445.01(7)
(7) “Operator of funeral establishment" means any person who conducts, maintains, manages or operates a funeral establishment.
445.01(8)
(8) “Person" includes firm, corporation, partnership, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, and association of individuals.
445.01(9)
(9) “Preparation room" means any building or part of a building used for embalming, caring for, or preparing for burial or transportation dead human bodies.
445.03
445.03
Powers of examining board. 445.03(2)(a)
(a) Make 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.
445.03(2)(b)
(b) Grant licenses to funeral directors, certificates of registration to apprentices, and permits to operators of funeral establishments.
445.03(2)(c)
(c) Conduct a school of instruction to apprise funeral directors of the most recent scientific knowledge and developments affecting their profession. Qualified lecturers and demonstrators shall be employed for this purpose, who may be selected without regard to the civil service law.
445.03(2)(d)
(d) Make and determine reciprocal agreements with other states.
445.03 Annotation
Rules authorized under sub. (2) (a) should be enacted under ch. 227. 63 Atty. Gen. 154.
445.04
445.04
Funeral directors; licenses. 445.04(1)(1)
Except for conducting funeral services, the business of a funeral director must be conducted in a funeral establishment that has been issued a permit by the examining board.
445.04(2)
(2) Except as provided in s.
257.03, no person may engage in the business of a funeral director, or make a representation as engaged in such business, in whole or in part, unless first licensed as a funeral director by the examining board. Application for a license, other than a renewal, shall be in writing and verified on a form to be furnished by the department. The application must specify the address at which the applicant proposes to conduct the business of a funeral director and shall contain such other information as the examining board requires to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter. Accompanying the application shall be the initial credential fee determined by the department under s.
440.03 (9) (a), together with affidavits of recommendation from at least 2 persons of the county in which the applicant resides or proposes to conduct the business of a funeral director.
445.04(3)(a)(a) Written examinations for a funeral director's license under pars.
(b) and
(c) shall be held at least once a year and shall be conducted by the examining board at a time and place to be designated by the examining board.
445.04(3)(b)
(b) The comprehensive examination shall include the subjects of:
445.04(3)(b)1.
1. Funeral directing and burial or other disposition of dead human bodies;
445.04(3)(b)2.
2. Anatomy, bacteriology, autopsy, chemistry and practical embalming; and
445.04(3)(b)3.
3. Sanitary science, public health, transportation, business ethics and the laws of this state and rules of the department of health services relating to communicable diseases, quarantine and causes of death.
445.04(3)(c)
(c) The jurisprudence examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of state law relating to funeral directing.
445.04 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
DHS 135 and
136, Wis. adm. code.
445.045
445.045
License requirements. 445.045(1)(1)
To be eligible for an original funeral director's license, a person must meet all of the following requirements:
445.045(1)(d)
(d) The person must have completed 2 academic years of instruction in a recognized college or university, in a course of study approved by the examining board, or have equivalent education.
445.045(1)(e)
(e) The person must have satisfactorily completed 9 months or more instruction in a prescribed course in mortuary science approved by the examining board at any time after having completed an approved certification class described in s.
445.095 (1) (a).
445.045(1)(f)
(f) The person must have completed one year of apprenticeship as prescribed in s.
445.095 at any time after having completed an approved certification class described in s.
445.095 (1) (a) and either before or after taking the course in mortuary science required by par.
(e) and must have satisfied the requirement under s.
445.095 (4).
445.045(2)
(2) The eligibility requirements in sub.
(1) shall not apply to:
445.045(2)(a)
(a) Any person to whom a certificate of apprenticeship was issued before October 1, 1959, and who satisfies the legal requirements in effect at the time of the person's registration; or
445.045(2)(b)
(b) Any person who served actively in the armed forces of the United States between August 3, 1951, and October 1, 1959, and who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, registers with the examining board within 6 months of the date of discharge, and who satisfies the legal requirements in effect at the time the person entered the armed forces.
445.045 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
FD 1, Wis. adm. code.
445.06
445.06
Renewal of licenses. The renewal date for a funeral director's license is specified under s.
440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fee for such license is determined by the department under s.
440.03 (9) (a). Before any renewal license is delivered to any licensed funeral director, proof must be furnished by the applicant, to the satisfaction of the examining board, that the applicant is doing business at a recognized funeral establishment. The applicant must also furnish proof of completion of at least 15 hours of continuing education during the previous 2-year licensure period, except that new licensees are exempt from this requirement during the time between initial licensure and commencement of a full 2-year licensure period.
445.06 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
FD 1 and
4, Wis. adm. code.
