Vermont § 1252 - Application; qualifications

§ 1252. Application; qualifications

• (a) Funeral director. (1) Any person holding a high school certificate or its equivalent shall be entitled to
  take an examination as a funeral director provided that he or she has: (A) graduated from a school of funeral service accredited or approved by the American
  Board of Funeral Service Education in a course of instruction of not less than two
  academic years, or graduated from a school of funeral service accredited or approved
  by the American Board of Funeral Service Education in a course of instruction of not
  less than one academic year or its equivalent as determined by the Director, with
  30 additional credit hours in subjects approved by the Director and obtained in a
  college or university approved by the Director; (B) completed a traineeship of 12 months of full-time employment or its equivalent under
  the direct supervision of a person duly licensed for the practice of funeral service
  within a licensed funeral establishment not connected with a school. The duration
  of the traineeship and the work performed shall be verified by affidavit as required
  by the Director; and (C) submitted a written application and the required application fee. (2) The Director may waive the educational and traineeship requirements for examination
  as a funeral director, provided the applicant possesses a valid license from another
  state with licensure requirements substantially similar to those required by this
  chapter. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1)(A) of this subsection, the Director
  may by rule prescribe an alternative pathway to licensure for individuals who have
  not attended a school of funeral service but who have demonstrated through an approved
  program of apprenticeship and study the skills deemed necessary by the Director to
  ensure competence as a funeral director. (b) Embalmer. (1) Any person holding a high school certificate or its equivalent shall be entitled to
  take an examination in embalming provided that he or she has: (A) graduated from a school of funeral service accredited or approved by the American
  Board of Funeral Service Education in a course of instruction of not less than two
  academic years, or graduated from a school of funeral service accredited or approved
  by the American Board of Funeral Service Education in a course of instruction of not
  less than one academic year or its equivalent as determined by the Director, with
  30 additional credit hours in subjects approved by the Director and obtained in a
  college or university approved by the Director; (B) served a traineeship of 12 months of full-time employment or its equivalent under
  the direct supervision of a person duly licensed for the practice of funeral service,
  within a licensed funeral establishment not connected with a school. The duration
  of the traineeship and the work performed shall be verified by affidavit as required
  by the Director; and (C) submitted a written application and the required application fee. (2) The Director may waive the educational and traineeship requirements for examination
  as an embalmer, provided the applicant possesses a valid license from another state
  with licensure requirements substantially similar to those required by this chapter. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1)(A) of this subsection, the Director
  may by rule prescribe an alternative pathway to licensure for individuals who have
  not attended a school of funeral service but who have demonstrated through an approved
  program of apprenticeship and study the skills deemed necessary by the Director to
  ensure competence as an embalmer. (c) Funeral establishment. (1) A person, partnership, association, or other organization desiring to operate a funeral
  establishment, shall apply, in writing, to the Director for a license. The applicant,
  if a corporation, partnership, association, or other organization, must have a manager
  or co-owner who is a licensed funeral director. (2) The application for a license shall be sworn to by the individual, a partner, or a
  duly authorized officer of a corporation, and shall be on the form prescribed and
  furnished by the Director, and the applicant shall furnish such information as required
  by the Director by rule. The application shall be accompanied by a licensing fee. (d) Disposition facility. (1) A person, partnership, corporation, association, or other organization desiring to
  operate a disposition facility shall apply, in writing, to the Director for a license.
  The applicant, if a partnership, corporation, association, or other organization,
  must have a designated manager or co-owner who is responsible for the operation of
  the disposition facility and who is registered with the Office under subsection (e)
  of this section. (2) The application for a license shall be sworn to by the individual, or a partner or
  a duly authorized officer of a corporation, shall be on the form prescribed and furnished
  by the Director, and the applicant shall furnish information, as required by rule.
  The application shall be accompanied by a licensing fee. However, the applicant shall
  not be required to pay the fee under this subsection if the applicant pays the fee
  under subsection (b) of this section. (e) Disposition facility personnel. (1) Any person who desires to engage in direct handling, processing, identification, cremation,
  alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction of dead human remains within a licensed
  disposition facility shall register with the Office and pay the fee established in
  subsection 1256(d) of this chapter. The applicant shall have attained the age of majority
  and be directly employed by a licensed disposition facility. (2) The Director may prescribe, by rule, the forms for applicants, which may include proof
  of completion of up to three hours of education and training in programs approved
  by the Director. (f) Removal personnel. (1) Any person who desires to engage in removals shall register with the Office and pay
  the fee established in subsection 1256(d) of this chapter. The applicant shall have
  attained the age of majority and be directly employed by a licensed funeral establishment
  or disposition facility or the University of Vermont for removals related to the University’s
  anatomical gift program. (2) The Director may prescribe, by rule, the forms for applicants, which may include proof
  of completion of up to three hours of education and training in infectious diseases
  in programs approved by the Director. (3) Registrants under this subsection are authorized to perform removals only, as defined
  by this chapter. Unregistered personnel may accompany registered personnel to assist
  in removals, provided they have been instructed in handling and precautionary procedures
  prior to the call. (g) Limited services establishment. (1) The Director may adopt rules for the issuance of limited service establishment licenses
  in accordance with this chapter. Limited service establishment licensees are authorized
  to perform only disposition services without arranging, directing, or performing embalming,
  public viewings, gatherings, memorials, funerals, or related ceremonies. Disposition
  services under this subsection include direct cremation, direct alkaline hydrolysis,
  direct natural organic reduction, immediate burial, or direct natural burial. (2) Limited services shall be overseen by a funeral director licensed under this chapter
  who is employed by the limited service establishment. (3) Each limited service arrangement shall include a mandatory written disclosure providing
  notice to the purchaser that limited services do not include embalming, public viewings,
  gatherings, memorials, funerals, or related ceremonies. (4) A funeral director associated with a funeral establishment licensed under subsection
  (c) of this section may provide limited services, provided the mandatory disclosure
  described under subdivision (3) of this subsection is provided to the purchaser. (Amended 1959, No. 224, § 5; 1969, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 12; 1971, No. 184 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. March 29, 1972; 1973, No. 236 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 35; 2001, No. 151 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. June 27, 2002; 2005, No. 27, § 41; 2009, No. 35, § 18; 2013, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2017, No. 48, § 11; 2017, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2019, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. Oct. 1, 2020; 2021, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. January 1, 2023.)