§ 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.)