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North Dakota Funeral Service — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Funeral Chapel License

Annual funeral chapel license, with the responsible funeral service establishment required to ensure compliance with board requirements.

Licensing authority: State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

Initial funeral chapel licensing
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
Board application and thirty-five-dollar fee.
Facility
Affiliation with a funeral establishment; comply with NDAC 25-07-01 accessibility, restrooms, plumbing, approaches, electrical design, aspiration system and fire codes.
Responsibility
The affiliated funeral establishment is responsible for ensuring compliance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual funeral chapel renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline fee
License expires after December 31; renewal application and thirty-five-dollar fee.
Facility
Continue to comply with all funeral-chapel requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Crematorium License

Annual board-issued license required to operate a crematorium.

Licensing authority: State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

Initial crematorium licensing
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
Board-provided annual application and one-hundred-dollar fee.
Operator training
Each operator must obtain and display operation training from the retort manufacturer, Cremation Association of North America or National Funeral Directors Association; renewal at least every five years or as required by the trainer. These training certificates are conditions, not a separately identified state licensing examination.
Premises
Comply with the structural, environmental, holding, processing-equipment and inspection requirements of NDAC Chapter 25-05-01.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual crematorium renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline
License expires after December 31; submit renewal application and one-hundred-dollar fee.
Training
Maintain each operator's required current training certificate.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Funeral Establishment License

Annual license for a particular funeral establishment under a licensed funeral practitioner's supervision.

Licensing authority: State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

New establishment license after ownership, supervisor, name or location change
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
Apply for a new license with one-hundred-dollar fee; licenses are not transferable.
Supervision
Departing supervising practitioner must notify the Board; an establishment license is invalid without a licensed-practitioner supervisor.
Trigger
New owner, supervising practitioner, funeral home name or location.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial funeral establishment licensing
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
Annual application for each location and one-hundred-dollar fee.
Premises
Comply with safety and sanitation rules, preparation-room and arrangement-space requirements; except on tribal land, premises may not be on tax-exempt property.
Supervisor
Supervision by an individually licensed funeral practitioner is required; that practitioner's license is an applicant condition, not an examination of the establishment.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual funeral establishment renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
Annual renewal application and one-hundred-dollar rule fee. NDCC 43-10-22 requires submission on or before December 1; the rule permits renewal before the December 31 expiry. Apply the statute's earlier submission date.
Supervisor
Maintain licensed-practitioner supervision and safety and sanitation compliance.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Certificate of Registration as an Intern Embalmer

Registration to learn embalming under the instruction and personal supervision of a licensed funeral practitioner.

Licensing authority: State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

Initial intern embalmer registration
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Age
At least eighteen years old.
Application fee
Board-approved verified application, beginning date, supervising practitioner details and fifty-dollar fee.
Character
Good moral character.
Education
Completed accredited four-year high school and one year of accredited college or university study; the rule describes thirty semester or forty-five quarter hours and Board-determined substantial completion, while the statute requires completion.
Future practitioner examinations
The Board application page places the Conference and state rules examinations after graduation for the eventual practitioner license; they are not examinations for issuance of intern registration.
Mortuary program
Accepted, enrolled or graduated from an accredited mortuary-science college; may not practice for more than six months before attending.
Reports
Report assisted cases by the fifteenth day of each month, signed by the supervising practitioner; ten arrangement/service reports in the final six months. Notify the Board within thirty days upon withdrawal.
Supervision
Registration names one supervising North Dakota funeral practitioner, who may supervise only one registered intern at a time.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Intern registration renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
Renewal application and twenty-five-dollar fee; the statute calls for payment before December 31.
Denial
Board may refuse renewal for cause.
Duration
One-year registration, renewable no more than three times.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reregistration after an intern certificate lapse
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Lapse
A lapse of thirty days or more prevents treating reregistration as continuous with the original registration.
Qualifications
The current initial intern qualifications and Board registration process apply; the statutory renewal limit remains.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Funeral Practitioner

License to practice funeral service; the Board may impose reasonable limitations or qualifications on the right to practice.

