Questions related to Licensure by Exam and Endorsement
What are the requirements for a funeral service license by examination?
An applicant for licensure by examination must meet the internship requirements under 18VAC65-40-130, Funeral service, funeral directing, or embalming internship.
The requirements for licensure can be reviewed in the Board’s regulations under 18VAC65-20-240, Requirements for funeral service licensure by examination.
Once you have completed the internship requirements, you will apply for licensure by examination. After submitting a complete application and documentation to the Board, your application will be reviewed for eligibility.
Applicants for licensure as funeral service licensees (combined licenses) who have not already taken the national licensure examination will be required to take and pass both the NBE-Arts and NBE-Sciences for licensure, as well as take and pass the Virginia State Examination on Laws, Rules, and Regulations (VA-LRR). The examinations are administered by The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB). Once your passing scores for all required examinations have been transferred to the Board, your license will be granted.
What are the requirements for a funeral director license by examination?
An applicant for licensure by examination must meet the internship requirements under 18VAC65-40-130, Funeral service, funeral directing, or embalming internship.
The requirements for licensure can be reviewed in the Board’s regulations under 18VAC65-20-231, Requirements for funeral director license by examination.
Once you have completed the internship requirements, you will apply for licensure by examination. After submitting a complete application and documentation to the Board, your application will be reviewed for eligibility. Applicants for licensure as a Funeral Director only will be required to take and pass the NBE-Arts, as well as take and pass the Virginia State Examination on Laws, Rules, and Regulations (VA-LRR) prior to licensure. The examinations are administered by The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB). Once your passing scores for all required examinations have been transferred to the Board, your license will be granted.
What are the requirements for an embalmer license by examination?
An applicant for licensure by examination must meet the internship requirements under 18VAC65-40-130, Funeral service, funeral directing, or embalming internship.
The requirements for licensure can be reviewed in the Board’s regulations under 18VAC65-20-232, Requirements for an embalmer license by examination.
Once you have completed the internship requirements, you will apply for licensure by examination. After submitting a complete application and documentation to the Board, your application will be reviewed for eligibility. Applicants for licensure as an Embalmer only will be required to take and pass the NBE-Sciences, as well as take and pass the Virginia State Examination on Laws, Rules, and Regulations (VA-LRR) prior to licensure. The examinations are administered by The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB). Once your passing scores for all required examinations have been transferred to the Board, your license will be granted.
What examinations am I be required to take for licensure?
Effective January 1, 2023, the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (“The Conference”) will no longer administer two versions of the national exams for funeral service licensure – previously the State Board Exam and the National Board Exam. The Conference will administer only the National Board Examination (NBE – Arts and/or NBE – Sciences).
This means that all applicants will take the NBE (Arts and/or Sciences), whether or not they completed an ABFSE accredited mortuary science or funeral service program. The requirement for an applicant to take the Arts or Sciences portion (or both) of the NBE depends upon the license type sought:
- All applicants must take the National Board Examination (NBE Arts and/or Sciences), whether or not they completed an American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) accredited mortuary science or funeral service program.
- The requirement to take the Arts or Sciences portion (or both) of the NBE depends upon the license type sought.
- Applicants for licensure as Funeral Service licensees (combined licenses) are required to take and pass both the NBE-Arts and NBE-Sciences for licensure.
- Applicants for licensure as Funeral Directors must take and pass the NBE-Arts.
- Applicants for licensure as Embalmers must take and pass the NBE-Sciences.
- All applicants are required to pass the Virginia State Exam on Laws, Rules, and Regulations (VA-LRR) prior to licensure regardless of license type.
For more information on the Conference’s Exam Changes as of January 1, 2023, please visit the Conference’s FAQ page.
What are the requirements for licensure by endorsement?
- Licenses for the practice of funeral service, funeral directing, embalming, or its equivalent license issued by other states, territories, or the District of Columbia may be recognized by the Board, and the holder of such license or licenses may be granted a license to practice funeral service, funeral directing, or embalming within the Commonwealth.
- Licenses may be granted to applicants by the Board on a case-by-case basis if the applicant holds a valid license for the practice of funeral service, funeral directing, embalming or its equivalent license in another state, territory, or the District of Columbia, and possesses credentials that are substantially similar to or more stringent than those required by the Commonwealth for licensure at the time the applicant was initially licensed.
- An applicant for licensure by reciprocity or endorsement must pass the Virginia State Board Examination.
(18VAC65-20-350)
How do I renew my license or registration?
- A person, establishment, crematory, courtesy card holder or surface transportation and removal service that wants to renew its license or registration for the next year must submit the renewal form and applicable fee no later than the yearly March 31st deadline.
- To renew an active funeral service, funeral director, or embalmer license, a licensee is required to comply with continuing competency requirements set forth in 18VAC65-20-151.
- The Board does not renew licenses for any licensee who fails to attest to compliance with continuing competency requirements on the renewal form.
- A person or entity that wants to renew an expired license for up to one (1) year following expiration must comply with the renewal requirements and submit the applicable fee for late renewal.
- A person or entity which fails to renew a license, registration, or courtesy card by the expiration dates prescribed in 18VAC65-20-120 is deemed to have an invalid license, registration, or courtesy card, and continued practice may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the Board.
(18VAC65-20-130)
How do I reinstate an expired license or registration?
- If the license/registration has been expired for less than one (1) year, you may renew online, comply with the renewal requirements, and submit the applicable fee for late renewal.
- If the license/registration has been expired for more than one (1) year, the Board may consider an application for reinstatement.
- Applicants seeking reinstatement must provide evidence of completing the number of continuing competency hours required for the period in which the license was lapsed.
- When a license is not reinstated within three (3) years of its expiration date, a licensee must take and pass the state Laws, Rules, and Regulations (LRR) examination before licensure can be issued.
(18VAC65-20-70, 18VAC65-20-140)
What are the continuing competency requirements for renewal of an active license?
- Funeral Service licensees, Funeral Directors, or Embalmers are required to complete a minimum of five (5) hours per year of continuing education offered by a Board-approved sponsor for licensure renewal in courses that emphasize the ethics, standards of practice, preneed contracts, and funding, or federal or state laws and regulations governing the profession of funeral service.
- One (1) hour per year must cover compliance with laws and regulation governing the profession or preneed funeral arrangements, provided that at least one (1) hour of continuing education in preneed is completed every three (3) years.
- The one (1) hour requirement on compliance with laws and regulations may be met once every two (2) years by attending a meeting of the Board, a committee of the Board, an informal conference, or formal hearing.
- Courses must be directly related to the scope of practice of funeral service. Courses for which the principal purpose is to promote, sell, or offer goods, products or services to funeral homes are not acceptable for the purpose of credit toward renewal.
- The Board may grant an extension for good cause of up to one (1) year for the completion of continuing education requirements upon written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date. Such extension does not relieve the licensee of the continuing education requirement.
- The Board may grant an exemption for all or part of the continuing education requirements for one (1) renewal cycle due to circumstances determined by the Board to be beyond the control of the licensee.
(18VAC65-20-151)
Where do I find more information regarding the Virginia LRR examination?
The Virginia State Exam (Laws, Rules, and Regulations “LRR”) for Funeral Service Licensees is administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. For more information, exam candidates may consult the LRR Candidate Handbook.
