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The Board website provides the general statutes and administrative rules that govern professional funeral practice in North Carolina. A thorough study of these statutes and rules will prepare individuals for the NC Laws and Rules examination. You will then find a link to NCGFS Practice Act and Rules which offers our statutes and rules in a single document.

General Statutes

Administrative Rules

The Board does not provide study guides or other examination preparation materials for The Arts. The Board recommends that you visit the website for The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. From the homepage, click on Products for information on Study Guides.

The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards

You may also visit the D.E.A.D. [Death Education Assessment Drills]. This organization provides a full range of study materials and resources to examination candidates.

D.E.A.D. [Death Education Assessment Drills]

Yes. The provisional funeral director license expires on December 31st each year and must be renewed by that date. If not renewed by February 1st of the following year, individuals may request reinstatement of the provisional license but will be subject to a late fee and possibly a civil penalty in addition to the annual $250.00 renewal fee.

If you do not have a certified traineeship or are not eligible to certify a traineeship, then you must have at least five [5] years of professional experience under the supervision of a licensed funeral director. The Board will assess all relevant employment experience you report to us. We have provided a supplemental sheet to the Application for Provisional Licensure on our website so that you can provide sufficient detail in reporting your experience.

There is no waiting period. You may apply for your Laws and Rules examination and The Arts examination at any time after you have been issued a provisional funeral director license. Remember that the Board allows you up to three [3] years to complete these examinations so long as you renew your provisional funeral director license each year.

Yes. As stated in the general statute, “A provisional licensee shall complete a minimum of five hours of continuing education each year, which may include up to two hours of online instruction.”

The time varies. The NC State Bureau of Investigation determines timeframes for completing background checks. Times range from 2-4 weeks typically.

Not necessarily. The decision for denial would consider specific factors that are outlined in the law that governs the use of criminal histories by an occupational licensing board. You will find information in the Forms section of the Applicant Portal.

The $38.00 fee to the NC SBI is to pay them for searching state and national data bases to identify any record of criminal history. Once you have submitted your fingerprints, the NC SBI will conduct the background check. They will then send an invoice to the NC Board of Funeral Service charging $38.00 for the background check. We will hold your $38.00 money order or cashiers check until we receive an invoice from them. Then we will send them your payment. The NC SBI does not accept cash, personal or business checks for this payment. You must send a money order or cashiers check made payable to the NC SBI.