445.08
445.08
Reciprocity in issuance of licenses. Any person holding a valid license as a funeral director or embalmer in another state having requirements substantially equal to those in this state for a funeral director's license may apply for a license to practice in this state by filing with the examining board a certified statement from an authorized official of that state that verifies the person's licensure in that state. An applicant for licensure under this section shall pass the jurisprudence examination under s.
445.04 (3) (c) and shall satisfy the requirement under s.
445.045 (1) (b). Thereupon the examining board may, upon the payment of the required fee, issue a funeral director's license.
445.08 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
FD 1.12, Wis. adm. code.
445.09
445.09
Display of licenses. Funeral director's licenses and certificates of apprenticeship shall be displayed conspicuously in the place of business conducted by the licensee or where the licensee or apprentice is employed.
445.09 History
History: 1979 c. 175 s.
29;
1979 c. 221 s.
662; Stats. 1979 s. 445.09;
1983 a. 485.
445.095
445.095
Apprenticeship, funeral directors. 445.095(1)(a)
(a) A person desiring to become an apprentice as a funeral director shall apply on a form provided for the purpose and appear before the examining board, or any duly appointed representative of the examining board. The application shall state that the applicant is 18 years of age or older, holds a high school diploma or possesses equivalent education as defined by the examining board, does not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to ss.
111.321,
111.322, and
111.335, and has completed a 16-hour certification class approved by the examining board. The application must be substantiated by the oath of the applicant and be accompanied by the fee specified in s.
440.05 (6). When the examining board is satisfied as to the qualification of an applicant for apprenticeship, it shall issue a certificate of apprenticeship. When the apprentice enters the employment of a licensed funeral director, the apprentice shall immediately notify the examining board, giving the name and place of business of the funeral director whose service the apprentice has entered. If, at any time thereafter, the apprentice leaves the employment of the licensed funeral director whose service the apprentice has entered, the licensed funeral director shall give the apprentice an affidavit showing the length of time served as an apprentice with that employer, and the work done in detail, which affidavit shall be filed with the examining board and made a matter of record in that office. If the apprentice thereafter enters the employment of another licensed funeral director in this state, the applicant shall forthwith report such employment to the examining board.
445.095(1)(b)
(b) All apprentices under this chapter shall be paid at least the minimum wage in effect in this state.
445.095(1)(c)
(c) A certificate of apprenticeship issued under this section shall be renewable annually upon the payment on January 1 of each year of the renewal fee specified in s.
440.08 (2) (b).
445.095(1)(d)
(d) All apprentices registered under this section shall report at least semiannually to the examining board upon forms provided by the examining board. The reports shall contain the information required by the examining board. Failure to submit the required reports shall constitute justification for termination of the apprenticeship.
445.095(1)(e)
(e) The semiannual report must show the number of hours served by the apprentice and the number of bodies the apprentice has assisted in embalming, or otherwise prepared for burial or disposition during such period, the number of funeral services at which the apprentice has assisted, and give such other information as may be required by the examining board. The data contained in the report shall be certified to as correct by the licensed funeral director under whom the apprentice has served during such period.
445.095(2)(a)1.1. Except as provided in subd.
2., the examining board may recognize only one funeral director apprenticeship at a funeral establishment in a given year for each funeral director that is employed full time at the funeral establishment.
445.095(2)(a)2.
2. The examining board may recognize up to 2 funeral director apprenticeships at any funeral establishment at which less than 3 funeral directors are employed full time in a given year.
445.095(2)(b)
(b) The term of a registered apprentice shall be recognized only when the apprentice is employed in a funeral establishment under the personal supervision of a licensed funeral director. For purposes of this paragraph, supervision, when the apprentice is in the preparation room, requires that the apprentice is within the funeral director's line of sight.
445.095(3)
(3) All apprentices shall be governed by subch.
I of ch. 106 and apprenticeship rules of the department of workforce development.
445.095(4)
(4) Before an apprentice is eligible to receive a funeral director's license, the apprentice shall present, in connection with the other evidence required by this chapter, affidavits from the several licensed funeral directors under whom the apprentice has worked, showing that the apprentice has, during the term of his or her apprenticeship, assisted in embalming for burial or shipment at least 25 bodies, has assisted in preparing 25 dead human bodies for burial or transportation, other than by embalming, and has assisted in at least 25 funeral services during the apprenticeship.
445.095(5)
(5) No person may serve or attempt to serve as an apprentice under a funeral director until the person has filed registration thereof with the examining board.
445.095 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
FD 1 and
2, Wis. adm. code.
445.10
445.10
Term of apprenticeship. 445.10(1)(1)
The term of an apprenticeship for a funeral director shall begin on the date of registration and shall continue for a period of not more than 4 years from the time of first registration unless an extension, not to exceed one additional year, is granted by the examining board. After 4 years have elapsed or, if an extension is granted, after the expiration of the extension, the apprenticeship may not be continued unless the apprentice again completes an approved certification class described in s.
