Funeral Interns

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?

To become a Funeral Service, Funeral Directing, or Embalming intern, complete the online application on the Board’s website and submit it with all required documentation and the nonrefundable fee. 

(54.1-2817; 18VAC65-40-180; 18VAC65-40-40)

What if I have a prior criminal conviction?

• At its discretion, the Board may approve an intern application for any person convicted of a felony if they successfully fulfilled all conditions of sentencing, were pardoned, or had their civil rights restored. However, the Board cannot approve an intern application for any person convicted of embezzlement or of violating subsection B of § 18.2-126.
• The Board may also refuse to approve an intern application for an individual who has a criminal or disciplinary proceeding pending against them in any jurisdiction in the United States.
• The Board reviews criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis.

 (54.1-2817)

Am I required to complete mortuary school prior to an internship?

No, the completion of mortuary or funeral service program is not required for registration as an intern.

(54.1-2817)

How many internship hours must I complete?

• The Board recently completed the review of the Board’s Regulations for the Funeral Service Internship Program, which became effective March 3, 2022, which states that an internship for funeral service, funeral directing, or embalming shall consist of at least 2,000 hours of training to be completed within no less than 12 months and no more than 48 months.
• In addition, before a funeral service intern becomes eligible to be examined for the practice of funeral services, the intern shall present evidence along with an affidavit from any licensee under whom the intern worked showing that the intern has assisted in embalming at least 25 bodies and in conducting at least 25 funerals.
• A funeral directing intern shall receive training in all areas of funeral directing, including assisting in at least 25 funerals, 25 arrangement conferences, as well as visitations and financing of funeral services.
• An embalming intern shall receive training in all aspects of embalming practice, including assisting in at least 25 embalmings, as well as treatment, restorative art, safety and sanitation, and organ, tissue, or anatomical donation.

(54.1-2817, 18VAC65-40-130)

Do I need to be identified as a funeral service intern?

Yes, a funeral service intern must be identified to the public as a funeral service intern in any correspondence or communication in which the intern’s name is used, by the title they use, and on any name tag or other form of identification worn when serving in this function. 

(18VAC65-40-130)

I completed a 2,000-hour internship with twenty-five (25) funerals and twenty-five (25) embalmings as a funeral service intern. I opted to become licensed as an embalmer only. Can I use my previous internship hours to satisfy the requirements to become a full funeral service licensee?

• Virginia Code Section 54.1-2817 provides: “Credit shall not be allowed for any period of internship that has been completed more than three years prior to application for license or more than five years prior to examination for license.”
• Previously completed internship hours and cases that may satisfy licensing requirements are reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis. 

(54.1-2817)

Where can I perform my internship? 

• According to the Board’s Regulations, 18VAC65-40-210 and 18VAC65-40-220,
  funeral training is provided at the licensed funeral service establishment or at any branch of such establishment that complies with the Board’s requirements and is approved by the Board as a training site. An individual, firm, or corporation owning or operating any funeral service establishment must apply to and be approved by the Board prior to providing funeral training in the establishment. 

• For an establishment or two combined establishments to be approved by the Board as internship training sites, the establishment or establishments must meet the following requirements:
  1. Have a full and unrestricted Virginia license;
  2. Have complied in all respects with the provisions of the regulations of the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers; and
  3. For a Funeral Service internship, have fifty (50) or more funerals and fifty (50) or more bodies for embalming over a twelve (12) month period for each person being trained. This total must be maintained throughout the period of training. If the establishment does not meet the required number of funerals or embalmings, the funeral service intern may seek approval for an additional training site; or
  4. For a Funeral Directing internship, have fifty (50) or more funerals over a twelve (12) month period for each person being trained. This total must be maintained throughout the period of training. If the establishment does not meet the required number of funerals, the funeral directing intern may seek approval for an additional training site; or
  5. For an embalming internship, have fifty (50) or more bodies for embalming over a twelve (12) month period for each person to be trained. This total must be maintained throughout the period of training. If the establishment does not meet the required number of embalmings, the embalming intern may seek approval for an additional training site.
• The Board may grant approval for a funeral service or embalming intern to receive all or a portion of the embalming training at a facility of state or federal government or an accredited educational institution.

(18VAC65-40-210, 18VAC65-40-220)

How many hours per week may I work?