Licensing authority: North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

Annual license renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline
Renew by December 31 with the renewal application and one-hundred-dollar fee; the Board may deny for cause.
Military hardship
NDCC 43-51-11 requires case-by-case exceptions or rules addressing renewal hardships from qualifying military activation or armed-conflict service.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Experienced foreign practitioner licensure under NDCC 43 51 06
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Application
The existing license need not come from a jurisdiction granting reciprocal privileges to North Dakota licensees; the Board's reciprocity application and fee apply.
Board discretion
The Board may grant licensure without the general professional examination. NDCC 43-51-06 expressly preserves a laws-and-rules examination, which NDAC 25-02-02-05 requires of reciprocal applicants.
Experience
At least two years of licensed professional practice before application, or a shorter period established by the Board; maintain a comparable good-standing license and meet other licensing requirements.
Initial licensure by examination
Application
Board-provided application, photograph, transcripts, character affidavits and one-hundred-dollar fee; contact the Board before submission.
College education
At least sixty semester or ninety quarter hours in addition to mortuary education; alternatively, licensure in good standing elsewhere and at least three years of active licensed experience under NDAC 25-02-02-02(3)(b).
Embalming proficiency
Demonstrate proficiency to a funeral practitioner; a signed affidavit in the final embalming report is required. This practitioner attestation is an applicant condition, not a separately identified Board examination.
Examinations
Pass both Conference National Board Examination sections and the North Dakota laws and rules examination.
Internship
Twelve-month approved internship; under direct and exclusive supervision of a North Dakota practitioner, participation in at least twenty-five embalmings and arrangements or direction of at least ten funerals.
Moral character
Good moral character, supported by affidavits of two reputable residents of the county of residence or proposed practice; conviction is evaluated under NDCC 43-10-11.1.
Mortuary education
Graduation from an accredited college of mortuary science.
Secondary education
Completion of an accredited four-year high-school course.
Late renewal after more than two years
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Application fee
Renewal application, renewal fee and late fee.
Lapse
License not renewed within two years after expiration.
Military hardship
The Board may grant renewal compliance exceptions for military hardships under NDCC 43-51-11; that applicant-specific exception does not remove the identified examination from this route.
Late renewal within two years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
Renewal application and renewal fee; a late fee of one hundred fifty dollars applies after thirty days.
Lapse
License expired no more than two years; no funeral practice while expired.
Military hardship
Board exceptions under NDCC 43-51-11 address qualifying activation or armed-conflict renewal hardships.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Military member or spouse licensure exceptions
Application
Self-identify and supply satisfactory proof of military-member or military-spouse status so the Board commences the military licensure process.
Background check
A criminal-history check may be ordered if the Board has statutory authority.
Board methods
Competency must be demonstrated by methods or standards determined by the Board; issuance must not substantially increase public risk.
Eligibility
Military member stationed in North Dakota by orders, including temporary assignments away, or that member's foreign-practitioner spouse.
Exceptions
NDCC 43-51-11.1(1) authorizes case-by-case exceptions to licensing standards. The currently offered examinations identified in NDAC 25-02-02-03 remain referenced; an applicant's examination waiver or accepted evidence is determined by the Board, not asserted here.
Licensure by reciprocity
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Application
Complete the reciprocity form, submit license endorsement and educational and experience information, pay the one-hundred-dollar fee and contact the Board before submitting.
Character
Proof of good moral character and two county-resident character affidavits.
Existing license
Current good-standing license authorizing embalming and funeral directing in a jurisdiction with requirements at least as stringent as North Dakota.
Implementation prior evidence
The Board reciprocity form requires that the existing license was obtained through examination and that the applicant was actively engaged in licensed practice. Another jurisdiction's examination and its historical score are applicant evidence, not North Dakota requirement leaves. The form requests the Conference examination taken but does not impose a new National Board Examination requirement.
Restoration after revocation through initial examination licensure
Application
Board-provided application, photograph, transcripts, character affidavits and one-hundred-dollar fee; contact the Board before submission.
College education
At least sixty semester or ninety quarter hours in addition to mortuary education; alternatively, licensure in good standing elsewhere and at least three years of active licensed experience under NDAC 25-02-02-02(3)(b).
Embalming proficiency
Demonstrate proficiency to a funeral practitioner; a signed affidavit in the final embalming report is required. This practitioner attestation is an applicant condition, not a separately identified Board examination.
Examinations
Pass both Conference National Board Examination sections and the North Dakota laws and rules examination.
Internship
Twelve-month approved internship; under direct and exclusive supervision of a North Dakota practitioner, participation in at least twenty-five embalmings and arrangements or direction of at least ten funerals.
Moral character
Good moral character, supported by affidavits of two reputable residents of the county of residence or proposed practice; conviction is evaluated under NDCC 43-10-11.1.
Mortuary education
Graduation from an accredited college of mortuary science.
Revocation
Wait one year after revocation before applying for initial licensure; satisfy the current requirements.
Secondary education
Completion of an accredited four-year high-school course.
Restoration after revocation through reciprocal initial licensure
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Application
Complete the reciprocity form, submit license endorsement and educational and experience information, pay the one-hundred-dollar fee and contact the Board before submitting.
Character
Proof of good moral character and two county-resident character affidavits.
Existing license
Current good-standing license authorizing embalming and funeral directing in a jurisdiction with requirements at least as stringent as North Dakota.
Implementation prior evidence
The Board reciprocity form requires that the existing license was obtained through examination and that the applicant was actively engaged in licensed practice. Another jurisdiction's examination and its historical score are applicant evidence, not North Dakota requirement leaves. The form requests the Conference examination taken but does not impose a new National Board Examination requirement.
Revocation
Wait one year after revocation; applicant must independently qualify for the current reciprocal initial-issuance route.
Annual renewal of a suspended license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Fees deadline
The ordinary annual renewal application, fee and deadline apply; an expired license is governed by the late-renewal routes.
Status
Renewal does not authorize practice while suspension remains in effect; Board reinstatement is required.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Universal licensure under NDCC 43 51.1 02
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Applicability
This route applies unless the Board is part of an effective interstate compact, executed license transfer, existing interstate mobility or reciprocity agreement with another state. This is a statutory applicant condition; the existence of a reciprocity licensing provision alone does not establish such an agreement.
Background check
State and federal background check at applicant expense if the Board requires it and has statutory authority.
Competency education
Provide or demonstrate competency and education by methods determined by the Board.
Conduct
No disqualifying act unless the Board finds it is no impediment; no professional discipline during the preceding ten years and no active licensing or law-enforcement investigation.
Existing license
Comparable out-of-state license actively used for two of the three immediately preceding years.
Fees
Pay Board-established fees.
Jurisprudence
The statute allows a North Dakota jurisprudence examination; the profession's reciprocal licensure rule identifies the North Dakota laws and rules examination.

