Board of Funeral Directors

The D.C. Board of Funeral Directors regulates license funeral directors and funeral home establishments. The Board’s mission is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens in the District of Columbia by upholding the District of Columbia Funeral Directors laws and regulations. The Funeral Directors license law is defined in the Municipal Funeral Directors Regulations.

The Board consists of five members appointed by the Mayor. Four members must each hold a funeral director license and have practiced for a minimum of three years. One member must be a non-licensed funeral director representing consumers. Three members of the Board constitute a quorum.

The Board meets on the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection located at 1100 4th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024. Due to the public health emergency, all board meetings are currently being held virtually.

Board meeting minutes are available at www.open-dc.gov.

• DCMR Title 17 Chapter 30 – Funeral Directors
• DCMR Title 17 Chapter 31 – Funeral Services Establishments
• DCMR Title 17 Chapter 33 – Funeral Directors, Veterinarians, Interior Designers, and Real Estate Appraisers
• D.C. Code Title 3 Chapter 4 – Funeral Directors
• D.C. Code Title 5 Chapter 14 – Chief Medical Examiner
• D.C. Code Title 7 Chapter 2a – Vital Records
• D.C. Code Title 43 Chapter 1 – Cemetery Associations; Regulatory Provisions
• DCMR Title 18 Chapter 22, Title 18 – Funeral Procession

Apply for license

Click to apply for a license.

Items Needed for Application

Apprentice Funeral Director

• One 2”x2” passport-style photo (.jpeg format)
• Un-expired government-issued ID (e.g., driver’s license)
• Debit or credit card to pay application, exam, or license fees

Education

• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Graduate or currently enrolled in an accredited school or college of mortuary science (at least 12 months and 840 hours of study) or an accredited 2-year mortuary science leading to an Associate’s degree

Apprenticeship

• A full-time or part-time apprenticeship with a funeral home establishment in the District

Examination

• Passing score on the DC Apprentice Funeral Director Exam

Documents

• Copy of high school transcript
• Arrange for an official transcript from your mortuary science program to be sent to the Board
• Funeral Director Supervisory Form completed by the license funeral director providing supervision 

Funeral Director by Examination

• One 2”x2” passport-style photo (.jpeg format)
• Un-expired government-issued ID (e.g., driver’s license)
• Debit or credit card to pay application, exam, or license fees

Examination via School of Mortuary Science

Education

• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Graduate of an accredited school or college of mortuary science (at least 12 months and 840 hours of study)

Experience

• 2 years’ experience as an apprentice funeral director
• Embalmed at least 25 human remains
• Conducted at least 25 funeral services

Documents

• Copy of high school transcript
• Arrange for an official transcript from your mortuary science program to be sent to the Board
• Arrange for a passing score report on the National Examination to be sent to the Board from The Conference of Funeral Service

Examination via Associates in Mortuary Science

Education

• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Graduate of an accredited 2-year mortuary science leading to an Associate’s degree

Experience

• 1 year experience as an apprentice funeral director
• Embalmed at least 25 human remains
• Conducted at least 25 funeral services

Documents

• Copy of high school transcript
• Arrange for an official transcript from your mortuary science program to be sent to the Board
• Arrange for a passing score report on the National Examination to be sent to the Board from The Conference of Funeral Service

Funeral Director by Reciprocity

• One 2”x2” passport-style photo (.jpeg format)
• Un-expired government-issued ID (e.g., driver’s license)
• Debit or credit card to pay application, exam, or license fees

Reciprocity (North Carolina or Virginia)

Requirements

• Possess an active license in NorthCarolina or Virginia that is in good standing
• Passing score on The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board’s (ICFSEB) National Exam
• Passing score on the DC Funeral Director Law Exam

Documents

• Arrange for an original State Board Certification verifying your license tobe sent to the Board
• Arrange for a passing score report on the National Examination to be sent to the Board from the ICFSEB

Reciprocity (Maryland)

Requirements

• Possess an active license in Maryland and have practiced in good standing for at least five years preceding the application
• Passing score on the D.C. Funeral Director Law Exam

Documents

• Arrange for an original State Board Certification verifying your license to be sent to the Board
• Arrange for a passing score report on the National Examination to be sent to the Board from The Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards

Funeral Director Courtesy Card

• One 2”x2” passport-style photo (.jpeg format)
• Un-expired government-issued ID (e.g., driver’s license)
• Debit or credit card to pay application, exam, or license fees

Funeral Home Establishment

• A Designated Funeral Director *
• Proof of Basic Business License as a Funeral Home Establishment**
• Proof of Corporate/Partnership Registration **
• Proof of ownership/partnership with a Funeral Director, including the name, address, phone number, license number, and license jurisdiction of the Funeral Director **
• Copy of the Certificate of Occupancy **
• Original Trade Name Registration, if applicable **
• A debit or credit card to pay associated fees

* During the application process, you will be asked to designate a DC-licensed Funeral Director. Once you have selected your Designated Funeral Director, they will need to confirm their designation to your establishment through their account in the online portal. Your application cannot be completed without their confirmation.

** You will need to upload the required document into the online application

Examination

Exams may be scheduled online or by phone.

To schedule online, visit psiexams.com. New users will need to create an account and register prior to scheduling an exam. Once registered, select “Schedule and examination” and then:

1. Select Government/State Licensing Agencies
2. Select District of Columbia exams
3. Select Account for the type of licensing exam that you are seeking

Applicants may also schedule by phone at 1-855-557-0616.

Fees*

Funeral Directors and Apprentices

Application $65.00 License:

• (1) Apprentice  $110.00 (up to 4 years)  
• (2) Funeral Director  $120.00 (up to 2 years)  
• Renewal (Funeral Director) $130.00 (up to 2 years)  
• Late Renewal Fee  $50.00   
• Examination/Re-examination (See § 3500.3)
• Reinstated License (Funeral Director) $120.00 (up to 2 years)  
• Inactive Status (Funeral Director) $120.00   
• Courtesy Card (Funeral Director) $100.00   
• Duplicate License  $30.00   
• Verification of Records $30.00

* Please note that according to D.C. Code § 47-2853.10, application fees for initial licensing, certification, registration, renewal and reinstatement shall not be refundable, even if the applicant withdraws his or her application for licensure, certification or registration, or is found to be not qualified.

License Renewal
Expiration Date: December 31; Renewal Year: Odd

Submit an application for renewal of an occupational or professional license.

Continuing Education
Approved Continuing Education Providers

Letter of Certification/License Verification
Request a Letter of License Certification

Meeting Dates  

• 2018 Annual Report
• 2017 Annual Report
• 2016 Annual Report
• Summer 2019 Newsletter