Funeral director licensing in South Dakota

What it takes, step by step

1. Register with the board as a trainee. You must be at least 18 and enrolled in, or finished with, an ABFSE-accredited mortuary-science or funeral-service program. The fee is $25.

   Sources for step 1

   • ARSD 20:45:03:01
   • ARSD 20:45:03:08

2. Complete at least 90 college credit hours and a degree or certificate from an ABFSE-accredited mortuary-science or funeral-service program. The board says credits from the mortuary program count toward the 90.

   Sources for step 2

   • SDCL 36-19-21
   • SD Board of Funeral Service, licensing requirements

3. Serve a traineeship of at least one year, finished within three years: 2,080 hours of work, 25 acceptable embalming case reports, assisting in directing 25 funerals, presenting 5 sets of arrangements, and monthly report cards. Work done for school credit does not count. Your sponsor must be physically present for your first five embalmings.

   Sources for step 3

   • ARSD 20:45:03:02
   • ARSD 20:45:03:02.03

4. 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 International Conference, then apply with the $225 fee within five years of finishing the traineeship.

   Sources for step 4

   • SDCL 36-19-21
   • ARSD 20:45:03:02
   • ARSD 20:45:03:08

Does a funeral home need an embalmer?

Yes, in effect. Each funeral establishment must be managed by a person licensed under the chapter, and the only individual license is the funeral director license, which includes embalming.

Licensed in another state?

South Dakota repealed its funeral reciprocity rule in 1995, but the state's general licensure-by-endorsement law covers every Title 36 occupation. The board must license you if you hold a current license from a state whose requirements are 'substantially equivalent to or exceed' South Dakota's, show competency as the board decides, are in good standing, have not been disciplined by the issuing jurisdiction and pay the fees, among the law's conditions.

Good to know

• Within 24 hours of death a body must be refrigerated, embalmed or buried, unless a court order or a coroner's written directive allows otherwise.

  Sources

  • ARSD 20:45:02:07

• The traineeship rule was amended effective 6 July 2025, and the supervision rule was adopted the same day. The licensing statute was last amended in 2025 (SL 2025, ch 159).

  Sources

  • ARSD 20:45:03:02
  • ARSD 20:45:03:02.03
  • SDCL 36-19-21

Check with the board

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

South 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 South Dakota’s law requires.

Next

• How to become a Muslim funeral director
• Open jobs at funeral services serving Muslim communities
• Muslim funeral services in South Dakota
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