Provisional License

Provisional authorization for a military applicant with substantially met licensing standards or a routine complete applicant awaiting a Board meeting.

Licensing authority: North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

Routine interim authorization pending a Board meeting: examination applicant
Application
Board-provided application, photograph, transcripts, character affidavits and one-hundred-dollar fee; contact the Board before submission.
College education
At least sixty semester or ninety quarter hours in addition to mortuary education; alternatively, licensure in good standing elsewhere and at least three years of active licensed experience under NDAC 25-02-02-02(3)(b).
Embalming proficiency
Demonstrate proficiency to a funeral practitioner; a signed affidavit in the final embalming report is required. This practitioner attestation is an applicant condition, not a separately identified Board examination.
Examinations
Pass both Conference National Board Examination sections and the North Dakota laws and rules examination.
Interim issuance
Board may delegate issuance between meetings only for a routine, complete application meeting every current permanent licensure requirement.
Internship
Twelve-month approved internship; under direct and exclusive supervision of a North Dakota practitioner, participation in at least twenty-five embalmings and arrangements or direction of at least ten funerals.
Moral character
Good moral character, supported by affidavits of two reputable residents of the county of residence or proposed practice; conviction is evaluated under NDCC 43-10-11.1.
Mortuary education
Graduation from an accredited college of mortuary science.
Secondary education
Completion of an accredited four-year high-school course.
Routine interim authorization pending a Board meeting: reciprocal applicant
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Application
Complete the reciprocity form, submit license endorsement and educational and experience information, pay the one-hundred-dollar fee and contact the Board before submitting.
Character
Proof of good moral character and two county-resident character affidavits.
Existing license
Current good-standing license authorizing embalming and funeral directing in a jurisdiction with requirements at least as stringent as North Dakota.
Implementation prior evidence
The Board reciprocity form requires that the existing license was obtained through examination and that the applicant was actively engaged in licensed practice. Another jurisdiction's examination and its historical score are applicant evidence, not North Dakota requirement leaves. The form requests the Conference examination taken but does not impose a new National Board Examination requirement.
Interim issuance
Routine, complete application meeting reciprocal licensure requirements; Board may authorize interim issuance by staff or selected Board members.
Routine interim authorization pending a Board meeting: universal applicant
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Interim issuance
Routine, complete application meeting the applicable current permanent licensure requirements.
Universal conditions
Comparable out-of-state license actively used for two of the preceding three years, Board-determined education and competency, no discipline in ten years, no active investigation, acceptable conduct, authorized background check and applicable fees; the statutory compact, transfer, mobility or reciprocity-agreement exception remains.

