General Information
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
Applicant
Apply for 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:
- Select Government/State Licensing Agencies
- Select District of Columbia exams
- 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.
Licensee
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
Consumer
Calendar
Meeting Dates
- Thursday, January 4, 2024
- Thursday, February 1, 2024
- Thursday, March 7, 2024
- Thursday, April 1, 2024
- Thursday, May 2, 2024
- Thursday, June 6, 2024
- Thursday, July 11, 2024
- August - RECESS
- Thursday, September 5, 2024
- Thursday, October 3, 2024
- Thursday, November 7, 2024
- Thursday, December 5, 2024
Contact Us
Publications and Resources
- 2018 Annual Report
- 2017 Annual Report
- 2016 Annual Report
- Summer 2019 Newsletter
