Section 4717.05 | License qualifications.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 (GA 134), House Bill 509 (GA 134)

(A) Any person who desires to be licensed as an embalmer shall apply to the board of embalmers and funeral directors on a form provided by the board. The applicant shall include with the application an initial license fee as set forth in section 4717.07 of the Revised Code and evidence, verified by oath and satisfactory to the board, that the applicant meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The applicant is at least eighteen years of age.

(2) The applicant holds at least a bachelor's degree from a college or university authorized to confer degrees by the department of higher education or the comparable legal agency of another state in which the college or university is located and submits an official transcript from that college or university with the application.

(3) The applicant has satisfactorily completed at least twelve months of instruction in a prescribed course in mortuary science as approved by the board and has presented to the board a certificate showing successful completion of the course. The course of mortuary science college training may be completed either before or after the completion of the educational standard set forth in division (A)(2) of this section.

(4) The applicant has been certified by the board prior to beginning an embalmer apprenticeship.

(5) The applicant, following mortuary science college training described in division (A)(3) of this section, has satisfactorily completed a one-year apprenticeship under an embalmer licensed in this state and has participated in embalming at least fifteen dead human bodies.

(6) The applicant, upon meeting the educational standards provided for in divisions (A)(2) and (3) of this section and completing the apprenticeship required in division (A)(5) of this section, has completed the examination for an embalmer's license required by the board.

(B) Upon receiving satisfactory evidence verified by oath that the applicant meets all the requirements of division (A) of this section, the board shall issue the applicant an embalmer's license.

(C) Any person who desires to be licensed as a funeral director shall apply to the board on a form prescribed by the board. The application shall include an initial license fee as set forth in section 4717.07 of the Revised Code and evidence, verified by oath and satisfactory to the board, that the applicant meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, the applicant has satisfactorily met all the requirements for an embalmer's license as described in divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section.

(2) The applicant has been certified by the board prior to beginning a funeral director apprenticeship.

(3) The applicant, following mortuary science college training described in division (A)(3) of this section, has satisfactorily completed a one-year apprenticeship under a licensed funeral director in this state and has participated in directing at least twenty-five funerals.

(4) The applicant has satisfactorily completed the examination for a funeral director's license as required by the board.

(D) In lieu of mortuary science college training required for a funeral director's license under division (C)(1) of this section, the applicant may substitute a satisfactorily completed two-year apprenticeship under a licensed funeral director in this state assisting that person in directing at least fifty funerals.

(E) Upon receiving satisfactory evidence that the applicant meets all the requirements of division (C) of this section, the board shall issue to the applicant a funeral director's license.

(F) The board shall issue an embalmer or funeral director apprentice card in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license or card in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an embalmer or funeral director apprentice in a state that does not issue that license or card.

(G) A funeral director or embalmer who is in good standing with the board and is in compliance with applicable continuing education requirements may request the funeral director's or embalmer's license be placed on inactive status by submitting to the board a form prescribed by the board and such other information as the board may request. A funeral director or embalmer who is granted inactive status is prohibited from participating in any activity for which a funeral director's or embalmer's license is required in this state. A funeral director or embalmer who has been granted inactive status is exempt from the continuing education requirements under section 4717.09 of the Revised Code during the period of the inactive status.

(H) A funeral director or embalmer who has been granted inactive status may not return to active status for at least two years following the date that the inactive status was granted. Following a period of at least two years of inactive status, the funeral director or embalmer may apply to return to active status upon completion of all of the following conditions:

(1) The funeral director or embalmer files with the board a form prescribed by the board seeking active status and provides any other information as the board may request;

(2) The funeral director or embalmer takes and passes the Ohio laws examination for each license being activated;

(3) The funeral director or embalmer pays to the board the reactivation fee described in division (A)(1) of section 4717.07 of the Revised Code.

(I) A person enrolled at a college or university authorized to confer degrees by the department of higher education or the comparable agency of another state in which the college or university is located may apply to be a funeral director apprentice, embalmer apprentice, or combined funeral director and embalmer apprentice.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 6:56 AM

Available Versions of this Section

• March 22, 2013 – House Bill 481 - 129th General Assembly
• September 29, 2017 – Amended by House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly
• October 17, 2019 – Amended by House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
• October 9, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly
• September 13, 2022 – Amended by Senate Bill 224 - 134th General Assembly
• April 6, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 509 - 134th General Assembly
• December 29, 2023 – Amended by Senate Bill 131 (GA 134), House Bill 509 (GA 134)