Become a funeral director in Arkansas without embalming

What it takes, step by step

1. Be at least 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, and register with the Board as an apprentice funeral director (application, fee, statement of apprenticeship form, State Police background check).

   Sources for step 1

   • Ark. Code §17-29-302
   • 17 CAR §30-303

2. Serve 18 months in an Arkansas-licensed funeral establishment under an Arkansas-licensed funeral director, actively assisting in arranging and conducting 50 services. There is no embalming count.

   Sources for step 2

   • Ark. Code §17-29-302
   • 17 CAR §30-302

3. File 50 case reports over the apprenticeship. Each report is due by the 10th of the month after the work was done, and the reports must show duties such as arranging with the family, directing the service, organising the funeral procession, the obituary, death certificates and removals.

   Sources for step 3

   • 17 CAR §30-307
   • 17 CAR §30-304(a)
   • Ark. Code §17-29-302

4. Take at least 6 hours of Board-approved classroom instruction in funeral service practices, ethics, laws and rules during the apprenticeship (the statute lets the Board require up to 20).

   Sources for step 4

   • 17 CAR §30-302
   • Ark. Code §17-29-302

5. Pass the written Arkansas Laws, Rules and Regulations (ARLRR) exam with at least 75%. You become eligible after 50 case reports or 18 months. It is given through The Conference; the National Board exam (the NBE, the national licensing exam set by The Conference (the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards), in two sections, Arts and Sciences; The Conference, National Board Exam) is not listed for this license.

   Sources for step 5

   • 17 CAR §30-402
   • Arkansas Insurance Dept., Examination Information

Does a funeral home need an embalmer?

The manager of a full-service (Type A) funeral home must be a licensed funeral director; an embalmer license is not required. But all embalming there must be done by or under an Arkansas-licensed embalmer, and a Type A license application must include an embalmer/mortuary service acceptance form, so the home must name an embalmer or mortuary service it uses.

Licensed in another state?

If you hold a funeral director or embalmer license in another state, send a certified statement from that state's board; you may get a temporary working number valid for one year and must pass an exam on Arkansas funeral law and rules. People who move to Arkansas with a license held in good standing for one year can get automatic licensure, though the Board may still require the ARLRR exam.

Good to know

• A funeral-director-only licensee may not embalm.

  Sources

  • 17 CAR §30-606(b)

• Every funeral and burial in Arkansas must be under a licensed funeral establishment and a licensed Arkansas funeral director, who stays on site until the grave is closed.

  Sources

  • 17 CAR §30-103(a)

• Arkansas re-codified its rules: the old Board Rule 1 is now 17 CAR pt. 30. The Insurance Department said it expected to use the new citations exclusively from 1 July 2025.

  Sources

  • Arkansas Insurance Dept., Funeral Services Rules
  • 17 CAR §30-302

Check with the board

Rules change. Confirm the current licensing requirements with the board before you enroll.

Arkansas State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services (Arkansas Insurance Department, Funeral Services Division)

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