Funeral director licensing in Michigan

What it takes, step by step

1. Complete at least 90 semester hours of college, including graduation from an accredited mortuary-science program (3-year course). The program includes at least 10 hands-on embalming cases.

   Sources for step 1

   • MCL 339.1806(1), (2), (9)
   • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18921
   • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18922(1)
   • ABFSE Accreditation Standards 5.1, 5.5.6

2. Get a resident trainee license (supervised work in a funeral home while holding a trainee permit) (high school diploma and good moral character). You get only one, and it can be renewed only once except in a case the rule allows.

   Sources for step 2

   • MCL 339.1808
   • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18923

3. Train for 12 months, at least 40 hours a week, in a licensed funeral home under a sponsor licensed for 5 or more years. A bachelor's degree can shorten this by 6 months.

   Sources for step 3

   • MCL 339.1806(1), (2), (9)
   • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18923

4. During the residency, either do 25 embalmings or assist in supervising the preparation of 25 bodies (setting features, surface disinfection, placing in a casket or container), in a licensee's presence. Also do each of a list of other services at least 20 times, such as removals, death certificate information, helping with arrangements, dressing and casketing, and restorative work.

   Sources for step 4

   • MCL 339.1808
   • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18925(1)
   • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18923

5. Pass all parts of 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) (Arts and Sciences) and the Michigan law exam (75%).

   Sources for step 5

   • MCL 339.1806(1), (2), (9)
   • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18921

Does a funeral home need an embalmer?

Every funeral home must be managed by a mortuary science licensee (a license that covers embalming) and have a preparation room equipped for embalming.

Licensed in another state?

Michigan must license you if you hold a mortuary science license, or dual funeral director and embalmer licenses, in another state, finished an accredited mortuary-science program, passed all parts of the national exam, and pass the Michigan law exam. A funeral-director-only license does not qualify; licensees from Ohio, Indiana or Wisconsin can get a limited courtesy license.

Good to know

• LARA says Rule 25 was amended to update the trainee's experience requirements and encourages trainees to review it. The statute also allows a trainee who 'has assisted … in supervising the preparation of 25 dead human bodies'.

  Sources

  • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18925(1)
  • LARA, updated mortuary science rules
  • MCL 339.1808

• Whether 25 preparations of bodies that are not embalmed satisfy Rule 25(1)(a) is how the text reads; LARA has not been asked to confirm it.

  Sources

  • Mich. Admin. Code R 339.18925(1)

Check with the board

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

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Board of Examiners in Mortuary Science

Many Muslims would rather not embalm. Whether a Muslim may embalm someone who is not Muslim is a question for a qualified scholar. This page only shows what Michigan’s law requires.

Next

• How to become a Muslim funeral director
• Open jobs at funeral services serving Muslim communities
• Muslim funeral services in Michigan
• Every state, at a glance