Embalmers

Embalmer License

Applicants will:

Pre-Register with the Board (pre-registration and placement applications) when enrolling in mortuary school and prior to serving a practicum in mortuary school. Pre-Registration requires direct personal (physical) supervision and automatically ends with the completion of practicum at mortuary school.

File a Kansas Certificate of Registration application as a student embalmer and $100 fee with the Mortuary Arts Board--following completion of college practicum courses and prior to working in a Kansas embalming/preparation room. Registration also requires the direct personal (physical) supervision of a Kansas licensed embalmer when embalming in a Kansas preparation room. The certificate is required for embalming apprenticeships and is valid for a maximum of two years--allowing embalming (under the direct personal supervision previously described) until you have graduated from mortuary college, passed the national examination and have registered as an apprentice embalmer with the board.

Provide a copy of final college/mortuary school transcripts indicating a minimum of an Association in Arts degree in Mortuary Science with at least 30 semester hours in mortuary science. Transcripts must indicate that a degree has been earned and should be sent to the board by the college directly

Pass the written national examination administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards.

Serve a one (1) year apprenticeship working on a full-time basis (full-time is defined as 40 hrs. per week/50 weeks per year) under the supervision of a licensed embalmer. Embalming apprenticeships must be completed within two (2) years of passing the written national examination. Failure to complete an apprenticeship within two years of passing the national examination will result in having to re-pass the national examination and re-serve an apprenticeship starting from scratch. Kansas embalming apprenticeships served outside the state of Kansas can be served under a licensed Kansas embalmer or a licensed embalmer from that particular state.

Example: If you are working in Missouri, it is possible to also serve your Kansas embalming apprenticeship under a licensed Missouri embalmer--providing you and your supervising licensee are appropriately registered/licensed in Missouri. Please note that when serving a Kansas apprenticeship in another state, you must file the appropriate paperwork with that state also. Your apprenticeship will not officially begin until the day that all paperwork has been filed and received by the board. Quarterly progress reports must be submitted to the board by both the apprentice embalmer and supervising embalmer. You must successfully interview with the board and pay an initial licensure fee after licensure has been granted by the board. Initial licenses are prorated at $9.50 per month – based on an established renewal schedule pertaining to the first letter of your surname (last name). The full biennial renewal cost is $228.00.

Reciprocal Embalmer License

Applicants will:

Provide the Board with: a completed application form and appropriate fee-($350.00 reciprocal fee and a $200.00 examination fee - if you are applying for a funeral director license, also), a statement of good standing from home state board or agency by the 15th of the month prior to a scheduled board meeting (the statement of good standing from your current state board of licensure must be mailed directly to Kansas); your final college transcript showing an AA degree in a Mortuary Science Program sent directly to us from the school and have your national or state embalming examination results sent directly to us. Rule books are available for $5.00 - although you can print them off from our website at no cost.

Be currently licensed in a state with educational requirements as high as those in Kansas or individually meet current Kansas requirements.

Appear before the board for an interview (to explain why Kansas licensure is desired.)

Demonstrate the intent to practice embalming part-time or full-time in Kansas.

Pass any oral or written examination as administer by the board.

Agree to certify in writing or orally that the applicant has read, understands and will abide by the state rules, regulations and statutes.

Pay the appropriate reciprocal and embalmer initial licensure fees once licensure has been granted by the board.

Initial licenses are prorated at $9.50 per month – based on an established renewal schedule pertaining to the first letter of your surname (last name). The full biennial renewal cost is $228.00.00.

Notes on Reciprocal Applications: The reciprocal application fee is $350 (This fee remains the same regardless if applying for either one or both licenses) as long as applying for both licenses at the same time (in other words, should you apply for one reciprocal license and later apply for the other, it will be another application with the $350 associated fee). When applying for a reciprocal funeral director license, you also need to send an additional $200 examination fee. All fees, transcripts and applications are due by the 15th of the month prior to a scheduled board meeting. The board meets four times annually: January, April, July and October. Rule books are available for $5.00 through our office or can be printed at no cost from our website.

Embalmer Endorsement License

Applicant will:

Provide the board with: a completed application form, a statement of good standing from home state board or agency (sent directly to us by the state board or agency), national examination results (sent directly to us by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards), and $350.00 non-refundable application fee by the 15th of the month prior to a scheduled board meeting.

All applicants must be licensed for at least five years and have completed at least five consecutive years of active practice in embalming, pass both sections of the national (NBE) examination written by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and not have had any adverse action taken against them by any state board in which licensure has been held.

Appear before the board for an interview (to explain why Kansas licensure is desired.)

Certify in writing or orally that the applicant has read, understands and will abide by the state rules, regulations and statutes.

Pay the appropriate initial license fee once licensure has been granted by the board. Initial licenses are prorated at $9.50 per month – based on an established renewal schedule pertaining to the first letter of your surname (last name). The full biennial renewal cost is $228.00.