An intern is assigned a work schedule of not less than twenty (20) hours nor more than sixty (60) hours per week to receive credit for such training. For good cause shown, the Board may waive the limitation on an intern's work schedule.

(18VAC65-40-130(B))

When can I start my internship hours?

Internship hours can only begin after an intern is registered with the Board. If the internship is not approved by the Board prior to initiation of training, no credit is allowed for the length of time served.

(18VAC65-40-201)

Once I am registered, what is the process for reporting my hours?

• At the end of every 1,000 hours of training, the intern, the supervisor or supervisors, and the establishment must submit a written report to the Board. The report shall:
  • Specify the period of time in which the 1,000 hours was completed and verify that the intern actually served in the required capacity during the preceding period; and
  • Be received in the Board office no later than fourteen (14) days following the end of the completion of 1,000 hours.
• Please note that credit for future intern hours is not allowed until the intern’s previous report is approved by the Board.
• If the intern, supervisor, or establishment manager fails to submit the reports as required by the regulations, disciplinary action may be taken against the intern, supervisor, and establishment manager.
• The reporting forms can be accessed on the Board’s website under Applications and Forms.

(18VAC65-40-320,18VAC65-40-330)

Who is responsible for completing the intern reporting forms?

Both the funeral intern and the supervisor are responsible for completing the reporting forms and signing the required attestations.

What information do I need to provide in my 1,000 hour reports?

• The reports must specify the time in which the 1,000 hours was completed and verify that the intern actually served in the required capacity during the preceding period.
• The reports also include information on the intern’s training activities, and the funerals and embalmings with which the intern assisted during the reporting period. The intern must provide specified information, including case names and dates, regarding the embalmings and funerals with which he or she assisted.

(18VAC65-40-320, 54.1-2817)

What information do I need to provide in my final report?

The Final Completion Report includes an evaluation of the internship to be completed by both the intern and supervisor. The intern and supervisor both must sign the report and attestations.

What if my supervisor cannot sign the reporting forms?

The intern’s supervisor must sign the reporting forms for the intern to receive credit for the internship hours reported.

When are reporting forms due to the Board?

The intern, the supervisor or supervisors, and the establishment collectively must submit a written report to the Board at the end of each 1,000 hours of training no later than fourteen (14) days following the end of the completion of the hours. 

(18VAC65-40-320)

How do I report the termination of an internship to the Board?

• If the internship is terminated or interrupted prior to completion of 1,000 hours or if the intern changes supervisor or training sites, the intern and supervisor must submit a partial report to the Board with a written explanation with the cause of the change.
  • The partial report must provide the amount of time served and the dates since the last reporting period. Credit for partial reports is given for the number of hours of training completed.
  • Partial reports must be received in the Board office 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)

Do I need to renew my intern registration with the Board each year?

• Intern registrations expire on March 31st of each calendar year and may be renewed by submission of the renewal notice and prescribed fee.
• A person who fails to renew a registration by the expiration date is deemed to have an invalid registration. No credit is allowed for an internship period served under an expired registration.

(18VAC65-40-90)

What if I need more time to complete my internship?

• The Board may grant an extension of time for completing an internship only for extenuating circumstances.
• According to the Board’s Guidance Document 65-15, the Board policy on granting an extension is as follows:
  1. The intern must provide the Board with a letter explaining the circumstances that prevented the completion of the program within the specified time. The letter should include the length of time the intern is requesting for the extension. 
  2. The Board also requires a copy of the intern’s current college transcript to review the courses already completed toward the mortuary educational requirement.
  3. The Board grants no more than two (2) one (1) year extensions to an intern.
  4. Further, if all requirements for licensure are not completed within five (5) years of initial application, the Board may deny an additional internship.

(18VAC65-40-130, 54.1-2817, Guidance Document 65-15)

Can I lose credit for my hours?

• Credit is not allowed for any period of internship that was completed more than three (3) years prior to application for license or more than five (5) years prior to examination for license.
• If all requirements for licensure are not completed within five (5) years of initial application, the Board may deny an additional internship.

(54.1-2817, 18VAC65-40-320)

Do I need to complete continuing education hours as an intern?

No, an intern is not required to complete continuing education hours for renewal of an intern registration.

What if my address, name, employment, or supervision changes during the course of my internship?

The intern is responsible for notifying the Board within fourteen (14) days of any change in name, address, employment, or supervisor. 

(18VAC65-40-90)