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Funeral director licensing · Idaho

Become a funeral director in Idaho without embalming

Idaho's funeral director license needs 45 college semester hours, 15 mortuary-college credits in non-embalming subjects, a 12-month Idaho traineeship with 25 arrangements and 25 funerals and no embalmings, and the National Board Arts exam.

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Idaho

No embalming needed

The route without embalming · License: Funeral director

Education

45 college semester hours (C avg; 3/4 liberal arts, business or science) + 15 ABFSE or board-approved mortuary credits

Source for education
Required experience

At least 12-month Idaho traineeship under a licensed mortician: 25 arrangements and 25 funerals1 yr or more

Source for required experience
Exams

Arts section of the National Board Exam, after all other requirements are met

Sources for exams
Embalming

None stated in the required courses, traineeship or Arts exam

Sources for embalming

What it takes, step by step

School. 45 college semester hours plus 15 credits from an ABFSE (the American Board of Funeral Service Education, which accredits funeral service and mortuary science programs; ABFSE accredited programs)-accredited mortuary college or other Board-approved credits. The statute lists the subjects (business law, psychology, sociology, funeral service counseling, management) and none is embalming. The exam is the National Board Arts section (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) only. A full mortuary-science degree is not required.

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  1. Be 21 or older.

    Sources for step 1

  2. Complete at least 45 semester hours (or 68 quarter hours) of college with at least a C average; at least three-quarters must be in liberal arts, business or science.

    Sources for step 2

  3. Complete at least 15 semester credits from an ABFSE-accredited mortuary college (or other credits the Board approves), covering business law, psychology, sociology, funeral service counseling and funeral service management.

    Sources for step 3

  4. Get a resident trainee license (supervised work in a funeral home while holding a trainee permit) and train for 12 months in Idaho under a licensed mortician, assisting in at least 25 funeral arrangements and 25 funerals. No embalming count.

    Sources for step 4

  5. Pass the Arts section of the National Board Examination. You may sit for it only after every other requirement is met.

    Sources for step 5

Does a funeral home need an embalmer?

Yes. A funeral director may hold a funeral home license, but every home must employ at least one licensed mortician (an embalming license) who lives in Idaho, and must replace that mortician within 90 days if they leave. Every funeral home must also have an embalming room and equipment.

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Licensed in another state?

If your state's requirements are substantially similar, you may be licensed without exam by showing your license, paying the fee and satisfying the Board you know Idaho's laws and rules. With 5 straight years licensed in a lower-requirement state, you may qualify by a proficiency test.

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Good to know

  • By statute, funeral director services "do not include embalming."

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  • Change since 22 Oct: the current Board rule names only the National Board Arts section as the funeral director exam; the separate Idaho law exam in the 22 Oct note is no longer listed. Out-of-state applicants still must satisfy the Board that they know Idaho's laws and rules.

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  • Your trainee supervisor must be a licensed mortician, not a funeral director.

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Check with the board

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

Idaho State Board of Morticians (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)

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General information, not legal advice. We read the law behind each point on 23 October 2026, and each point links to the text it comes from. All our sources.