Missouri § 333.041 - Practicum student registration — initial embalmer's license, qualifications of applicants — examination — failure to complete application.

§ 333.041. Practicum student registration — initial embalmer's license, qualifications of applicants — examination — failure to complete application.

1.  Every person desiring to enter the profession of embalming dead human bodies within the state of Missouri and who is enrolled in a program of education accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, any successor organization, or other accrediting entity as approved by the board shall register with the board as a practicum student upon the form approved by the board.  The form for registration as a practicum student shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by the board.  After a student's registration has been approved by the board, a practicum student registrant may assist, under the direct supervision of an embalmer licensed under this chapter, in an establishment licensed under this chapter.  Practicum student registrants shall not assist when not under such supervision.  Each practicum student registrant is authorized to work only at the location or locations registered with the board and under only those supervisors registered with the board.

2.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, an applicant not entitled to an embalmer's license under section 333.051 or 324.009 shall make application for such license.  Each applicant for an initial license to practice embalming shall furnish evidence to establish to the satisfaction of the board that he or she:

(1)  Is eighteen years of age or older;

(2)  Possesses a high school diploma, a general equivalency diploma, or equivalent thereof, as determined, at its discretion, by the board;

(3)  Has completed a funeral service education program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, any successor organization, or other accrediting entity as approved by the board;

(4)  Received passing scores on the National Board Examination-Sciences and the Missouri law examination administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, any successor organization, or other organization approved by the board; and

(5)  Has been employed in a qualifying embalmer's apprentice program as defined by the board for no less than six months and has personally embalmed at least twenty-five dead human bodies under the supervision of an embalmer who is licensed under this chapter.  The first twelve of the embalmings shall be conducted under the direct supervision of the licensed embalmer.  For purposes of this subdivision, a "qualifying embalmer's apprentice program" is a program in which the apprentice completed the minimum number of hours required by the board and, as attested to by the supervising licensed embalmer, obtained the minimal required skills to practice embalming.  For purposes of this subdivision, "direct supervision" shall mean supervision in which the licensed embalmer is physically present with the apprentice embalmer and the dead human body at the beginning of the embalming process and available for consultation within one hour for the remainder of the embalming process.  The licensed embalmer shall inspect all bodies embalmed by the apprentice embalmer.

3.  Upon written request to the board, any person licensed under this section may, at his or her election, at any time, sit for the National Board Examination-Arts administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, any successor organization, or other organization approved by the board if such person has not previously passed such examination.

4.  If the applicant does not complete the application process within the five years after his or her completion of an approved program, then he or she must file a new application and no fees paid previously shall apply toward the license fee.

5.  Any person having the qualifications required by this section and section 333.042 may be granted both a license to practice funeral directing and to practice embalming.

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(L. 1965 p. 522 § 4, A.L. 1969 H.B. 56, A.L. 1977 S.B. 6, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16, A.L. 1983 S.B. 44 & 45, A.L. 1993 S.B. 27, A.L. 1998 S.B. 854, A.L. 2001 H.B. 48, A.L. 2011 H.B. 265 merged with S.B. 325, A.L. 2018 S.B. 840, A.L. 2020 H.B. 2046, A.L. 2025 S.B. 150)

---- end of effective  28 Aug 2025 ----

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