Funeral Intern Supervisors

Laws and Regulations related to the Funeral Service Internship Program can be found by clicking here

What are the requirements to become a Funeral Intern Supervisor?

Funeral Service Licensees, Funeral Directors, and Embalmers may provide funeral training if they have:
- a full and unrestricted Virginia funeral license;
- at least two (2) consecutive years in practice; and
- are employed full time in or under contract with the establishment, facility, or institution where training occurs.
A supervisor licensed as an Embalmer or a Funeral Director can provide supervision only in the areas of funeral practice for which they are licensed.
The Board does not approve registration of a supervisor who was subject to Board disciplinary action within the most recent two (2) years.
The application must be signed by the establishment manager and by the person who is providing supervision for embalming, funeral directing, or funeral services.
A licensee seeking approval by the Board as a supervisor should submit a Funeral Supervisor application and any documentation required to determine eligibility. Such registration expires 48 months after registration or at the completion of the intern's training, whichever occurs first.

What are the supervision requirements for a funeral service internship?

Training is conducted under the direct supervision of a licensee or licensees approved by the Board. Credit is only allowed for training under direct supervision.
Only Funeral Service Licensees, licensed Funeral Directors, or licensed Embalmers who have a full and unrestricted Virginia funeral license, at least two (2) consecutive years in practice, and are employed full time or under contract with the establishment, facility, or institution where training occurs, can provide funeral training. The Board does not approve registration of a supervisor who is subject to Board disciplinary action within the most recent two (2) years.
A supervisor licensed as an Embalmer or a Funeral Director can provide supervision only in the areas of funeral practice for which they are licensed.
A supervisor must ensure an intern receives training under the direct supervision of a licensee who has a current license in good standing.
A supervisor must register each intern for whom the supervisor is providing supervision which is available on the Board’s website under Applications and Forms. Such registration expires 48 months after registration or at the completion of the intern's training, whichever occurs first. If the intern is granted an extension beyond 48 months for extenuating circumstances, the supervisor may continue to provide supervision for a time period specified by the Board.
Failure to register as a supervisor may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the Board.
If a supervisor is unable or unwilling to continue providing supervision, the intern must obtain a new supervisor. Credit for training resumes when a new supervisor is approved by the Board and the intern pays the prescribed fee for the change of supervisor.
No more than two (2) interns can be concurrently registered under any one person licensed for the practice of funeral service, funeral directing, or embalming.

How many interns am I permitted to supervise?

No more than two (2) interns can be concurrently registered under any one person licensed for the practice of funeral service, funeral directing, or embalming. Supervisors must be employed full time in or under contract with the establishment, facility, or institution where training occurs.

(54.1-2817)

What are my responsibilities as a supervisor?

Provide the intern with all applicable laws and regulations or sections of regulations relating to the funeral industry.
Provide the intern with copies of and instruction in the use of all forms and price lists employed by the funeral establishment.
Provide the funeral service or funeral directing intern with instruction in all aspects of funeral services, and allow the intern to conduct all necessary arrangements for a minimum of twenty-five (25) funerals.
Provide instruction on all necessary precautions, embalming functions, and reporting forms, and allow the funeral service or embalming intern to perform a minimum of twenty-five (25) embalmings.
Provide the funeral service or funeral directing intern with instruction in making preneed funeral arrangements and the laws and regulations pertaining to preneed funeral contracts and disclosures.
Provide the funeral service or funeral directing intern instruction on cremation and the laws and regulations pertaining to cremation.
If a training site does not offer preneed funeral planning or cremation services, the supervisor must arrange for such training at another licensed funeral establishment that does.

(18VAC65-40-340)

What is my responsibility for an intern’s hourly reports?

Both the intern and supervisor are responsible for completing the reporting forms and signing the required attestations.
The reporting forms are available on the Board’s website under Applications and Forms.

(18VAC65-40-330)

If I am licensed only as a Funeral Director, can I provide supervision to an intern in embalming?

No. A supervisor licensed as an Embalmer or a Funeral Director must provide supervision only in the areas of funeral practice for which the supervisor is licensed.

(18VAC65-40-250)

If I am licensed only as an Embalmer, can I provide supervision to an intern in funeral service?

Yes, provided that a supervisor licensed as an Embalmer provides supervision only in the areas of funeral practice for which the supervisor is licensed.

(18VAC65-40-250)

What steps do I take if the internship is terminated?

If the internship is terminated or interrupted prior to completion of 1,000 hours, or if the intern changes supervisors or training sites, both the intern and supervisor must submit a partial report to the Board that includes the cause of program termination or interruption, or the change in training or supervision.
- The partial report must include the amount of time served and the dates since the last reporting period. Credit for partial reports is given for the number of training hours completed.
- Submit the partial reports to the Board no later than fourteen (14) days after the interruption or termination of the internship, or after the change in supervisors or training sites.

(18VAC65-40-320)

If my establishment has multiple locations, can I train at all of them?

The Board can approve a maximum of two (2) training sites. If one establishment does not meet the required number of funerals or embalmings, the funeral service intern may seek approval for an additional training site.

(18VAC65-40-220)