Funeral director licensing in North Dakota

What it takes, step by step

1. Finish high school and one year (30 semester hours) of college, then register with the board as an intern embalmer. You must be accepted to, enrolled in or a graduate of an accredited mortuary-science college, and you may practice no more than six months before attending it.

   Sources for step 1

   • N.D.C.C. §43-10-15.4
   • N.D. Admin. Code 25-02-02-06

2. Graduate from an accredited college of mortuary science, plus at least two years (60 semester hours) of other accredited college study.

   Sources for step 2

   • N.D. Admin. Code 25-02-02-02

3. Complete a 12-month internship (supervised work in a funeral home; some states use this word for the apprenticeship) under one North Dakota funeral practitioner, taking an active part in at least 25 embalmings and at least 10 funerals (arrangements or direction). File monthly reports, including ten reports of funeral arrangements and services in the final six months.

   Sources for step 3

   • N.D.C.C. §43-10-11
   • N.D. Admin. Code 25-02-02-06.1
   • N.D. Admin. Code 25-02-02-06

4. Get a funeral practitioner's signed affidavit that you are 'proficient in embalming'.

   Sources for step 4

   • N.D. Admin. Code 25-02-02-02

5. Pass the National Board Examination (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) of The Conference and the North Dakota laws and rules exam. By statute the license exam covers embalming among its subjects.

   Sources for step 5

   • N.D. Admin. Code 25-02-02-03
   • N.D.C.C. §43-10-12

Does a funeral home need an embalmer?

Yes, in effect. Each funeral establishment must be 'under the supervision of an individual licensed to practice funeral service', and the only such license is the funeral practitioner license, which covers embalming.

Licensed in another state?

A person licensed in good standing 'to practice embalming and funeral directing' in a state whose requirements are at least as stringent can be licensed after passing the North Dakota laws and rules exam and paying $100.

Good to know

• The law lets people do work 'within the standards and ethics of that person's profession and calling' if they do not hold themselves out as practicing funeral service, and lets funeral home staff do supervised nonprofessional tasks.

  Sources

  • N.D.C.C. §43-10-10.1

Check with the board

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

North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service

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 North Dakota’s law requires.

Next

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