FUNERAL DIRECTORS EXAMINING BOARD
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IN THE MATTER OF RULEMAKING : ORDER OF THE
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE : FUNERAL DIRECTORS
FUNERAL DIRECTORS : EXAMINING BOARD
EXAMINING BOARD : ADOPTING RULES
: (CLEARINGHOUSE RULE 18-075)
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ORDER
An order of the Funeral Directors Examining Board to repeal FD 6.02 (2) and (3); to
renumber FD 2.02 (3), (4), and 4.02 (1), (3); to amend FD 1.01, 1.02 (4), 1.02 (5), 1.05,
and 1.08 (note); and to create FD 1.013 (intro.), 1.015 (intro.), 1.055, 1.056, 1.075 (3), 1.075 (4), 1.075 (5), 1.076, 1.077, and 3.015, relating to funeral director apprenticeship requirements.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Explanation of board authority:
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats., states that each examining board “[s]hall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains,
and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with
the law relating to the particular trade or profession.”
Section 445.03 (2) (a), Stats., allows the examining board to “[m]ake and enforce rules not inconsistent with this chapter establishing professional and business ethics for the
profession of funeral directors and for the general conduct of the business of funeral
directing, and for the examination and licensing of funeral directors and the registration
of apprentices.”
Related statute or rule:
Wisconsin funeral director licensing and apprenticeship requirements are found in ch.
445, Stats., the administrative code in chs. FD 1 to 4 and FD 6, and DSPS administrative code chs. SPS 1 to 9, which outlines the administrative procedures for issuing licenses. Plain language analysis:
This rule amends the funeral director apprenticeship requirements and makes them
This rule requires an applicant for a funeral director’s license to complete a 16-hour
certification class rather than completing one year of college work or equivalent
education in addition to completing the required nine months of instruction in mortuary
science. The rule provides the required instructional content for the class and provides
for a class exam as well as an exam passing standard.
This rule allows the Board to recognize two funeral director apprentices for each funeral
establishment and also recognize additional funeral director apprentices as long as the
funeral home employs at least one full-time licensed funeral director per funeral director
apprentice.
This rule specifies that when an apprentice is in the preparation room the apprentice must
be within the supervising funeral director’s line of sight.
This rule establishes that the Board must continue an apprenticeship for another four-year
term after the registration or extension expires if the apprentice successfully retakes the
16-hour, Board approved, certification class.
Finally, this rule requires that apprentices applying for funeral director licensure must
present affidavits from the licensed funeral directors under whom the apprentice worked
to verify that the apprentice completed the practical apprenticeship work requirements.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
Federal regulations do not govern requirements for funeral director apprentices.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: Illinois requires 30 semester hours of college credit plus Mortuary College or
associate or bachelor's degree in mortuary science. Illinois has a funeral director
internship which is considered a one-year apprenticeship. Interns must complete at least
24 funerals, and at least 24 preparations and embalmings. The intern must submit a
report for each of the 24 funerals and each 24 body preparations. Reports are filed every
three months.
Iowa: Iowa requires a student to have a minimum of 60 semester hours as indicated on
the transcript from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of 2.0 or
"C" grade point and a course in mortuary science from a school accredited by the
American Board of Funeral Service Education. The 60 semester hours does not include
any technical or vocational mortuary science courses. Iowa has a one-year funeral
director internship program. Interns must perform 25 embalmings and assist in 25
funerals. Interns must report to the state at 6 months and again at 12 months.
Michigan: Applicants in Michigan for mortuary science licenses are required to have
