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Licensing Exams

Temporary Closure

The NC Board of Funeral Service is closed temporarily from Wednesday, December 29, 2021, through Monday, January 3, 2022, due to Omicron virus exposure. The Board office will reopen on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Staff are working remotely and can access email and telephone messages. We appreciate your patience during this unexpected closure of our office.

NC Licensing Exams

Exams

The following exams must be passed to become licensed in North Carolina.

 

Funeral Director

  1. North Carolina Laws and Rules Exam -and-
  2. North Carolina State Board Exam for Arts -and-
  3. North Carolina Pathology Exam
 

Funeral Service Licensee

  1. North Carolina Laws and Rules Exam -and-
  2. Either:
    • National Board Exam (Arts & Science Sections)
      -or-
    • North Carolina State Board Exam for Arts -and-
    • North Carolina State Board Exam for Science
 

Embalmer

  1. North Carolina Laws and Rules Exam -and-
  2. Either:
    • National Board Exam (Science Section)
      -or-
    • North Carolina State Board Exam for Science
 

Applying to Register for Exams

Your application and fee must be received prior to registering for an exam.

A completed Application consists of the following:

  • Application Form submitted by the applicant (fillable BFS-12(a))
     
  • Application Fee
     
  • Certified school transcripts (received directly from the mortuary school)
     
  • If out-of-state applicant: A written version of licensure, which must be submitted by another State Board of Examiners

Use the Registration Links (below) after your application has been received.

 

Registering for Exams

Testing fees are paid directly to the test provider. Please contact the test provider with questions for that specific test.

Exam

Test Provider

Registration Link
North Carolina Laws and Rules Exam Castle Worldwide
Complete form, then submit to board
North Carolina State Board (Arts & Science Exams) International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
Register/pay on their site
North Carolina Pathology Exam International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
Register/pay on their site
National Board Exam (Arts & Science Sections) International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
Register/pay on their site