445.095 (1) (a). If the apprentice again completes such a certification class, an additional 4-year period, subject to extension, shall begin as provided in this subsection. An apprenticeship not continued as provided in this subsection shall terminate. The provisions of this subsection shall be suspended while a registered apprentice is an active member of the military of the United States.
445.10(2)
(2) In all applications of apprentices for licenses as funeral directors under this chapter, the eligibility of the applicant to take the examination shall be determined by the records filed with the examining board.
445.10(6)
(6) The examining board may limit, suspend or revoke a certificate of apprenticeship, or reprimand an apprentice, for violation of any provision of this chapter.
445.10(7)
(7) An apprentice who has allowed a certificate of apprenticeship to lapse or who has had an apprenticeship suspended or revoked, may within one year after such lapse or suspension or revocation make application for reregistration, but not more than 2 such reregistrations shall be allowed by the examining board. The examining board may, at its discretion, allow an apprentice credit under a registration for the time actually served under a previous registration; provided, that if the previous registration has been suspended or revoked for cause, not more than 75 percent of the time previously served shall be credited on the reregistration.
445.105
445.105
Funeral establishment permits. 445.105(1)(1)
No person may conduct, maintain, manage, or operate any funeral establishment unless the examining board has issued the person a permit for the funeral establishment and the permit is conspicuously displayed in the funeral establishment, except that a permit is not required for funeral services held in any building or part of a building that is erected under s.
157.11 (1), private residence, church, or lodge hall, if dead human bodies are not embalmed, cared for, or prepared for burial or transportation, in the building, residence, church, or lodge hall.
445.105(2m)
(2m) The examining board may not issue a permit to operate a funeral establishment unless all of the following are satisfied:
445.105(2m)(a)
(a) The building or structure in which the funeral establishment is located is affixed to real property.
445.105(2m)(b)
(b) A licensed funeral director is in charge of the funeral establishment and the funeral director is also in charge of no more than 2 other funeral establishments and at least one of the funeral establishments of which the funeral director is in charge has a preparation room.
445.105(2m)(c)
(c) If the funeral establishment is used for caring or preparing for burial or transportation of dead human bodies, the funeral establishment has a preparation room; the preparation room is equipped with a tile, cement, or composition floor; and the preparation room has necessary drainage and ventilation and contains necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies for the preparation and embalming of dead human bodies for burial, transportation, or other disposition. The examining board shall promulgate rules specifying the equipment, instruments, and supplies that are necessary for purposes of this paragraph.
445.105(2m)(d)
(d) The operator of the funeral establishment is not an operator of a medical care institution, as defined in s.
610.70 (1) (e), or a church, synagogue, or mosque, or any organization, whether or not organized under ch.
187, that operates under a creed, as defined in s.
111.32 (3m).
445.105(2s)
(2s) The funeral director in charge of the funeral establishment under sub.
(2m) shall have full charge, control, and supervision of all funeral directing and embalming services at the funeral establishment, and that funeral director shall ensure that the funeral establishment operates in compliance with this chapter and rules promulgated by the examining board.
445.105(3)
(3) Applications for funeral establishment permits shall be made on forms provided by the department and filed with the department and shall be accompanied by the initial credential fee determined by the department under s.
440.03 (9) (a). The renewal date for a funeral establishment permit is specified under s.
440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fee for such permit is determined by the department under s.
440.03 (9) (a).
445.105(4)
(4) Violations of this chapter or any rules or regulations of the examining board committed by any person, or an officer, agent or employee with the knowledge or consent of any person operating such funeral establishments shall be considered sufficient cause for reprimand or for limitation, suspension or revocation of such funeral establishment permit.
445.105(5)
(5) No operator of a funeral establishment shall allow any licensed funeral director to operate out of such funeral establishment unless such licensed funeral director is the operator of or an employee of the operator of a funeral establishment which has been granted a permit by the examining board.
445.105 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
FD 1 and
2, Wis. adm. code.
445.105 Annotation
Licensing requirements prohibit operators of funeral establishments from allowing free-lance funeral direction. The statute does not prohibit operation of 2 establishments from one location nor regular use of a church for funeral services. 60 Atty. Gen. 147.
445.11
445.11
Register; change of address. The examining board shall keep a register of the names and business address of all persons to whom licenses or certificate of registration are issued under this chapter, the number and date of each license or certificate, and date of renewal. The register shall be available for purchase at cost.
445.12
445.12
Prohibited practices. 445.12(1)(1)
No funeral director may embalm a dead human body when he or she has information reasonably indicating crime in connection with the cause of death, until permission of the coroner or medical examiner has first been obtained.