Special Renewable Temporary Funeral Establishment License

Estate-administration license for the personal representative of a deceased funeral-establishment owner; duration may not exceed two years.

Licensing authority: North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

Temporary estate administration license issuance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Applicant
Personal representative of a deceased funeral-establishment owner whose established business is in the estate.
Duration
Duration of estate administration, not exceeding two years.
Fees supervision
Fee as for regular licenses and licensed-practitioner supervision of the establishment.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

  • ndcc-43-10

    NDCC 43-10-22, special renewable temporary estate license

  • ndcc-43-10

    NDCC 43-10-22, ordinary establishment licensing

Renewal of the temporary estate administration license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Duration
Special license is renewable only during estate administration and within the maximum two-year term.
Fee
Same fee as regular licenses.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

  • ndcc-43-10

    NDCC 43-10-22, special renewable temporary estate license

Provisional or Temporary Funeral Service License

Provisional or temporary authorization for military members or spouses who substantially meet licensure requirements, or for routine, complete permanent-licensure applications between Board meetings.

Licensing authority: North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service · Application information

Routine interim authorization pending a Board meeting: examination applicant
Application
Board-provided application, photograph, transcripts, character affidavits and one-hundred-dollar fee; contact the Board before submission.
College education
At least sixty semester or ninety quarter hours in addition to mortuary education; alternatively, licensure in good standing elsewhere and at least three years of active licensed experience under NDAC 25-02-02-02(3)(b).
Embalming proficiency
Demonstrate proficiency to a funeral practitioner; a signed affidavit in the final embalming report is required. This practitioner attestation is an applicant condition, not a separately identified Board examination.
Examinations
Pass both Conference National Board Examination sections and the North Dakota laws and rules examination.
Interim issuance
Board may delegate issuance between meetings only for a routine, complete application meeting every current permanent licensure requirement.
Internship
Twelve-month approved internship; under direct and exclusive supervision of a North Dakota practitioner, participation in at least twenty-five embalmings and arrangements or direction of at least ten funerals.
Moral character
Good moral character, supported by affidavits of two reputable residents of the county of residence or proposed practice; conviction is evaluated under NDCC 43-10-11.1.
Mortuary education
Graduation from an accredited college of mortuary science.
Secondary education
Completion of an accredited four-year high-school course.
Routine interim authorization pending a Board meeting: reciprocal applicant
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Application
Complete the reciprocity form, submit license endorsement and educational and experience information, pay the one-hundred-dollar fee and contact the Board before submitting.
Character
Proof of good moral character and two county-resident character affidavits.
Existing license
Current good-standing license authorizing embalming and funeral directing in a jurisdiction with requirements at least as stringent as North Dakota.
Implementation prior evidence
The Board reciprocity form requires that the existing license was obtained through examination and that the applicant was actively engaged in licensed practice. Another jurisdiction's examination and its historical score are applicant evidence, not North Dakota requirement leaves. The form requests the Conference examination taken but does not impose a new National Board Examination requirement.
Interim issuance
Routine, complete application meeting reciprocal licensure requirements; Board may authorize interim issuance by staff or selected Board members.
Routine interim authorization pending a Board meeting: universal applicant
North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination
Interim issuance
Routine, complete application meeting the applicable current permanent licensure requirements.
Universal conditions
Comparable out-of-state license actively used for two of the preceding three years, Board-determined education and competency, no discipline in ten years, no active investigation, acceptable conduct, authorized background check and applicable fees; the statutory compact, transfer, mobility or reciprocity-agreement exception remains.

