How to get your license: Funeral directors
Requirements
To get a license as a funeral director, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Meet at least one of the following education requirements:
- Have an Associate of Arts degree in Mortuary Science.
- Meet the alternative education requirements below.
- Have at least 5 years of active licensed experience in another state.
- Complete a funeral director internship.
- Take and pass the licensing exam.
Alternative education requirements
If you don’t have an Associate of Arts degree in Mortuary Science, you must complete a course of instruction at a regionally-accredited school, college, or university or other accredited association approved by the board. This instruction must meet all of the following requirements:
- The course must consist of at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours.
- The required courses must include the following subjects:
- 1 course in psychology
- 1 course in mathematics
- 2 courses in English composition
- 2 courses in social science:
(subjects with an * can apply as both a social science and a behavioral science course)- American Cultural Studies
- American Indian Studies
- Anthropology*
- Asian American Studies
- Communications
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Forest Resources
- Geography
- Government
- History*
- Human Services
- International Studies
- Linguistics
- Music
- Political Science
- Psychology*
- Religion
- Social Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology*
- Speech Communications
- Urban Design and Planning
- Women Studies
- 3 courses selected from any of the following subjects:
- Public speaking
- Counseling
- Business administration and management
- Computer science
- First aid
- Behavioral sciences:
- Anthropology
- History
- Liberal Studies
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Women Studies
- You must finish the instruction with a 2.0 grade point average or grade of C or better.
- Credits may be earned at more than 1 college to satisfy the total number required.
Note: A diploma or certificate from a mortuary school whose curriculum doesn’t equal at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours doesn’t meet Washington’s education requirements.
Out-of-state applicants
- If you have at least 5 years of active licensed experience in another state, you don’t need to meet the education requirements.
- If you have less than 5 years of active licensed experience in another state, you must meet the education requirements.
How to apply for a license
- Complete a Funeral Director/Embalmer License Application.
- Have your college or university send us your official transcripts. Only sealed transcripts sent directly from the issuing college or university are accepted.
- Have an official copy of your National Board scores sent directly to us.
- Mail all of the following to the address on the application form:
- Your completed, signed application.
- A check or money order for the application fee (payable to the Department of Licensing).
If you’ve been licensed in another state for at least 5 years
- Complete a Funeral Director/Embalmer License Application.
- Have your license history and exam verifications sent directly to us from any states you’ve been licensed in.
- Mail all of the following to the address on the application form:
- Your completed, signed application.
- A check or money order for the application fee (payable to the Department of Licensing).
If you’ve been licensed in another state for less than 5 years
- Complete a Funeral Director/Embalmer License Application.
- Have your college or university send us your official transcripts. Only sealed transcripts send directly from the issuing college or university are accepted.
- Have your license history and exam verifications sent directly to us from any states you’ve been licensed in.
- Have an official copy of your National Board scores sent directly to us from the National Board.
- Mail all of the following to the address on the application form:
- Your completed, signed application.
- A check or money order for the application fee (payable to the Department of Licensing).
