplinary requirements and show rehabilitation or changed circumstances warranting reinstatement.
Inactivity
Credential has not been active within the last five years; FD 1.10(3)(a) requires completion of subsection (2).
Outside Licence
Current active funeral director licence in good standing in another jurisdiction under FD 1.10(2)(d)1.
Prior Licence
Expired Wisconsin licence not renewed within five years.
Statutory Exception
Excludes the special relicensure case under 445.15(2), retained as a secondary-route note.
Reinstatement after five inactive years — five to ten years
Wisconsin State Laws Examination for Funeral Directors
Application
Completed application and applicable renewal/late fees.
Continuing Education
Thirty Board-approved hours within four years before application, including at least ten hours of in-person instruction.
Discipline
Complete applicable disciplinary requirements and show rehabilitation or changed circumstances warranting reinstatement.
Inactivity
Credential has not been active within the last five years; FD 1.10(3)(a) requires completion of subsection (2).
Prior Licence
Wisconsin licence expired more than five but less than ten years; no active funeral director licence in good standing elsewhere.
Statutory Exception
Excludes the special relicensure case under 445.15(2), retained as a secondary-route note.
Reinstatement where the credential was active within five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Discipline
Complete applicable disciplinary requirements and show rehabilitation or changed circumstances warranting reinstatement.
Prior Credential
A surrendered or revoked credential, or unmet disciplinary requirements requiring reinstatement under FD 1.10(3).
Recent Activity
Credential was active within the last five years, so FD 1.10(3)(a) does not trigger subsection (2).
Statutory Exception
This route excludes the special relicensure case under 445.15(2), retained as a secondary-route note.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement after five inactive years — ten or more years
Application
Completed application and applicable renewal/late fees.
Continuing Education
Thirty Board-approved hours within four years before application, including at least ten hours of in-person instruction.
Discipline
Complete applicable disciplinary requirements and show rehabilitation or changed circumstances warranting reinstatement.
Inactivity
Credential has not been active within the last five years; FD 1.10(3)(a) requires completion of subsection (2).
Prior Licence
Wisconsin licence expired ten or more years; no active funeral director licence in good standing elsewhere.
Score Window
Pass the current National Board Examination within twelve months before application; Arts and Sciences are the NBE named by the Board.
Statutory Exception
Excludes the special relicensure case under 445.15(2), retained as a secondary-route note.
Renewal while working at an establishment outside Wisconsin
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Existing Licence
Wisconsin funeral director licence renewed within five years.
Practice
Doing business at a legally operating funeral establishment outside Wisconsin that meets FD 1.11(2).
Renewal Requirements
Meet all other renewal requirements, including the applicable continuing education, renewal fee and any late fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal and late renewal within five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Proof of the applicable 445.07 and FD 4.03 continuing education: four hours after initial issue for first renewal, except reciprocal licensees; fifteen hours in the preceding two-year period for subsequent renewal, subject to authorized exemptions.
Existing Licence
Current or expired funeral director licence renewed within five years of its renewal date.
Fee
Renewal fee and late fee if renewed after expiration.
Practice
Doing business at a recognized funeral establishment under 445.06(2)(a).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

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

16-hour certification class written examination

Format
Written examination included within the 16-hour certification class
Passing score
75%
Examination outline
  • Funeral director apprentice expectations.
  • Funeral ethics and etiquette.
  • Understanding funeral services, gatherings, and various types of dispositions.
  • Laws, rules, and regulations of funeral service.
  • Workplace safety and Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements.
  • Introduction to funeral service: notification of death, transfers, and arrangements.
  • Embalming, dressing, and casketing.
  • Grief and psychology of funeral services.
Examination sources

Wisconsin State Laws Examination for Funeral Directors

Provider
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Format
Online
Time limit
Not timed
Passing score
75%
Examination outline
  • Funeral Directors Examining Board Statutes and Administrative Rules
  • Chapter 49 - Public Assistance
  • Chapter 69 - Collection of Statistics
  • Chapter 157 - Disposition of Human Remains
  • Chapter 252 - Communicable Diseases
  • Chapter 346 - Rules of the Road
  • Chapter 347 - Equipment of Vehicles
  • Chapter 630 - General Public Policy Provisions
  • Chapter 632 - Insurance Contracts in Specific Lines
  • Chapter 943 - Crimes - Property
  • Chapter 979 - Investigation of Deaths
  • HSS 135 - Human Corpses and Stillbirths
Examination sources