National Board Exam Arts

Provider
The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (The Conference); computer-based exam administered by Pearson at Pearson Professional Centers
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice examination, administered, paid for, scheduled and scored separately from the NBE-Sciences section; a basic calculator is built into the exam software
Exam questions
170 multiple-choice questions: 150 scored and 20 non-scored pretest questions
Time limit
170 minutes for the exam (the appointment also includes a 3-minute non-disclosure agreement, a 3-minute release-of-results screen and a 7-minute tutorial)
Passing score
Scaled score of 75 (pass/fail)
Exam fee
$285 per section
Examination outline
  • I. Funeral Arranging and Directing (51 of 150 scored items; 34% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (34%)
  • II. Funeral Service Marketing/Merchandising (21 of 150 scored items; 14% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (14%)
  • III. Funeral Service Counseling (19 of 150 scored items; 13% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (13%)
  • IV. Legal and Regulatory Compliance (35 of 150 scored items; 23% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (23%)
  • V. Cemetery/Crematory/Other Dispositions (24 of 150 scored items; 16% of the NBE-Arts blueprint) (16%)
Examination sources

National Board Exam Sciences

Provider
The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (The Conference); computer-based exam administered by Pearson at Pearson Professional Centers
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice examination, administered, paid for, scheduled and scored separately from the NBE-Arts section; a basic calculator is built into the exam software
Exam questions
170 multiple-choice questions: 150 scored and 20 non-scored pretest questions
Time limit
170 minutes for the exam (the appointment also includes a 3-minute non-disclosure agreement, a 3-minute release-of-results screen and a 7-minute tutorial)
Passing score
Scaled score of 75 (pass/fail)
Exam fee
$285 per section
Examination outline
  • I. Embalming (62 of 150 scored items; 41% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (41%)
  • II. Restorative Art (34 of 150 scored items; 23% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (23%)
  • III. Other Preparation of the Deceased (28 of 150 scored items; 19% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (19%)
  • IV. Funeral Service Sciences (26 of 150 scored items; 17% of the NBE-Sciences blueprint) (17%)
Examination sources

North Dakota Laws and Rules Examination

Provider
Division of Vital Records, on Board authorization
Format
Written laws and rules examination
Examination outline
  • 43-10 — Funeral Service Practitioners
  • 43-10-1 — Pre-Need Funeral Services
  • 23-02-1 — Health Statistics Act
  • 23-06 — Care and Custody of Dead
  • 23-21-1 — Cemetery Organizations
  • 25-01-02 — General Provisions
  • 25-02-01 — Practice of Funeral Service
  • 25-02-02 — Licensure of Funeral Practitioners
  • 25-03-01 — Licensing of Funeral Establishments
  • 25-03-02 — Funerals
  • 25-03-03 — Funeral Services and Merchandise
  • 25-04-01 — Eye Enucleation
  • 25-05-01 — Licensure of Crematoriums
  • 25-07-01 — Funeral Chapels
  • 25-08-01 — Investigations
  • 25-08-02 — Standard of Practice
  • 33-04-01 — Duties of the State Registrar
  • 33-04-07 — Delayed Registration of Death
  • 33-04-09 — Death Registration
  • 33-04-10 — Permits
  • 33-04-11 — Extension of Time
  • 33-04-12 — Correction and Amendment of Vital Records
  • 33-04-13.1 — Disclosure of Records
  • 33-04-16 — Persons Required to Keep Records
  • 33-05-01 — Care and Custody of Dead
  • 33-05-02 — Notification of Blood and Body Fluid Precaution
  • 33-06-15 — Preparation of Bodies and Transportation
Examination sources