South Carolina § 40-19-230 - Qualifications for license as embalmer or funeral director; examinations; conditions for licensure without examination; renewal of licenses.

§ 40-19-230. Qualifications for license as embalmer or funeral director; examinations; conditions for licensure without examination; renewal of licenses.

(A) A person may be issued a license as an embalmer if the person:

(1) is at least eighteen years of age;

(2) has not been convicted of or pled guilty to a crime that directly relates to the duties, responsibilities, or fitness of the occupation or profession;

(3) has a high school education or the equivalent of a high school education, the equivalence to be determined by the board;

(4) has completed successfully a regular course in an embalming college accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education and approved by the board;

(5) has completed a minimum of twenty-four months of service pursuant to Section 40-19-240 as an embalmer under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer actively engaged in the practice of embalming in this State;

(6) has passed an examination prescribed by the board.

(B) A person may be issued a license as a funeral director if the person:

(1) is at least eighteen years of age;

(2) has not been convicted of or pled guilty to a crime that directly relates to the duties, responsibilities, or fitness of the occupation or profession;

(3) has a high school education or the equivalent of a high school education and has a minimum of two years of successful attendance at an accredited academic college or successful completion of a regular course of not less than one year, twelve scholastic months, in an accredited mortuary college;

(4) has completed a minimum of twenty-four months of service pursuant to Section 40-19-240 as a funeral director under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director actively engaged in the practice of funeral directing in this State;

(5) has passed an examination prescribed by the board.

(C) An applicant for licensure must be examined on subjects as are prescribed by the board and the examination must be by a standardized written test. The passing grade must be established by the board in regulation.

An application for examination must be upon a form furnished by the board and must be accompanied by a fee established by the board in regulation. An application for examination must be submitted at least thirty days before the date of the examination.

(D) No license may be issued or renewed for a period exceeding two years, and all licenses and renewals expire on the thirtieth day of June unless sooner revoked or canceled. The date of expiration may be changed by unanimous consent of the board and upon ninety days' written notice of the change to all persons licensed by the board.

(E) A person holding a license under this chapter may have the license renewed for a two-year period by applying within thirty days preceding or following the expiration of his license, upon forms provided by the board and payment of a renewal fee as established by the board in regulation. A person who fails to renew the license, at the discretion of the board, may have it renewed by making application and appearing before the board and paying a renewal and revival fee established by the board. The license of a person who is engaged actively in the military service of the United States may be held in abeyance for the duration of service, and the licensee may be relieved of the payment of renewal fees as the board considers justifiable and expedient.

(F) A permit for a crematory or a permit for a funeral establishment which operates a crematory may be renewed for a two-year period by applying within thirty days preceding or following the expiration of the permit, upon forms provided by the board, payment of a renewal fee as established by the board in regulation and passage of an inspection conducted by the board.

HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 380, SECTION 1; 2002 Act No. 322, SECTION 6; 2024 Act No. 223 (H.4116), SECTION 14, eff July 1, 2024.

Editor's Note

Prior Laws:1962 Code SECTION 56-677; 1971 (57) 327; 1983 Act No. 146, SECTION 1; 1976 Code SECTION 40-19-100.

Effect of Amendment

2024 Act No. 223, SECTION 14, in (A), rewrote (2), and in (5), substituted "embalmer" for "apprentice"; and in (B), rewrote (2), and in (4), substituted "a funeral director" for "an apprentice funeral director".